Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-05-20
Maxwell Company
Gives Boom to City
Of Newcastle

Within the last five years New
castle, Ind, has graduated from little
town to a prosperous city and the trans
formation has been due chiefly to the
influence of the Maxwell Motor Co.
When the big automobile organization
located one of its mammoth factories
in this place less than ten years ago,
the population was close to 5000. Now
it is in the neighbOrhood of $4,000. The
town has become congested. TranspOr-
tatiOn and housing problems are engag-
ing the attention of the city officials.
The situation became so acute that
the officials of the Newcastle plant of
the Maxwell Company offered to co.
operate with the city planners in eff
fecting a remedy and a plan has been
evolved that will not only take care
of all the residents of Newcastle, but
also provide for many others who are
being attracted to the place by its in
dustrial activity.
More building is going on in New
castle this spring than ever before in
the history of the town. This also is
due directly to the initiative Of the
officials of the Maxwell Company at
Newcastle.
Big Company Formed.
At the suggestion of the Maxwell Of
ficials a corporation known as the
Greater Newcastle Company was
formed and capitalized at 100000. A
tract of land, rs acres, adjacent to the
Maxwell plant, was purchased and
divided into lots. The city was in
duced to buy ten acres of this ground
for park purposes. The remaining 65
acres were divided into 250 lots. None
of these lots are less than 80 feet wide
and 1872 feet deep. Many of New
castles prominent business men took
stock in the new company, the Max
well retaining a controlling interest of
60 per cent.
The building of attractive five-room
houses of the bungalow type is now
progressing rapidly. Streets, alleys
and sewers are being built. Water
mains, electric lights and telephones
are being installed. The property is
highly restricted and a general plan
of tree-panting is being carried out,
so that beauty is not being neglected
for the sake of expediency. Each
house is being finished with distinctive
touches, so that the whole plan does
not SAVIOR of the tenement atmosphere.
Sold At Cost.
Each of these houses will be sold at
the cost price and by an arrangement
under which any worker may buy. The
prices will range from $1,000 to $1,000
and the initial payment will be about
10 per cent The balance is to be paid
in weekly installments of from So to
So. Maxwell officials figure that this
is about 81 more than the average
Newcastle resident pays in rent, so
that by saving only dohar a week,
the purchaser of the house is buying
his own home.
For Maxwell employees in Newcastle,
this housing plan presents other econ
omic features. The houses are all
within easy walking distance of the
factory. Car fare is eliminated and the
men will all be able to go home for
luncheon.
None of the houses have been sold,
the directors of the company prefering
to wait until all improvements have
been made. Maxwell employees are
carer to buy and already there is a
waiting list that indicates that all OF
the 250 houses will be taken speedily.
When the initial allotment is sold the
project will be extended gradually toI
provide easily acquired homes for all,
if possible, of the growing army OF
Maxwell employees in Newcastle.