The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-04-27
SHELTON MILLS
 ARE EXPANDING IN BOOM TIMES
''Mile of Factories" Along the Housatonic Thriving
 in General Prosperity.

Shelton, April 27-She1ton now seems to be deriving some benefit as the result of the prosperity wave in the way of new buildings. Not only are people planning to erect tenements | and homes but some of the nanufac- turing concerns are contemplating, and several have actually begun, work on the enlargement of their plants. In some cases new factory buildings are being erected while in others, addi- tions are being made. The new factory buildings and ad- dittons to plants mean that extra help will be needed when they are complet- ed, and they denote the growth and prosperity of several local plants.
 Undoubtedly the largest undertak- ing in the way of construction is by the Sidney Blumentha1 & Company, Inc, which is having a new four-story mill built on the river bank in the rear of the main buildings of the company. The work is in charge of the Turner Construction Company of New York, and is progressing rapidly. At the present time the foundation has been laid and the first floor raised and the construction company is about to com mence on the second story. The build ing is to be one of the most up-to- date type in this vicinity, being of. re- enforced concrete with every up-to- date Tac1l1ty, and will be electrically lighted. It is planned that. the new building will be largely of glass as re- gards the sides. The mill is to be used mostly for a finishing department, al- though a part will also be used for dyeing. It is the expectation of the company that the building will be cond- p1eted and that possession will be se- cured early in June. The completion of the new building will mean a great ly increased force in the finishing and dyeing departments. 1 An enlargement of the plant of the O. K Tool Holder company is also planned, while the company also con- templates erecting new building that is to be used as steel storehouse and garage. The present plant of the company will be enlarged to double it's present capacity. This means that an addition to the present build ing of four stories will be made. The enlargement will afford needfu1 ex- pansion of several departments in the mill, particularly the machine depart ment. A small building 25 by 70 feet and one story in height is to be erected also, both of re-enforced concrete and up to date in every particular. The garage is to be used for an auto that is, constantly kept at the mill for the convenience of officials although the management stated that possibly it would be used for a larger type of machine that would be used later for delivery purposes.
 At the new plant of the Derby Man ufacturing company extensive altera- tions are being made by contractor Clifton B. Hoyt. Preparations to in stall the new machinery are being made while boiler room and power house are being erected. The two buildings are to be of sheet metal and so constructed as to be free from dan ger by fire. The plant, formerly known as the Shelton Bolt works, is now a busy place and the carpenters to complete their work so that the mill can begin operations.
 Another local misunderstanding con- cern, the Holmes Manufacturing com pany, has taken possession of it's new building on Coram avenue. This con cern which was only organized a few months ago, has developed rapidly and a few days ago was enabled to move into more spacious quarters. The new building has been in the process of erection for some time. The work ing force numbered fourteen but since entering the new building it has in creased to thirty.
 Indications are that this year will be better one for Shelton in the way of new buildings than last year. The report of Building Inspector Samuel Tyther for last year showed that the number of permits granted were "A, ten of which were for apartments or tenements, while three were manufacz turnig buildings. The approximate ntts were issued last year was I$75, 300.