The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1916-01-14
Heard About Plant
Board Urges Action
From Saturdays Daily.

2:3U IN the commercial cluD rOOHs
to hear the report of M. r. Sullivan
who had just returned from James
vile, Wis, where he had gone to in
vestigate shoe factory which is
about to remove from GAINESVILLE, and
which several cities are DESTROYS OF
securing. Mr.. Sullivan's report was
very favorable, although it did not
bear out in all parts the statements
made to the club about week age
by gentleman interested in the re-
moval of the plant 1t appears that
he was not fully informed as to all the
facts in the case.
Mr.. Sullivan found that the factory
e has been in operation for four years
Before that time the man who now
owns the plant had conducted small
er factory at GAINESVILLE for several
years. He is thorough shoemaker
and mechanic, and was brought to
GAINESVILLE when the smaller plant
was about $1,000 in debt and placed
in charge of the management. BY his
foresight and attention to the details
of the business he soon cleared the
factory of debt. The proprletors OF
the larger shoe factory retired from
business about this time, having &C
cumulated enough money to do so,
and a new company was formed, the
two factories being consolidated.
Business On Profitable Basis.
The business was on profitable
basis the first three years, but last
year, owing to unavoidable circum-
stances it lost money. One of the
reasons was that there are twenty
one tobacco warehouses at James
vile, and the season of rush work
lasts two or three months. During
these periods the tobacco factories Of
fer fifty per cent more wages to fac
tory hands, especially girls, than the
ordinary factory can pay. and the
Iaborers go to the tobacco fac
tories. Gripping the other factories.
For this reason three factories are
about to move from GAINESVILLE, so Mr..
Sullivan learned The shoe factory
in question closed five weeks ago and
the company made settlement
among themselves, the plant being
taken over by R. r. Lay, the man
who brought the smaller factory out
of its indebtedness. Mr.. Lay now has
the plant, but no money, and it is
his desire to have $4,000 stock TAX
en-, and he will put the plant in and
take stock in the company for it. He
has had offers of this amount and
even more from cities in Indiana, III
inois and Wisconsin, but he prefers
Mankato, as this city is nearer the
market which he has already devel-
oped. which is largely in Iowa. Some
of his shoes have been handled in
Mankato, but the Minnesota field has
never been fully developed. Mr., Sulli-
van and Mr.. Lay took an invoice OF
the plant, which figured up to about
$4,000 Mr.. Lay is willing to take
$4,000 in stock for the plant. He
suggested that a company with $685.
900 capital be organized, and stock be
taken in this city, and the manage
ers.
Plant Is Upto Date.
The plant is up-to-date. and has
been making and Mr.. Lay wishes that
it may continue to make, three good
grades of mems and youths work
shoes which are better than the aver
age working shoes. Mr.. Sullivan
stated that the company has en-
ployed as high as sixty eight men,
and that the average yearly pay roll
was S35, 000 The factory has on its list
of patrons thirty-five jobbing houses
and $50 retail stores. Mr.. Sullivan
was we'll pleased with Mr.. Lay, and
ascertained from business men of
GAINESVILLE, and the directors of the
former company that he stands very
high as business man and citizen.
He is an officer in the Elks' lodge,
and member of the Masonic lodge.
The advisory committee discussed
the matter thoroughly with Mr.. Sui
Ivan, and it was the opinion of ALL
called in, that the factory was well
worth obtaining. Just how to have
the stock taken was a question upon
which the advisory committee were
somewhat at sea, but the suggestion
was made that the club try to sell
some stock, and also that stock
salesman be employed by the COM
pany. The matter was left in the
hands of the president and secretary
to see what can be done, and meet
ing of the entire Commercial club
may soon be called to consider the
proposition Reasonable haste is nee
essary as Mr.. Lay is anxious to get
located He is paying a royalty on
the larger machines of the plant
whether they are in use or not. A
year ago Mankato had an opportu-
nifty to get the Shaft Shoe factory
which located at Faribault. as the
people there put up about $4,000 and
81 building. 1t is said that the ma
chinery which went to that city with
the plant was of practically no value
as compared with Mr.. Lays plant.
The Shaft factory is now one of the
leading industries of Faribault. and
has prospered so that a second fac
tory plant was erected and the two
combined There is a constant de-
mand for shoes, as people must be
shod regardless of the condition OF
the times. The work shoes for men
and youths made by Mr.. Lays fac
tory are not subject to the fashion
changes as are fine dress shoes, these
changes always involving big loss
in lasts. 1t would appear that there
is now a good chance for Mankato
to get a good factory on better terms
than were ever offered before.
From Saturdays Daily.