The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1920-01-02
Edgerton in 1919.

In going over the efforts and achieve
ments of Edgerton during the year
1919, the first year after the great war
closed, we note with satisfaction the
progress that the enterprises fostered
in this city have been able to make.
The year has been one characterized by
unrest and instability practically in
every line of endeavor. Labor troubles
have upset production and transporta-
ton in nearly every center of popula-
ton. Capital and labor have been at
swords points, and both have been ac-
eused by the public Of violating their
responsibility to society as whole.
Prices have been abnormally high, but
there has been great demand for all
products of the soil, of the mine, the
oil field, and of the factory. Money
has been plentiful, and it has been
freely used. In spite of it all. times
have been good, labor we'll paid, all
values increasing; the only real diff
Guilty has been to be able to supply the
insistent and ever growing demand. In
Edgerton there has been no difficulties
experienced in the field of labor; the
demand for it has been constant and
the wages for all kinds of service high.
Some notable progress has been made
during the year.
THE HIGHWAY TRAILER COMPANY.
The Trailer company has made good.
At the annual meeting this fall divi-
dend of 10 per cent was declared, and
a very substantial sum of undivided
profits was set aside for working CAPT.
tai. 1t was decided to issue series OF
preferred stock to enlarge the capital,
in order to be able to build more, In
stall larger equipment and push the
business of distribution. The new
building, 168x51O feet floor space, was
started last fall and will be completed
as soon as the weather conditions make
it profitable to put crew of men on
to build. When this structure is COM
plete, the company will need $50 men
to run the whole plant. 125 work there
now. The Trailer company has now 30
distributing points, located all over the
United States, and in places in Europe
and South America, with 500 agents in
the field. 'The orders pour in much
faster than it has been possible to take
= u M Aon %Aa
live and aggressive manager Of the big
works.
THE CONTINENTAL AXLE COMPANY.
The Continental Axle company was
organized during the past year. In
remarkably short time the company,
which is capitalized at $500, 900, fully
paid up, has made this. plant go
up. At Christmas time this year it
could take care of the needs for axles
in the Trailer company, and has also
taken on as regular customers the
Winter Motor Truck Co., Kenosha, the
Oneida Motor Truck Co. at Green Bay,
and the Motor Truck Co. of Menomi-
nee, Mich, operated by the Four Wheel
Truck Drive Co. of Clintonville, Wis.
Fifty axles per day are turned out at
cost from $1O0 to $500 per axle. Forty
men and 80 machines are now on the
floor; but 80 more machines and 125
men in all will be required to reach the
production limit of the plant. The
equipment alone will cost about $780,
900. The size of this building is 68 by
$40 feet. The company is making an
improved axle, which promises to out
serve any other axle now on the mar
ket. The bearing in the steering
knuckle is of new design which will
do away with the weakness of the
tapering Timkin bearing formerly used
in the knuckle of the motor aXles.
1t should be matter of much salts
faction to the stockholders to know
that these great buildings have been
put up at cost less than one-half Of
what outside contractors were willing
to put them up for. The old Trailer
building cost $4,000; the Continental
building was put up Cor $4,000, and
the new Trailer building will cost $780,,
900. Capable management and utiliza-
ton of the permanent working force
have made this feat possible, even in
the days of high cost.
THE EDGERTON BUILDING ASSOCIATION.
This is an enterprise which was or
ganized this year. The housing prob
lem of Edgerton is to be taken care of
by this company. The land is secured,
the plat is ready, some labor has been
done on the grounds, and as soon as
the weather permits force will go on
and give Edgerton an addition of new
homes, placed in an area so plated as
to add to the comfort as well as the
beauty of the city.
PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS.
Il - L.