The labor standard., 1919-08-15
REMINGTON FACTORY
 ON THE MARKET
Building Alone Cost About s12,OOO,OOO - Power Plant Best of Its Kind in the United States

BRIDGEPORT-Th local eorre- spondent of the Sunday Courant has the following to say regarding the Remington Factory building that now stands idle in this city:
 No surprise was expressed any where on the announcement that that big whale of a factory-the Reming- ton Arms plant-had been placed on the market for sale but nevertheless it is recognized that it is matter of deep local and state interest. What is to become of it is certainly more than a local question. The plant surely has made some local history during the past three years, beginning with the strike of the iron industrial workers of the summer of 1916. But it's history is industrial. It was the bigness and the importance of the plant as a munition center that had all to do with nicknaming Bridgeport the Essen of America" Bridgeport CTS have never been overproud of the alias.
 A Patriotic Move c. udIIley OouSe, pIdCIiSdAs GaC sole owner of the Union Metallic Cartridge Company and the Reming- ton Rifle works at Illion, N. Y., before the war, and connected by marriage with the Rockefeller family, erected this great rife factory from purely patriotic motives. He was in Europe at the outbreak of the worlds war, was fully convinced that the United States would be drawn into the fight, and hastened home and put up. the plant when he was dead sure of 1t, although he made many preparations before war was declared. Although multi-millionaire he was not in the Henry Ford class on the ethical ques- tion of the holiness of war, neither is he the industrial genius of the latter. He inherited his munition plants, and laboring under the mental strain that men felt at that time, it was natural that he should turn to munition mak- ing. He certainly knew the limited rifle making capacity of the country.
 A more prudent manufacturer, per-, haps, and certainly one like his uncle, might have hesitated before plunging into the erection of such an extensive plant, until he had certain assurances that it would be utilized and it's future assured. Perhaps MT. Dodge believed that the profits in making munitions would pay for the investment with in- terest. 1t was recently stated in one newspaper that the plant cost S3.0O0,- 1000. As matter of fact the building item alone came to about $12, ,O00, 600, and it's expensive equipment about as much more.
 No Limit to Expense
 Most of it's costly equipment has been shipped away, and a great deal lc r3 2 The great plant was erected On per centage basis, so there was no limit to the expenses. Local builders who keep an eye on the operations often told tales of high extravagance, but it can be said that the various tIlir- teen units of the great factory were put up regardless, and when the ad- vertlsement says that the plant is. the last word in factory construction it is not overstating fact. The power plant of this great factory is said to be the best of it's kind in the United States, if not in the world. But then, look at the cost! It was not the Ire mendous cost of the factory that com pelled MT. Dodge to throw up his hands, but 1t was due to the fact that the plant did not pay for at least a year after operations began. A for mer official, and one who had much to do with directing some sections of the building operations, made the state ment only few days ago that some foundation sections were made up of rejected British bayonets. The story of the tremendous losses caused by rejected work has never been fully told-only hinted at. This manage ment forced Mr. Dodge to surrender his ownership of all his property hold ings, which were taken over by a group of New York bankers.
 The past history of this great plan, varied as it has, been, does not excite the same degree of interest as to the taken up and carted away. It has to stay here.
 A Community Manufacturing
 Plant Planned
 The Bridgeport Chamber of Com merce has had under consideration for some time the erection of a commit nity factory building for the housing of small manufacturers. The present situation in regard to the Remington factory does not settle that problem. Just think of it. Thirteen 5-story factory buildings, all connected, like row of the letter H. having a floor space of 100000 feet, which is almost enough to house all the minor concerns in the city.
 The Chamber of Commerce will not consider any building of an incubator plant till some definite disposition is made of the Remington plant. It may become the great community manu- featuring plant itself. But it goes without saying that, the group of New York bankers do not expect to get back the money that was sunk in it's. erection.