Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-08-14
VERMONT MAY HAVE
A FORD FACTORY
Distinguished Automobile Maker
Here with Thomas A. Edison,
John Burroughs and Others,
Admits II but Prefers to Talk
of Roads and Scenery

The prospects Of one of Henry Ford's
several contemplated new factories being
located in Vermont. possibly at Burllng-
ton, Essex Junction, Montpelier or Rut-
land are as good to-day as they were
several months ago, when announcement
was made by the Ford Motor company
that 1t was going to erect the factories.
according to information given to the
Free Press by Henry Ford himself at
the Hotel Vermont Saturday Mr.. Ford
was in this city on tour of the State,
together with Thomas A. Edison. the
electrical wizard, John Burroughs. the
eminent naturalist, and several other
well-known men.
II is the intention of the Ford company
to locate In some community where there
is sufficient water power to generate
much electrical energy and of course
Vermont has that in abundance. but
nothing definite will be established on
the location of any of the proposed
plants until the final settlement Of the
war has been accomplished and the
events of the day gone back to some
where near normal again.
Mr.. Ford was interviewed by several
officials of the Chamber of Commerce
as to various subjects Of interest to
Burlington. and while none of the off,
cials would state definitely one way or
the other, it is probable that one of the
subjects talked on was the housing prob
lem for employees of large concerns. a
subject in which Mr.. Ford has been very
much interested and which he has solved
to very great extent at his own
| plant.
The celebrities motored to the city
Sat 1,aI IT.
| Hotel Vermont shortly after 1:45 O'Clock
and remained here until about five
O'Clock when they started off again. Mr.
has made his name famous but recline I'd
in the tonneau of twin-sx Packard
touring car owned by the Firestone Tire
company. Nevertheless there was a
"tin Lizzie" along. it being a specially
constructed complete kitchen outfit for
camping purposes
The party. containing the three men
already mentioned together with Harvey
s. Firestone. head of the Firestone Tire
/ & Rubber Co. his son. Harvey s Fire
stone, Jr.. and F.. G. Kingsford. arrived
about 130 o'clock. They carried tenting
and other modern camping eqquipage in
two trucks. Cadillac and Ford these
being looked after by four men from the
| Ford concern who do the tent pitching,
cooking, etc. In addition to the camp
| ing equipment. Mr. Edison uses his own
car, an Edison Simplex, gasoline
| driven car. in the tour
The party said that the weather was
very enjoyable for camping, that they
! liked their tour so far and that Vermont
had some wonderful scenery and. in most
| places. excellent roads. They left dur
| ing the afternoon for trip to the
northern part of the State, having motored
from Troy. y. Y.
| AS everybody knows, Mr.. Ford is the
| manufacturer of the famous Ford auto
! mobile. Thomas A. Edison, the greatest
electrical wizard of the century. and
John Burroughs, probably the greatest
! naturalist ever given to the world Mr..
| Edison and Mr.. Burroughs looked ex-
| actly as represented by photographs pub
| lished from time to time in papers and
magazines but Mr.. Ford reminded one
of a Vermont farmer very tall and thin
! with sharp features, kindly look in his
eyes and face, hut seldom smiling.