The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1915-09-24

just before leaving for trip to Cali
fornia in March. 1914, Mr.. A. NJ. Bent
lev confided TO few friends that he
hoped arrangements had been com.
pleted which would bring to this city a
branch of the American Malleables Co
but that in case of failure there was
prospect of large Chicago plant occu
pying the building of the Reliance Mo
tor Truck Co. A few weeks thereafter
his prediction as to the Ma leables plant
became true, Owosso citizens taking
care of few problems which they were
asked to work out by the management
in very short time after they were
presented. The history of the company
in this city since is known to all, two
large additions besides several smaller
buildings having been erected, employ
ment given to an average of 300 men
with heavy weekly pay roll, and fine
business established When the plant
was located here it was with the prom
ise that additional buildings would bs
erected and more men employed as the
demands of the trade required. 1t was
also stated that an option had been
taken on site in another Michigan
city and that plant would probably
be erected there later on, possibly larger
tlan the Owosso plant
Mr.. Bentley left Wednesday morning
for another trip to California but be-
fore going had the satisfaction of know
ing that work which he had been
Qrietly doing for several months past
had materalized in plan to at once
eLlarge the plant of the Company in
this city and to purchase additional
land which will give opportunity to
again double the size of the plar at the
proper time in the future. The nego.
tiatons for the options on the land de-
sired and the other preliminary ar
rangements were all completed before
more than half dozen Owosso people
were made aware of the good fortune
in store for the city Besides this,
Owosso is assured that the mainland
possibly the only plant of the Company
in the state-will be erected here. To
gain this concession required not a lit
tie diplomacy and work. Owosso is
thus again indebted to Mr. Bentley
While Owosso friends regret to spare
him for the few weeks he will be
absent, yet they will be- willing to have
him make a yearly trip to the Pacific
coast If he can leave an announcement
similar to the two mentioned. The
best wishes and the thank you of all
our citizens will follow him.
Work has already been commenced
on the new buildings, which as out.
lined by the efficient general manager,
j. B. Cary, will include the following:
A foundry extending east from the
present building 1s2 feet on Howard
street and then running south $50 feet,
the east line of the building to set back
from Washington street 30 feet, per
mitting the construction at later date
of an Office building at the corner of
Washington and Howard streets. This
building will be of brick and steel con-
struction with monitor roof, similar to
the present building, with the furnace
located in the center. A brick and
steel addition, 60x6S feet, will be built
to the building occupied for the core
making, and sand bins 34x50 construct
ed. To make ready for the buildings
the old dry kilns formerly used by the
Estey Manufacturing Co., have been
torn down and the premises cleaned up
80 that within a day or two the work OF
putting in the foundations will be
under way, These additions will give
the Company capacity to employ at
least 175 more men, making the total
of employees 400 or more, and
will greatly enlarge the output. The
contract calls for the completion of the
buildings within 70 days and the con.
the Lsckawsna Bridge Co., of
Buffalo. who furnish the steel, and
Ward 81 Allen of Chicago, builders, will
put forth every effort to complete the
same promptly. The buildings and
equipment will call for an outlay Of
about 100000
Owosso is. to be congratulated upon
the determination of the Malleables
Co. to make this city its Michigan