The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1916-09-30
UNIT FACTORY
PLAN DISCUSSED

In these columns on August "a an
article appeared under the title of
Unit Factory Buildings wherein if
was shown briefly how the plan was
working at Toledo, Ohio, where it or
lglnated in this country, and was
success, and also at Detroit, Cleveland
indianapolis, Cincinnati and else
where. In most instances the plan
had been pushed by commercial clubs.
and financed by stockholders or pro-
Vate enterprise. AS stated at that
time. the plan is to construct eroun
buildings under the unit system, maxi
ing possible economics in motive DOW
er, heat, lighting, truckage, conven-
lent railway trackage, besides safety
from conflagration districts, making
insurance less, and various other eco
Monies Space is rented to many kinds
OF industries at rate which is not
exorbltant, but affords a reasonable
return on investment The buildings
have movable fireproof partitions, so
that space can be arranged for any
Industry which wishes to come. ac-
cording to it's needs. A strong attrac-
ton is that industries can come with
out being compelled to buy sites and
build, and thus can use all of their
capital for their business, and the
various economies and conveniences
are sufficient to hold them after they
become able to build elsewhere. There
are no reports of failures where the
plan has been tried, but of course
such an enterprise would have to be
at a good distributing point for the
commodities produced. Later we
learn that Minneapolis is getting into
the game. The following is quoted
from an editorial in the Minneapolis
Journal of last Tuesday:
1T has taken but nineteen months
to work the miracle of the new indus
trial. district which the Minneapolis
Industries association has given to the
city,. The meaning of that miracle is
scarcely realized as yet, even by those
who have given of their time and
money and energy to bring it about.
But we shall begin to understand it,
as new industries come here to take
advantage Of the finest industrial dis
trict vet planned and executed by any
American city. Apparently nothing
has been forgotten or overlooked.
The Minnesota. Transfer railway has
extended it's rails into the tract, and
esta blished union freight station
where shipments may be sent and re-
| ceived over any of the nine great
railroad systems entering Minneapolis.
+ Paved and macademized streets give
access to and through the tract. Each
| manufacturing site is set apart with
it's own, trackage, streets, sewer, water
mains, and parking. On each will be
built a. fireproof factory, with light
and air on all four sides. Streetcars
are near at hand, and the tract may
be reached from the center of the
city in a quarter hour. A model resi-
Dental district close at hand will
house the workers. A striking fea-
ture of the enterprise is the fact that
beauty and wholesome conditions
have not been lost sight of, in the
search for utility. The tract will de-
velop into a beautiful park, despite
the roar of it's furnaces and the whir
of it's wheels
AS mentioned before, Superior has,
all Of the conditions necessary to
make a success of such an enterprise.
Editorial, Superior, Telegram.