New Britain herald., 1915-08-13
Plainvjue News
PLAINVILLE OFFER
MAY BE ACCEPTED
Hartford Must Act Quickly or
Auto Parts Go. Will Move Here
LOCAL MEN CONTINUE ACTIVE

LUCAL MEN UUNIlNUE AUIlYE
Offer to Provide Building, Asking for
But Six Per Cent ON Their Invest
ment - Directors Favorably I'M
pressed With Proposition.
Unless efforts of the Hartford
Chamber of Commerce to stir UP
enough civic pride to secure suitable
location for tha plant of the Hartford
Auto Parts company in the very neaI
future are successful, Plainville will
get the concern. The directors II
the corporation. it is understood,
have practically delivered that ulti-
matum, and the officers of the local
Business and Improvement assocla-
ton are now hopeful that the fac
TORY will be moved here, increasing
greatly the industrial activities OF the
town.
Prominent members of the Plain
vile association and other local men
of means who are interested in the
growth of the town and the develop
ment of it's business interests, have
for the needs of the concern, getting
in rsturn but six per cent on their
investment. They will also agree to
sell the property to the company at
the end of five years.
Directors Of the corporation are
most favorably impressed with the
proposition and at a meeting held
yesterday they practically decided 10
move here unless Hartford soon
comes forward with a suitable offer
to retain the plant in the Capitol city.
No action for the removal of the es-
tablishment was taken at the meet
ing, but it was the sentiment that
the enterprise shown by the Plain
Vile men should be rewarded, and
the offer may eventually be accepted.
John H. Trumbull, president of
the Trumbull Electric company, one
of Plainville's most public-spirited
citizens, is a director of the Hartford
concern, and it was through him that
the proposition for the removal of the
plant to this place was advanced. Mr.
Trumbull has the support of F. 7.
Wheeler, president of the local asso-
citation, and other prominent citizens,
and if the plant is not located here
it will not be through any negligence
on their part.
The company's factory is now To-
Gated in one of the Colt company's
buildings, and an order to vacate by
October 1 has been given, the fire.
arms people wanting the floor space
for their own use. While the officers
have made a diligent search they
have been unable to locate any avail
BILE building IN Hartford ADEQUATE
for their requir EN- ents and unless q
new structure is erected they admit
they will have to leave the city. The
directors do not feel at liberty to erect
a building themselves at this time, as
the company's business is growing SO
rapidly that all available funds are
required for its development
Most of the company's products
bear the name Hartford and for
that reason they would like to re-
main in the capitol city. The Cham
Der of Commerce, however, has been
unable to solve the problem for them
and Hartford admits that it stands
good chance Of losing the concern.
The company is willing to remain
in that city providing it is supplied
with a suitable building, the rent for
which will not be in excess of seven
per cent of the original investment.
for the purchase of the property. It
requires building 200x60 feet, two
stories high, with at least $4,000
square feet of floor space, with suf-
ficient land for boiler house, stock
department, etc.
Plainville is willing to give even
more than the company asks of Hart
ford, and the directors are seriously
considering the acceptance of the Of
fer. To keep the plant Hartford must
act quickly, as the company must
have quarters by October. The local
men interested in getting the industry
here, it is understood, are ready to
start work on the factory building inn
having 1t ready for occu-
pancy in less than two months.
Nearly $50 employees. most of them
skilled mechanics, are employed by
the company, which has weekly pay
roll of approximately $500. The
plant is now working twenty four
ours a day to meet the demands made |
by the trade. Over $4,000 worth &c
new machinery has recently been in
stalled to handle the rush.
The growth of the concern within the |
last five months has been remark BILE. |
1t is now doing a business of almost
$4,000 month, compared with S1O,-
900, the value of the goods produced |
in February. There is every indica-
ton that it's prosperity will continue. !
Plainville offers many advantages to |
industrial corporations seeking loca-
tons. It has railroad facilities equal !
to any place in the state and is also /
most accessible by trolley or steam.
The towns principal drawback as
far as getting a plant of the size of
the Hartford Auto Parts company's Is !
it's lack of suitable housing accomo-