South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-03-14

does not happen. the possibilities for
new factories will be infinitely larger
after the survey has been made.
Details Of Survey.
This work viii require several
months, and viii probably occupy
nearly all Of my time during that
period because il has so many fea-
lures. Let me enumerate a few:
l. a census OF al existing indus
tries. in order 10 obtain general
facts concerning industries already
located in the community such as
the number of men and women en-
ployed. rates OF wages, hours OF
labor, character Of Industries, etc,
etc.
?. The various economic factors
entering into the location Of indus
tries should be carefully investi-
gated for each type of industry in
the community. In South Bend
where the industries are varied and
diversified an inquiry into the va
rious factors Will become compH-
Gated and consume a large amount
OF time. The facts which l would
enumerate as specially important are
the following:
A-Raw materials; their location;
accessibility; quantity; quality, etc.
B-Transportation charges; rates;
terminal facilities; available supply
cars; the presence of more than one
railroad; the advantage of belt lines;
etc., etc.
C-Labor supply; character of
labor; whether native, foreign, in
telligent, ignorant. highly skilled
along some special line, unskilled,
generally accustomed to some partic-
ular industry. etc. etc.
D-Market. Is a market Access
sible? Is il a large market? Is
it a market which demands partic-
ular product? Is the market itself
an inducement for an industry. or
must market be developed, etc,
etc.
E-Available sites for manufac-
turing. What sites are there? Are
their available sites for switches?
What are the prices of various sites
per square foot. etc. Are there fac
tory buildings available for general
purposes. specialized plants, lofts.
buildings, etc, etc.
Financial resources. Are the
banks Of the town strong? Are there
investors who are apt to be interest
ed in new concerns? VIII new
manufacturing plant be starved for
the want Of capital with which to ex-
pand or for available cash?
should Not Limit Survey.
s. The Industrial survey, how
ever. should not be limited 10 what
the city has. To limit the industrial
survey 10 what the city already has
means that the possibilities for ex-
pansion are thereby greatly curtail-
ed. The industrial survey should
seek to discover what resources the
city possesses which can be devel-
oped. with the idea of offering at
fractions for new industries which
the city, up to the present, has not
had TO ans extent. If the facts
which are discovered warrant the
encouragement of new industries, an
energetic campaign will have a basis
of real fact, which will be an argu-
ment Of great favor with prospective
manufacturers.
The report Of the traffic extension
committee had to do largely with
the necessity for action on the part
of all interested shippers in the mat
ter of the proposed cancellation of
rates TO the Ohio river crossings, APP
plying 10 traffic destined to south
ern territory. ass
The interstate commerce commits
sion has ordered a hearing in this
case set for South Bend, Ind, on
April 8, 1916. This was originally
called for March at Chicago, but
through efforts Of the traffic commit
tee the commission consented to the
change. The secretary was instruct
ed to represent the Chamber of
Commerce at the hearing.
The cancellation of the proper
tiOnal rates in question means ad-
vances in rates from 30 10 so per
cent, also the increasing of minimum
weights, caused by different CLASH
| ficatiOn requirements. The situa-
ton has been forced upon South
Bend and other cities nearby, on ac-
count of complaint lodged with the
interstate commission by the Toledo
Commerce club, with Detroit. Cleve-
land, Springfield, o., Dayton. Column
bus and Canton, o., organizations
Jointly. These cities will be repre-
scented at the hearing in South Bend
as will also the Chicago association
of commerce and the indianapolis
chamber of commerce. The import
ance OF this case can therefore be
readily perceived.
There are regulatory measures
coming up from time TO time which
will receive consideration on the
part of your committee. For in
stance. i'm the first session Of the
64th congress, Congressman Heating
introduced a bill known as house
bill No. 651, prescribing among other
things, that carriers must collect
undercharges within 80 days from
the time of the delivery Of a ship
ment. The result of this. il passed,
would be that shippers likewise
would be compelled TO present claims
for overcharges within a similar Pc
riod. Whether il be the railroad or
the shipper, such a provision would
in many instances stop the proper