Bridgeton pioneer., 1915-01-14
DEP RESSION
IN GLASS
Machine Now Doing the
Work.
PROSPECTS DULL
Indications that Bridgeton May
Lose Importance as Glass
Making Town.


None in the present generation has
known greater depression in the hol-
low ware glass manufacturing busi-
ness than exists at the present time.
Bridgeton glass business is at the
lowest ebb 1t differs little from any
other glass manufacturing commun-
ity.
There is nothing like the demand
for bottle ware now as in the past.
The wonderful glass making ma
chimes are increasing and by far the
greatest part of the production is be-
ing turned out on the automatics.
The hand blower is only busily en-
gagged when the demand for ware ex-
cee1s the machine production Bridge
ton for many years a glass making
Ger ire of more than ordinary impor-
tance, is especially quiet The great
Cumberland plant is doing but very
little and the prospects are that with
in the next ten days another big fur
mace viii! be idle. The More-Jonas
plant is running somewhat indiffer-
emily and the Parker Brothers plant
is not operating anything like capac-
ity.
Much Of the production that is be-
ing placed upon the markets by the
Cumberland concern, it is understood.
is being made at the Minotola plant.
Only recently new machine was set
up there which Is said to be working
most successfully. 1t is said that the
CORPORATION has intended putting this
machine in service at the Bridgeton
plant but was not able to do so, and
it was then sent to Minotola, which
must of necessity lessen the impor-
taEce of the local plant and add to
the Importance of the plant located
IN Atlantic County.
Upon very good authority it is de-
clared that the Cumberland plant ran
behind financially last year, and will
be a considerable loser this year with
so much of its capacity being idle.
The very great Importance of this
concern to Bridgeton is evidenced by
the fact that year ago its assess
mert provided that it paid very near
ly one-tenth of the entire taxes of
Bridgeton. This in itself is big bur-
den.
In this connection it is recalled that
the Cumberland Company appeared
before the County Board of Taxation
and asked that reduction of $4,000
be made In the assessment. This ap-
peal was based upon the claim that
in 1914 when the Assessors made the
assessment against the plant, there
was $4,000 less stock at the plant
than the year previous, but no reduc-
tion in the assessment was provided.
officers of the company appeared be-
fore the County Board and made
sworn statements to this effect. The
County Board compromised by decid-
ing to reduce the assessment $25, 900.
This action upon the County Board
was not satisfactory. 1t is said that
rhe company was advised to make
further appeal to the City Board of
Assessors. but no further change was
made in the assessment.
Bridgeton cannot afford to permit
this corporation to be taxed greater
than it's Fair proportion. If it is pos
cible to save the industry to the city
it should be. There should be some
method of arriving at
just conclusion. 1t does not seem tha:
there is sufficient skill in either the
City Board of Assessors or the ,Coun-
~ Board of Taxation, to determine an
absolute value upon plant of this
and when the officials of
the corporation appear under oath
and present a statement claiming
them to he actual facts, they should
be met with more than mere guess
work. To many it would seem that
Under all existing conditions the tax
ng authorities would much better
err in favor of the company and pro-
vide for valuation less than it ought
% be, than to make the mistake of
adding unjust and unfair burdens
which may result disastrously to the