The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-03-16
TthlMfNT. FAMINE
CAUSED BY BOOM
IN BUSINESS
Homes Scarce in Bennington Be-
cause of Industrial Growth
MACHINES HUM IN EVERY MILL
Prospects That More Operatives VIII
Be Able to Find Employment in
Local Factories

desirable tenementS are at prem
yum in Bennington at the present
time. For several months there has
eHNen growing activity in the factor
~ and mills and as result the com
manity just now is expanding indus
tri6uslt imore rapidly than it is resi-
dentialE There was considerable
building during the past season and
therd are evidences that number OF
houses will be put up during 1916 but
unless there are radical changes in
the business situation, OF which there
is little prospect at present, the de-
mand TOR tenements is bound to con-
tinuc.
At the present time nearly every
plant, particularly those employing
women operatives, is working at fun
capacity. Not much difficulty has
been experienced by the superinten-
dents in keeping their machines hum
ming every day as there are a large
number of women and girls who have
had experience in some one of the
lines of work and who can be called
upon during a rush period such is pre-
vailing just now. At the same time
there are prospects ahead which
should provide employment for more
women operatives than are at present
available. ~
Il, The EZ Waist company, which
moved to this village after its factory
at North Bennington was burned has
Tor long time found Its present quart
ers on Gage street inadequate for its
business. Recently the company
moved a portion OF its equipment to
the buildings formerly used by the
Tiffany underwear company. but ever.
With this addition 1t finds itself unable
to keep up with its orders and has
oeen compelled to open branch fac
tory at Cambridge for the purpose OF
finishing a portion of the garments
being turned out at the Gage street
plant Recently number of girls
rom Cambridge have been at work al
the company's factory here learning
to operate finishing machines. They
&ill return to Cambridge Saturday
night to be on hand as the branch fac
tory is expected to be opened for
business next Monday The branch,
mill is being installed in the building
at Cambridge last occupied by the Su-
perior company in the manufacture OF
sweaters. The Il z company expects
to eventually employ about 60 hands
at Cambridge. The shipping of gar
ments to Cambridge to be finished OF
course adds to the cost of production
The company has definitely decided
upon the enlargement of its Gage
street building. The contract has not
been let but the plans and speciiica-
tions have been drawn and made and
the company is in the market for ma
terial The present building will be
raised another story and large addi
ton will be built on the south end OF
the structure The additional floor
space will enable the company to con
centrate it's business and TO large
extent eliminate the expense Of oper
ating three separate plants.
The Bennington Hosiery company is
operating its plant to its full capacity
and the officials state that the output
lis sold for months ahead. Only few
days ago buyer from Paris called at
the company's Office ready to place a
large order had the company been in
a position to fill it.
At the Bottum & Torrance factory
business is better than it has ever
been in the history of the company.
Nearly two hundred hands are employ
ed and the finished stock, particularly
sheets and pillow cases, is being
turned out in large quantities. A car
load Of cotton cloth lasts but four
days.
It is understood that the underwear
factories are all exceptionally busy
and in some of them the orders are ac.
cumulating at rate that taxes the
capacities of the equipment.
Such prospects would indicate that
there are opportunities here for the
employment of larger number of
women operatives than are at present
working in the different factories.
Should business continue to increase,
and reasons can be advanced why
there should be an even greater de-
mand for the products of the local in
dustries, it would seem as though more
operatives would be needed
Bennington is one of the best resi-
Dental towns in the country. It's To-
cation is surpassed by few 1t has all
| the advantages of town of it's size
excellent schools, good library, op-
portunities for amusement and excel
lent railroad connections. There is no
better town to live in anywhere in
| New England. Should future business
create demand for more operatives
than can be supplied from the present
population there is no reason why
young women living in other communi
ties should hesitate to move to Ben