The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-06-14
Big Powder Interests Com plete Negotiations For Suburban Factory and Will Continue Business Along Same Lines-No Explosives To Be Made, Buyers Say.
Plant May Be Expanded to Eight Times Present Size By New Owners rs-Old Elm ployes Will Be Put on Pension List-E. w. liar ral Begins Remodeling / Star Shirt Building.

The great DuPont interests pur- i chased. the Fairfield Rubber Co. of Fairfield, yesterday and will |continue the plant as at present for the time being, with the probability that it will soon be incfeased from five to eight times capacity.
 All the old employees who have serv- ed the Harra1 interests so Loyalty for periods of from 10 to 30 years, will be retained or pensioned under an agreement forced by k. w Harral in the contract sale. Fairfield residents are assured by the new interests which took charge today that the com pany will not manufacture powder in any form there.
 Hereafter, while the plant will con- : tfnue to be known the Fairfield Rubber Co, that the prestige which has been gained in 35 years manufac- ture of the standard rubber cloth may not be lost, the DuPont Fabrikoid CO. ! incorporated. of Delaware, will be in full oGarge.
 B. W. Harral and his few associates, i closely related, have built up an enor- nous trade in rubber cloth. While strict industrial methods would have greatly increased the output. the aim has rather been to keep peace, har-
 nony and allegiance among the em- p1oyes. During the last year the company has been compelled to limit its delivery to old customers while new ones cIamored for goods. An offer to sell was refused until it was shown that the employees, many of hom have faithfully served for 35 years, were ta be cared for under the pen sion plan of the big E. I. DuPont de- Nemours Co., of which the new com pany Is subsidiary.
 zid Tr NU -t-oT S7o his parting farewell yesterday in the plant he had supervised daily since 1881, the scene throughout the shop was affecting. The Reconsideration of sale is not known.
 The Fairfield Rubber Co. is gen. orally said to have made Fairfield, 9 for that part of it's, population that has had to work for a living. Nearly half century ago the people of the town were dependent upon their crops of onions and potatoes. The onions were carted to nearby cities or shipped l to New York form Southport. Elm pIoyment in Bridgeport was little sought, because in the absence of troI- ley cars, those who worked in the Park City had to start very early in the morning. on foot.
 The plant was built by James Mott, a philanthropic resident of Fairfield, who did much for the town. He plan med to conduct a rubber cloth nalkin g plant and give jobs to FairfieIders The building stood idle many years until the late Nathaniel Wheeler pur- chased 1t. He gave employment to many men and women and better times were enjoyed. Since then it has been conducted by E. w. HarraI, son. 1n-Iaw of MT. Wheeler.
 The majority of those working in the plant have been with it for years and some have worked scarcely any other place. The product of the plant is a rubberized cloth, which is used for automobile tops, curtains, etc Henry Ford is one of the largest cus- toners.