The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1924-11-27
INDUSTRY BALKS
AT HIGH TAXES
Hesitates to Move to Keno
sha Because Of High
State Taxes.
INQUIRIES
Paper Box Manufactures From
Louisville Interested; In
vestigating Tax Situation.

Kenosha has lost the possibility of
landing a large industry because of
high state taxes in Wisconsin and the
general attitude of the state govern
ment towards industry, according to
information that became public today.
This industry is a silk hosiery factory
which had made investigation regard
ing locating its plant in Kenosha and
had been favorably impressed with
the general industrial conditions here
and the shipping facilities of the city.
The manufacturer in question has
now written to Secretary Conrad
Shearer of the Manufacturers associ-
alton of Kenosha stating the result
of inquiries made in Chicago regard
ing locating in a Wisconsin city with
result that it seems very unlikely
that he will place his plant in Keno
sha. In his letter, the manufacturer
states: eve have been informed from
some sources that your more success
full manufacturing concerns are very
heavily taxed by your state laws and
that some of them are forming hold
ing companies in other localities in
order to offset this tax burden"
The name of the industry seeking
a location was not made public but
may be learned by any one who is in
terested in the affair. Secretary
Shearer has written stating that an
exact statement of the situation in
Wisconsin should be secured before
final judgment is made but he de-
clares that in his opinion this indus
try will not look further into the pos
sibilities of locating in Kenosha. Sec
rotary Shearer points out from this
incident the need for Kenosha to pub
lish descriptive pamphlet setting
forth the industrial advantages of the
city, which in part might Offset re-
ports current in other states regard
ing the tax situation in Wisconsin.
Other Industry Interested.
Another industry, paper box fac
tory, now located at Louisville, Ken
lucky has also shown an interest in
locating a plant in Kenosha in order
to be nearer to the Chicago market
district. These inquiries show that
outside concerns are still considering
Kenosha, so far as the city is con-
cerned, as favorable locality in
which to locate an industry.
A survey of the various industries
of Kenosha carried on at a recent
meeting Of factory superintendent
showed that because of the taking {
inventories few factories are working
with large force. Practically each
one of them is expecting an increase
in business soon but as yet this has
not materialized except in one or two
instances. Based upon normal pro-
duction the Kenosha industries indi-
Gated by a number, reported as fol-
lows:
Not Good But Improving.
1. Business not good; running
about sixty-fve per cent" 2. "Ex-
pect more orders soon; now running
about forty per cent" 4. Full ca
pacity or one hundred per cent" 5.
"Orders small; now operating about
eighty per cent" 8. "Look for more
business; we now stand at seventy
five per cent" 7. Seventy-fve per-
cent but business is not good" s.
Nothing ahead; running eighty per-
cent" 9. "Sixty-seven per cent of
capacity" 10. "Closing the years
program with about sixty per cent of
force working" IA. October was a
good month, running seyenty-fve per
cent"
Numbers omitted are for industries
listed but not reporting.
While the reports for the present
situation were not fattering, it was
the general consensus of opinion that
the outlook for business is very much
better than it has been for some time
and that the existing condition in To-
cal industry is not unusual for this
season of the year.