New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-04-03
Paterson Will
Try Diversified
Industry Plan
Silk Center Prepares for
Accommodation Of Other
Plants As Experiment in
REIMBURSEMENT of Labor
Wright Co. Opens Factory
May Become An Airplane
Center. Say Sponsors
Fokker Looks Over Field

Paterson. N. j., is about to engage
in an experiment which may point the
to readjustment o.. industry IN the
United States that will solve what is
perhaps this countrys most pressing
problem of after the-war roconstruc-
ton. Paterson has been one-industrw
city. 1t has been noted for its SILK
mills. 1t has been noted for little else
Of Importance. The great bulk of the
silk mill employees have been women
and girls.
Recently the Wright Aeronautical
Company established new plant in
Paterson and has given employment to
100 men, 600 of whom arc local work
men, whose wives and daughters for
the most part had been working in the
silk mills. There are those who believe
Paterson is destined to become the CEN
America and that, with its industries
thus diversified, labor there will strike
that happy medium of income that
means high standard of living for
the workingman and his family and a
fair return for the now harrassed en-
ployer.
Edward j. Maier, of Newark, who has
busted himself for several years In
finding factories for large manufacture
ers in tho United States and Canada,
is both an enthusiast and an authority
on the subject of diversifyin,g industry,
The chart accompanying this article,
which was prepared by Him, graphical
ly illustrates what he contends is the
advantage a city with diversified indus
tries holds over both those cities,
whose industries employ l0w-salaried
women and those which, like Detroit,
employ almost exclusively men draw
ing exceptionally high pay.
MOST manufacturers are so intense
~ interested in their individual en-
tcrprises," says Mr.. Maicr, that they
sphere with q thought of improving
are located. Labor and transportation
are two Of the greatest features in
any process of manufacture, and in the
treatment of our subject we will deal
principally with the question of lhbor
ITO increase the productivity of Ia
Dor it is necessary that we raise the
standard Of living conditions which in
clude the environment in both the
plant and the home. The source of
such Improvement is sometimes far
removed from the base of operations,
and it is sometimes necessary to look
to other cities and to other industries
for relief.
During the recent roriod of depres-
sion certain industries throughout the
country were effect more than others,
and it was very apparent that those
communities which were confined to
hingic industries were confronted with
a more serious condition than places
whose industries are of a diversified
character.
an the handling of this situation in
Paterson, n. j.. a meeting of bankers,
merchants and manufacturers was
called some months ago and a cam
paign launched to diversity the in
dustrics of the city. A sum of $25 900
was Immediately subscribed and this
fund is now being increased toe s4O,-
600, to be expended in advertising the
uper-rcadj ustment of the city In the
course of this work the Wright Aero
nautical Company is one of the first
to locate its now plant in Paterson.
Seven hundred men are now engaged
IN the manufacture Of airplanes, and
the total pay roll will approximate
$4,000, 900 per annum.
The establishment of this new in
dustry in Paterson brings about n
more equal balance in labor condi-
tions, as the principal employment of
the city heretofore was for women in
the silk mills.
an anticipation of the permanent
establishment OF the arnlane indus
try in Paterson the Chamber of Com
mcrce, awake to the needs Of its new
acquisition, has called together a com
mittee to establish u permanent pub
lie airdromc.
Other large airplane companies are
considering this location. and one of
the most prominent men in this line.
Mr.. Fokker the great Holland aero
maui, whose planes were SO extern
sivc!y used by the Germans during
the war, recently made 81 visit to the
city Of Paterson and has now re-