Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-08-25
CHESTER GROWS
LIKE SCHOOLBOY;;
TREBLES WEALTH
Population of $4,000 Doubles
in Decade Investments
Reach S72,OO0,000
WAR ONLY ONE FACTOR
Industries Are Permanent and
No Depression Will Fol-
low Peace Treaty

Chester the oldest city in Pennsylvania.
IL forging rapidly forward on the crest OF
one OF the greatest Industrial development
waves ever experienced by an American
city. From virtual obscurity in the indus
trial world 10 years ago, Chester, through
period of phenomenal progress and de-
velopnent. today has become one of the
Iivest centers in the commercial and Indus
trial life of the nation.
Most important OF all is the fact that
Chesters growth has not been ephemeral
born only of the European war boom, but
has been steady, continuous and consistent
with the opportunities afforded by the geo.
graphical location of the city. 1t is true
that war orders have given an unusual
impetus to number of the industries dur
ing the last two years, but even this growth
has had the assurance of later permanence
because the tremendous workshops were
made permanent structures which can be
utilized later in other pursuits
The Chester section is that strip of land
on the western bank Of the Delaware River
between Crum Lynne and Marcus Hook.
Many of the Industries found 1t impossi-
BILE on account of their size to locate in
Chester proper but the city limits were
easily extended and the district became
known as the Chester section.
FIGURES SHOW GROWTH
The remarkable growth during the last
decade is strlkngly shown by the following
approximate figures given by the Chester
Chamber of Commerce:
, 1905 mn 1919 ooo
iR9p ipdRastrla9ip wealth s15-s2o. 100000 s72,o0O.OOO
trlss ot minus 1875 200
industries employ.
1000 workmen. . is
The population during the last decade has
virtually doubled but at the same time
the Industrial wealth. the money invested in
Industry. has been more than trebled. The
population is expected to grow in proportion
to the increase in Industrial wealth as soon
as homes can be built to accommodate the
new men. There is a dearth of homes and
many workers are forced to commute from
Philadelphia.
The wave of prosperity had its inception
toward the close of 1906. At that time the
Baldwin Locomotive Works, having out
grown it's Philadelphia plants. purchased
IS4 acres of land at Eddystone and COM
menced the construction of shops which now
constitute the largest single locomotive plant
IN the United States. The temporary boom
was soon checked by the subsequent panic,
but not until much attention had been drawn
to the extraordinary advantages of the
Chester section.
STEADY GROWTH RESUMED,
AS the signs of a panic disappeared the
growth began with a new stride. And then
came the world war in 1914, when the
Allies turned to America for ammunition,
guns, steelwork, locomotives and all other
articles of war use Although the wave of
prosperity swept over the entire country the
Chester section, by reason of it's strategical
location, became one of the greatest centers
for this war trade.
New enterprises were started on every
hand, established plants worked feverishly
in extending their facilities to take care OF
the ever-growing trade, both domestic and
foreign. The Industrial growth has limited
only by the shortage of labor. From Crum
Lynne to Marcus Hook huge plants began to
spring into being as though by magic.
Plants of all kinds and for the manufacture
Of almost every commodity known to modern
Industry were included in the list.
Some of the largest contracts from the
foreign Governments were received by the
Baldwin interests Immediately they COM
ms need the erection of tremendous work.
shops not temporary structures that would
be abandoned after they had fulfilled their
use. but buildings of steel and brick that
could be utilized in the manufacture of
locomotives or other peaceful devices after
the close OF the war
The Baldwin interests. embracing the
Baldwin Locomotive Works the Remng-
ton Arms and the Eddystone Ammunition
Companies, now employ $1,000 workmen,
Of which the locomotive works alone have
10000.
Among tine other big Industrial establish
Rents In the Chester region are the plants
Of the American Dyewood Company, the
General Chemical Company, the Congoleum
Company, the Eddystone Manufacturing
Company. the Penn Seaboard Steel Cor
poration, the Tindel-AIorris Company, t.
Belmont Iron Works, the South Chester
Tube Company, the Delaware River Steel
Company. the Chester Shipbuilding Com
pany. the Robert Wetherill Company, the
Aberfoyle Manufacturing Company the
Commercial Box and Envelope Company,
the o. w. Ketchan Company and the Sun
shipbuilding Company.
The last-named concern was incorporated
recently for S5,000,00O, and more than
SO. 900 Is being expended for the con-
struction of the new plant, which will be
equipped 10 build standard-cargo ships up
20 900 feet in length and S5 feet beam
The plant viii he ready 10 begin work about
October l.
MANY MORE INTERESTS.
survey of the industries in the Chester
sections leads one through the whole run
and gamut of industries. There is the
steel castings industry, for instance, grow
ing IN Importance each year and giving
employment TO thousands; the shipbuilding
Industry, IN its infancy yet but growing
with such rapidly that il promises tc out
eroB the locomotive industry within few
9safa: the textile industry, the oil indus
fry the dye industry and SO on throughout
TIE entire long list.
In the manufacture Of locomotive. marine
and miscellaneous castings the Chester
region leads the world the six plants en-
gagged In their manufacture in this section
having an aggregate annual output of no
lass than 100000 tons,
The frst steel castings in America were
made At Chester rs years ago, at the plant
81 the Penn Steel Castings and Machine
Works. nov a part OF the Penn Seaboard
STEEL Corporation. which stands on the his
kofic site OF Penn's landing in America on