Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1921-10-27
SOME WAUSAU FACTORIES
NOW OPERATING AT
FULL SPEED

A general survey of business con-
ditions in Wausau reveals the fact
, that the city is more fortunate in its
industries and in its resources than
many other places can claim to be at
present. The view that the majority
of manufacturers and heads of busi-
ness take is a conservative optimism.
1t is generally conceded that the i'm
pending strike will be an exceedingly
unfortunate occurrence, should it ma
terialize, but aside from this possi-
bility there is every ground for en-
couragement.
A prominent business man of the
city, one in close touch with all
branches of industrial and financial
activity here, gave it as his opinion
that Wausau is better situated than
the average community.
81 one thing" he said, "there is
less unemployment, and this is due
to the fact that the industries of the
city are greatly diversified in charac-
ter. We have numbering and its
branches, although this does not oc-
cupy as pre-eminent position as it
once did. We have growing paper
making industry shoe factories, gran
ite works, leather factories, veneer
plant, sand and sand products, metal
working and others. The industries
are so diversified that we are not de-
pendent on any one kind of manufac-
turing Some are running full time
at reduced wages and the most are
operating at sixty to eighty per cent of
full time.
No Transient Labor
'Another point in our favor is the
fact that Wausau is not city depend
ent on transient labor. Ninety per
cent of the people here own their own
homes. These people are thrifty and
except for a very few, have laid aside
money that can be used in case of ne
cessity during the next six months.
Labor is more stable because the
greater part of it's members are home
owners, which is the greatest asset
any community may have. How many
localities can say that ninety per cent
of it's families own their own homes?
"On the subject of general business
conditions it is noted that money has
eased somewhat and unless business
should be held UP again by the pro-
ig ed railroad strike. which would de-
mofaiize everything, we shall probably
so through the winter with a fair
amount of business transacted, al
though with a reduced income. Man
ufacturers of all kinds are are not
making money now. They are doing
all they can to keep running and to
pay living wage; they have little
hope for a return on their investment.
ION the whole | should say that the
outlook for next year is much brighter.
n - ,r.4s-
of business, and more profitable
business, after the first of next jan
uary."
This opinion comedies with the
views .of representative manufactur-
ers of the city who were asked about
industrial conditions at the present
time and of the prospects for the inn
mediate future. Following are given
interview with these men which
clearly indicate the present situation.
Basis Fifty Per Cent
E. A. Gooding, president of the Wis
consin Box Company, says that their
plant is running at about half it's full
capacity. "The general report of the
Northwestern Box Shook Manufactur-
ers," he says, "shows that the plants
engagedin tits industry in this sec
tion have been operating on an aver
age basis of fifty per cent, and we
have been keeping about on par with
this average. Some plants are doing
more, some less business than this.
"At the present time we are en-
ploying about seventy men. We can
make no prediction for the future for
trade is constantly shifting, and at one
period there are numerous orders and
then fer another period the demand is
almost negligible. 1t is difficult to
say what will come, but we hope to
continue at our present rate of pro-
duction until the first of the year"
There is handful of local busi-
ness leaders who are averse to any
news mention of the industrial
situation. Perhaps they view the
whole status of industry unfavor-
ably and because of their pessi- .
mistic viewpoint, do not wish to
express themselves at all. One of
them informed us that he was con- .
stitutionally opposed to inter-
views. This attitude accounts for
y certain omissions from this story
which would present conditions
existing in some lines OF local
business, unmentioned as it is
"The shoe manufacturing business
has improved somewhat" S. j. Pent-
Ter. OF the Marathon Shoe company,
informed his questioner. "Some shoe
manufacturers are operating on a very
small scale; others are operating at
full capacity all the time.
I'VE expect to operate at full speed
straight through, providing the rail-
road strike does not upset our plans
entirely We find that it requires
more orders to make up the volume of
business that we have enjoyed in pros
porous times, but we have been out
after business and have successfully
managed to get it. We were pleased
recently when we received recorders
from two of the largest department
stores in Boston, which is in The heart
of the eastern shoe manufacturing dis