The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1920-07-15
MANUFACTURE OF BRASS
AND BRASS PRODUCTS
WATER BURY, CONNECTICUT,
CENTER OF INDUSTRT-ITS
REMARKABLE GROWTH.

land, in the scenic Naugaruck valley
the city of Waterbury, Conn, unbles-
sed with any of the rich natural re-
sources which have determined the
growth and prosperity of so many OF
our American cities offers phenom-
email example of urban progress pro-
duced by the energy and enterprise
OF man.
This city. the Brass City of the
world. producers of approximately so
per cent. of the brass of the United
States, of more timepieces than any
other city in the world. where the In
gersOll watch was first made and
where watches and clocks are now
made by the millions, is entirely sur
rounded by hills, is twenty-five miles
from tidewater, in an agricultural dis
trict which produces about one tenth
of the food consumed and in a coun-
try lacking in the great mineral re-
sources of nature.
In colonial times a committee from
Pennington, a nearby district, report
ed back to their assembly that the
present site of the city of Water
bury would maintain thirty families
and yet this same site is today the
home of more than 100, 600 people In
spite of many opposing factors the
development of the city has been so
great that it's population has grown
from 5,137 in 1853. 1O.OO4 in 1860. 49,
100 in 1870. 2O.27O in 1880. S3.2O2 in
1890. 511S9 in 1900. 7S.141 in 1910 to
more than 100000 in 1920 and its
freight tonnage is the second largest
among New England cities.
Waterbury is a typical example of
a real industrial community, approx |
mately 10000 of its population being |
engaged in industrial pursuits a sit !
uatiOn which pOrtrays to a very def |
mite degree the great industrial evOlu-
ton of the last fifty years, showing a |
community of 100000 souls occupied |
in manufacturing and depending al |
most entirely upon the outer world
for its maintenance of food.
The brass industry virtually is cen
tered in Waterbury. In colonial days.
when the population of the present
site of Waterbury increased beyond
the supporting power of the land, it
was necessary. of course, for some of
the inhabitants to turn to other pur-
suits to maintain a livelihood. It was
then that the making of brass com
menced in Waterbury through the en-
ergy, initiative and enterprise of typ
zeal. sturdy stocked New Englanders.
Like most great industries the be-
ginning was small Brass was first
manufactured in Waterbury by one
man and later by two or three men,
each working at his own enterprise.
In face of great obstacles to manufac- &
ture and transportation in those days I
these men made their product and sold
it personally. AS time went on and f
the demand increased they associated ]
with theselves others of their fellow .
townsmen and this small nucleus of +
less than twenty men formed the basis a
of the great brass industry of today S
With the growth of the industry, the c
started on such a small
basis were handed down to the sons
and grandsons of their energetic J
founders. men who in true American
spirit and inheriting the enterprise and
of their fathers have accept {
ed the industrial leadership of the
brass Industry as a sacred legacy and
have built mp the brass industry of n
to the leadership of the t
world in this branch of manufacturing. 1
nave been and are a powerful influ- c
snce for the best in Waterbury. They a
nave shown their interest in its de- !
5elopment not only commercially but I,
morally and socially.
The great brass concerns are owned II
~ residents of Waterbury and man V
lged directly by their owners. These u
,rass manufacturers are typical of s.
puritan New England real industrial II
eaders of men, who accept their lead Il
,rship as a duty to their fellow men g
md who are intimate with and zeal d
JUS for the welfare of their co-worS- 6
RS. Not only is this shown in the
of their own enterprise
ut IN their interest and wholesome
in the local government al
The brass concerns of Waterbury tC
re now housed in the most modern =
geli- equipped factories. with every h,
hing that goes to make for the con- j
enience. protection and satisfaction Is
T employees. =.
The products of these brass plants A
re extremely Notwithstanding pl
nd everything in brass can be made .
n Waterbury from common and safe
Y pins. buttons. hooks and eyes up
D the largest brass article in exis-
ence. Even the radiator of the great
IC-4, which flew across the ocean, of
as made of brass in Waterbury.
'hese industries supply brass to every
orner of the United States, and for 81
uality and quantity in brass Water I'd
ury's brass plants are the mecca of
ne business world. IN
And Waterbury is able to claim the Of Of