The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1915-11-19
CAPES CHANCES
TOGET End Shoe
FACTORY GOOD
Jackson johnson Writes Pres.
Mcpherson Encouraging
Letter About Plans.
SAYS THIS CITY is
ALIVE TO OPPORTUNITY
Informs Commercial Club Head
City's Invitation Will be
Taken up by Board.

1--WE think we'll of the Cape" wrote
Jackson Johnson, president of the In
ternational Shoe Co., of St. Louis to
President ]. H. Mcpherson Of the
Commercial Club, in discussing the
latter's request on behalf of the city
for new shoe factory that Johnson's
firm proposes to build shortly.
The letter from the head of the shoe
concern was received by President
Mcpherson yesterday morning in re-
ply to a written IBID" that the Cape
made for the proposed industrial es-
Establishment.
Mr.. Johnson indicated in his letter
that several places are under consider
alton by the members of the Board of
Directors of his company, and he
stated that they have not reached any
conclusion as to the factory's loca-
ton.
Then he wrote, eve think well Of
the Cape" There are other towns I'M
der consideration, his next sentence
said, and in making their determna-
ton concerning the location of the
proposed factory, there will be many
considerations that will come into
play.
johnson declared that he was con-
WINGED that the business men in the
Cape fully understand and appreciate
the opportunities that shoe factory
of the dimensions Of that of the Inter
national Shoe Company bring to the
city. In view of that fact, he said, he
felt that the company would be mighty
glad to consider the Cape as a pros
pectivc location for the new factory.
This statement may mean that the
shoe concern no longer entertains the
notion that they have enough capital
invested in the Cape in the one shoe
factory here.
Factories are the basis Of a city's
growth as well as merchandising, he
urged, and said that he felt the Cape
people know how wide employment the
factory gives.
Feeling that you appreciate the adj
vantages to be derived" he concluded,
"wc expect it to be handled from this
standpoint"
At the meeting of the Commercial
Club last Friday night, when the mat
ter Of bidding" for the second shoe
factory was brought up, virtually all
the Cape merchants present, who had
contributed to the fund for the ac-
QUESTION of the present shoe factory,
agreed that the investment so far as
they were concerned had paid amply
The city purchased a tract of seven
acres of land for the shoe company,
and erected the building. The total
investment by the city was about
$50 900.
This was made on the stipulation
and guarantee by the shoe concern
that in working the factory, wages
aggregating $1,000,000 would be paid
out in the course of the first ten years.
That amount virtually has been paid in
the first eight years of the factory's
operation.
President Mcpherson last night re-
marked that the price of the land
would be removed from any bonus or
gift the city would have to make up
for the acquisition of the second plant.
The tract of land already in the pos
session of the company would accom-
modate three plants, it is said.
Twin factories such as may become
a reality in the Cape already have
been established at Hannibal, Mo. This
is urged as a precedent in the Capc's
activities to get the new establish
ment. BellcviIlc, ILL.,, also is a strong
competitor for the factory.
One of the most potent arguments
in favor Of the Cape as location for
the proposed factory, it is said, is the
fact that since the shoe company has
been operating here, there has been
no labor trouble This will encourage
the capital to enter this field, it is
said. Workmen to take their positions
in the new factory quickly would come
to the Cape, President Mcpherson re-
marked last night, If there already are
not enough here.