Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-25

'''N' w. MAY Sf.-1ne state
OF Virginia has acquired a new manu-
featuring center within the last few
weeks. An industrial plant has reared
huGc structures on what was formerly
pasture and corn land. bringing hum
dreds OF factory hands TO dwell in
Quan,ico. Va. SO entirely rural are
the surroundings. however. that hous-
ing facilities are extremely Inadequate
and the plant is now Offering free
week END excursions to surrounding
cities in order TO get builders. con-
tractors and business men to look
ouantico over and learn to take her
Scriously.
The rural factory town, which had
It's beginning in Homestead and Pull
man IN the early eighties is fast be-
lens Of tho country. Attracted bv
low land values the factories are lcav-
ing tho crowded cities seeking tho
open spaces and erecting their plants
ana towns in frenzy OF hurry with
out consideration for tho requirements
or posterity. OF course there are
some exceptions To this rule but for
the most part the town is built for tho
sole convenience Of the factory and
not for the health. sanitation and com
Tort OF it's future citizens
In most cases tn" emigration of the
factory Is confined TO the rural districts
skirtinG tho large city for It is neces-
sary 20 have at least one reliable mar
N'h 'i'St 1T manu-, ana Also alum
dant supply OF labor Thus We have
the various manufacturing suburbs OF
Boston. tho numerous plants on Long
Island and staten Island. the factories
on the outskirts of Philadelphia. such
as the Baldwin Locomotive Works. the
automobile factories OF Flint. Michi-
gan, not far from Detroit
Pullman Was First One.
The first OF these of any conse-
quence was Pullman. The dream OF n
hiG manufacturer who believed in tho
paternaiism principle AS carried out
IN Eneland on the large landed cs-
tatcs. Pullman Was built in 1850 on
open prairie land lying south Of Chi
caso' In nve years a fair-s!2ed in
dustrial town had risen. with wide
clean streets. shade trees. well-built
houses and sloping green lawns There
were shops and stores. a hotel. A bank.
thcater and library and recreation
grounds. all OF which were under The
patronage OF the Pullman Company,
which owned all tho land. Tho people
iSed IN the houses. they attended TO
the business and enjoyed the few
amusements, but they were never pcr-
United TO forget that for these thing
they were indebted to the house of
PULLMAN. The city. after all. did not
belong 10 them. and in due course they
became discontented.
A wel-known professor described the
town as feudalist!c. After this il was
A short time before the town Was an
nexed by Chicago. and the employees
or the big train company asserted their
independence Of the house OF Pullman
by strike. The last vestige OF con-
troll was taken from the plant in 1898. |
when the Illinois Supreme Court de- |
cided that the company'S charter did |
not include the holding and disposing
or real estate other than that required |
by its business.
Cincinnati also ho copt,, ,
number OF more or less famous satel- |
lite cities. Norwood. for example |
rather exclusive suburb of the Ohio /
city. was suddenly chosen by several
plants and establish colonies The |
wealthy residents. however were not
impressed with the need for a town |
boom. and discouraged all attempts to |
trade In real estate. AS result. the
majority OF the factory hands continue
to live in Cincinnati, journeying back
and forth daily. but in spite OF this
consideration on their part. the suburb
has grown from population OF 5000 !
TO 10000
Other Ohio PInnt-Towns.
Ivoryville, the home of large soap
as is also the suburb of Oakley. Here
half dozen companSes bought land |
belonging to four large diaries and |
puilt a manufacturing town of their !
OWL lney nave established cO-oDera-
tive power plants for distributing light
neat water, compressed air, steam and |
pressure for fire protection systems |
Each company pays for the exact !
amount of service il requires. Very
few Of the operatives live in Oakley. |
most Of them residing in the crowded |
sections of Cincinnati and some in the
Kentucky towns across the river. No
effort has been made to induce them
to live within walking distance of the |
factories-which is an economic neCes-
sity in most instances.
While in most industrial towns the
operatives are encouraged to buy their |
own homes. such a course is not add
visable when the town is dependent
upon one industry. If anything should |
happen to that one industry. it would
doubtless he difficult to sell the houses
and depart for another industrial on
portunity. In Gary. this has been
overcome by the land company, which
has agreed 10 take back any house
at the price paid for It,
Perhaps the most remarkable OF all
industrial towns Is Gary. Ten years
ago, n certain corporation which has
made an impressive reputation in the
manufacture OF steel, bought several
and scrub oak at the southern end OF
wilderness had grown into an active
town OF $4,000 inhabitants, with "a steel
plant that employed over $4,000 men.
There were sidewalks, sewer sys-
tenn. electric lights; two banks and
three newspapers added to the dignity
Of It's business district; q harbor added