New-York tribune., 1920-11-14
Branch FactOrl
La Small Town
Gains i'm Favor
Producers Turn Attention
to Sending Work Out;
Survey Shows Benefits
and Defects of the Plan

Is the branch factory In a small
town a paying proposition? The Blu
Teau OF Factory Practice and Indus-
1rlal relations of the International As
s0clatlon OF Garment manufacturers a
snort time ago determined to find an
answer to this question for the guild
ahce OF members whose desire to ex
pand might lead them to consider
esta tabllshing branch factories instead
OF adding to existing plants.
In response to questionnaire on tbs
subject sent to the associations mem
oershlp % per cent of the concerns re-
paylne sald they either operate branch
factories IN small communities or CON
template establishing them. Forty-two
per cent were opposed to the policy or
We're not considering such move.
one manufacturer reported that
whereas labor conditions in small
towns used to be excellent, they are
rapidly becoming city-like. Others re-
ported that they had found that when
the business could be run at full ca
paclty branch plants were profitable.
Dut when business slumped there was
overhead to pay for two or more plants
and only business for one.
Answering the question as to whether
labor costs were more favorable in A
small town than in large center. 56
per cent Of the answers said labor
costs, both for piece work and week
wage, were lower in small towns than
IN large cities. Six who quoted fig
ures declared that labor costs were
from 10 to Is per cent lower, and two
more placed the saving at 20 to 25 per
cent. Two other answers reported that
!apor savings were as great as 80 per
cent in the small towns
Labor conditions and living costs are
better for workers in country towns
some said, while others added that
labor costs were gradually increasing
IN the small towns to the same basis
existing in larger centers.
One manufacturer declared that
while labor costs are normally lower in
the small town, it IS poor policy to
operate the branch plant on n different
scale from the main factory, because
the employees eventually would learn
of the difference and make trouble.
Members universally conceded that
the quality of labor in country towns
is higher than in the larger cities La
Dor was also found to be more tract
able in the smaller towns. Labor turn
over in the small country town is much
less than in the large cities. according
to opinions expressed
From the standpoint of quality Of
production, however, replies indicated
concensus OF opinion to the effect
that there is little difference between
the workers in the country town and
IN the large center The prevailing
comment was to the effect that the
quality Of production in the country
was poor at first. but improved with
time and training
lhere was practically a unanimous
agreement to the effect that rentals
and maintenance in country towns
were lower than in large centers
Power costs, on the other hand.
have been found to be higher in the
country
Distance and accessibility to main
plants were considered of prime i'm
portance in selecting branch plants in
small towns. Replies indicated that
the maximum distance from the main
plant should not exceed 1ifty miles.
The population of the factory town
is of secondary Importance. according
TO most manufacturers. However, It
was indicated by most that population
should not be less than 5000 TO 5000
nor in excess of $4,000 to $4,000, and
the concensus of opinion was to the
effect that $4,000 was the most desir-
able population.
Most important is a, ys2- lation OF
thrifty people in not 'tos ysosnesous
locality. with no indus tsy Ter women,
and a popn lat;on of Il ~ xece n 10
600" one slanufactnuursQuoGA