The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1919-01-16
INDUSTRIAL S|TUA-
I|ON NOT TOO BAD
Some Factories Already
Resuming Operations
In Two local Industries. at Least.
More Goods Are Being Turned Out
Than in War Times

Than in War Times
Al tbru ne four big mills of the
American W9olen Co repairs have
been going forward brisAly during
the shutdown - ,he past month. No
definite announcement as 10 resurnp-
ton of work can BE- nfade al this time
but there is reason to hope that d be-
ginning vii De made. early in Feb
ruary.
At tae Somerset Shoe factory
spirit Of optimism prevails Their
orders were not subject to cancella-
ton al the closing of the war, and
they have been running right along
with d full crew AT the present
time they are actually increasing the
number of employees and the volume
OF production. The export trade. al
ways heavy factor in the shoe bust
ness. vas, of course. much reduced
during the war II is likely to come
back now with a rush. European
countries have never become import
ant in the production OF shoes and
and whatever plants they had for the
purpose have been for the most part
destroyed. They have neither shoes
nor the factories in which TO COM
mence business This situation
promises a big market for shoes, and
the Skowhegan shop is looking for
plenty Of business for long time to
come
AT the Skowhegan Novelty Works.
where during the last few months of
war production was curtailed on ac-
count OF lack of help. they now have
a full crew and their production is
fully up to pre-war and early war
conditions.
The value OF the product going
thru the Skowhegan Jersey Creamery
is greater than ever before in the his
tory of that institution. This is due.
in a measure, to the extremely high
price. The pounds OF cream col
lected is slightly less than at this
time last year This does not prob
ably indicate even a slight decline in
the dairy business. 1t is thot that
the same number of cows are kept
but that just at the present time their
average milk production happens TO
be less than in January 1918. The
increasing demand of the city markets
for more sweet cream is one OF the
interesting features Of the present
business, and a growing share OF the
local dairy production is now shipped
in that form.
Christmas week the Maine Spinning
plant was closed down and the en-
ployees were laid off for the first
time in the history of this enterprise
Il would have been possible to keep
the mill going but the market was un-
settled and the management took this
time to do a painting job which could
not have been done while running.
The frs work was to cover the sur
face with yarnish and over this was
spread paint. for the most part white
and the result is very pleasing. The
plant started Immediately, after this
painting job. but for the first two
weeks ran only about so per cent. 1t
is now up to about 90 per cent OF full
production. In the meantime some
twisting machinery has been moved
to the D'Arcy mill on the Island and
i in full operation Drawing ma
ehlnery has been pat in, in the place
thus vacated. al the factory at the
head of Water street. The Maine
Spinning Company expects TO Keep
going from now on, without inter
ruption. and certain conditions IN
prospect may bring about slight IN
crease in production Had the SkoW-
hegan Pulp Company vacated its mill.
January lst. as At one time seemed
likely. the Spinning Company would
have utilized the room thus made
available