The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-04-05

ness, commerce, agriculture, recre- ational and residential facilities.
 Promote and encourage the location and development of new industry, business, commerce, agrly culture, recreational and reSiden- tial facilities in the state.
 "Collect, compile and dissemi- nate information relative to the natural and economic resources of the state.
 "Co-operate with promotional and research groups and associa- ton, agencies of the state and federal governments, and with other states in the execution of its duties"
 Just as water never rises above its own level, so a commission or busi- ness institution never rises above the ability and interest of those di- recting it. For that reason I think it is important that you should know who comprise the Connecticut De- velopment Commission:
 Charles E. Rolfe, chairman, assistant to the president, The Southern New England Telephone Company, New Haven;
 Francis s. Murphy, publisher, The Hartford Times, Hartford;
 Theodore H. Beard, vice-presi- dent, The Dictaphone Company, Bridgeport;
 A. E. Payson, president, The American Thermos Bottle Con- pany, Norwich;
 J. R. Neill, president, Water town Manufacturing Company, Waterbury;
 Paul V. Hayden, manager, The Connecticut Light and Power Company, Danielson;
 Francis c. Luce, president, Cyril Johnson Woolen Company, Staff ford Springs;
 c. Marsden Bacon, MiddletoWn; John J. Egan, Secretary-Treas- urer, Connecticut Federation of Labor, Bridgeport;
 Charles E. Smith, vice-president, N. Y, N. H. and H. R. R. Con- pany, New Haven;
 Willard B. Rogers, president, The Hotel Band Company, Hartford.
 Industrial Picture
 Now let us spotlight for mo ment the industrial situation in tn State of Connecticut. At first blush when we read that industries a present are producing products witt an annual value of $1,261 ,780, ,00C we would think we are doing brett, well. But despite the great stride which have been made in the pas year in industrial development, a reflected in the more than one hun dred new industries which hay located in Connecticut, we find, turning to the other side of tn lerged, that there are three hun dred unoccupied factories in tn state today and that there is sti much to be done to get the thouS ands who are on relief or workin on governmental relief projects bac into private jobs.
 During the past several months, C since its organization, the Develop ment commission has been directin research and survey work with tn result that today the three hundre unoccupied factories are categorie in every detail; by that I mean tn type of construction, the floor spac the appraisal, the town assessmen the tax rat in those towns, tn availability of electric current, ga and water and the rates therefor, th purchase or rental price of the prol erty and the freight facilitie whether they be by water, railroa or truck. But of much greater in portance is the study of labor avai able in these communities. By labC available, do not mean the nun Der of unemployed, but rather u | type of labor obtainable, for u icure is far worse than the disea! when factories are located in sex tions which cannot provide the tyr of labor required. In other word labor is imported, and no progress