The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-09-18

The Barry firm as well as the Plant
shoe factory had manifested much in
terest in the contest originated by
Mr.. F. ]. Smith, and they had looked
forward with interest to the visit OF
the winner to the factories. 1t was
the first time In the history Of either
concern that such scheme had been
ipaugurated by any Of their customers,
and Mr.. Smith was commended highly
for his unique way Of advertising his
goods and placing before the public
the real extent of the magnitude and
completeness Of the great shoe manu-.
facturies.
With the two factories in operation
six thousand pairs Of shoes are pro.
duced in a day and upwards Of fifteen
hundred people are employed at tho
Barry plant. The greater number OF
the employees are men and boys, al
though a large force CT women and
girls are employed In SOME OF the
departments. Careful consideration is
given on all sides to the welfare and
convenience of the employees and one
does not have to glance twice into
the faces Of the toilers to note their
satisfied, compliment manner and the
heartfelt interest they take in their
work. Each mechanic Is rs proud Of
his own little machine which does
its part in the making of the famous
Barry shoe as though 1t were part OF
himself and he takes especial pride in
the care Of 1t.
In the making Of mems shoes, which
are made heavier than woman's
shoe, heavier machinery is in use than
in a woman's shoe factory, although
The same process is gone through.
With the sorting of the leather by
skilled hands, the cutting and fitting
process, through the various forms
OF stitching and finishing, until the
shoe is ready for the inspection room,
there Is an endless round of activity
in the making CT the one shoe, which
is decidedly interesting to see. Every
little machine performs its own task
and It is passed from one device to
another with such rapidly that one
marvels at the wonderful system that
keeps the plant in operation through
out the long year with only little
shut down for the making OF repairs.
The Goodyear process, from which tile
welt sole shoe Is made, Is one of the
most difficult makes in the factory.
As is well known among the wearers
Of the Barry shoe the welt make is
ever faVorite.
A novelty which the Barry people
put out is "Barry's Pup" a tiny shoe,
made OH the Goodyear welt process.
Made on a miniature last, only four
and one half inches in length. 1t is
finished as completely as a fall sized
shoe, and done UP in dainty boxes
with the Barry trademark AMI stamp.
Through the courtesy of Mr.. L. S. Nc
Donald, superintendent OF the factory,
we were presented with a pair OF the
shoes as souvenirs.
The T. D. Barry Company was cs.
tablished twenty-five years ago by
/ Mr.. T. D. Barry, who made Il Won
derful success Of the business. Be-
ginning on a small scale he followed
the business shrewdly until he had
established two large and growing
manufactures at the time Of his death
two years ago. Since his death tho
plants have been managed by his son,
Mr.. Charles Barry. and his son.in.law.
Mr.. Hogan. both CT whom are carry
ing on the business as successfully as
the late Mr.. Barry. The company's
yearly sale averages s4,OOOOOO. The
plant has an immense output in a
year as the Barry shoes arc sold, the
world over.
After concluding our visits at the
factories We spent several days in
Boston visiting the many noints of
interest about the historic New Eng.
land country and thoroughly enjoyed
every moment OF our stay there. While
in Boston we were quartered at the
Westminster Hotel, near Coplev
Square which hosiery can be high.
ly recommended for the courtesy and
care of its management ana its splen.
did cuisine and service.
or course description Of a "trip to
Boston" would hardly he complete If 1t
did not contain some reference to a
visit to the imposing monument erect
ed on Bunker Hill, place made sacred
TO American patriots by the fact that
1t commentaries the valorous resist
ance to British troops by Americans
who fought and died that their de.
scendants might be free; the Boston
Commons, where the first incidents of
the revolution took place; Old Faneuil
Hall, where liberty was first discussed
and many other points which are Of
the greatest interest to those who feel
any concern in our early history. 3,