The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1956-06-14
Decision On
Plant Closing
Not Definite
Mayor Smith Gets Statement
Of Facts From Purkers-
burg Officials

Dui y StilNSOiS
No definite decision has been
made to close the Imperial Ice
Cream plant of the Fairmont Foods
in Oakland, according to word re-
ceived this week from two sources.
This statement was made by Rus
sell L. Smith, mayor Of Oakland,
who had a conference with Fair
mont Foods officials in Parkers-
burg one day last week. a similar
statement was made by John \.
Robins, president Of Fairmont
Foods, OF Omaha, Nebraska.
Five statements Of fact were out
lined by Mr.. Smith following his
interview. He listed them as fol-
lows:
l. The Fairmont Foods company
is faced with an economic prob
lem in Oakland This plant has now
for some months shown loss in
its operation, and an exhaustive
study is underway now to ascer-
tain whether or not the plant can
be made to operate profitaDly.
2. No decision has been made to
close this plant, and until all
studies are completed no decision
will be made.
3. The company, in view of its
monthly operating losses, much de-
sircs to reduce the amount Of milk
accepted at the plant, but it does
not intend to simply cut off inn
mediatcly the patrons from whom
it has been accepting milk.
a. The company hopes that the
studies now being made can be
completed by the end of this month
when final decision can be
reached as to the future of the
Oakland plant
5. The officials in Parkersburg
have assured me that | will be kept
advised as their studies progress.
Mr.. Smith stated that when the
story broke June 4th that the i'm
perial plant in Oakland was to
close its doors, it seemed every
one concerned, primarily the pro-
ducers of the milk taken to the
plant, were taken completely by
surprise, and quite naturally, due
to the seriousness of having no
market for much or the greater
part of the milk being produced,
and the many conflicting views,
charges and countcr-chargcs going
around.
Smith declared, 4 felt it my duty
to do my best to ascertain the true
facts of the situation. Accordingly
l contacted the officials in charge
of the division of Fairmont Foods
company which control the oper-
alton of this plant, made an APP
pointment and was received by
these officials last Friday, June 8,
at their offices in Parkersburg."
The above five points were then
outlined. Smith said these facts
pertain as of today.
He said he felt the greatest help
that can be rendered in the situa-
ton is for all to exercise some pa
thence and to refrain from making
statements about the situation I'M
til the facts are known. He said the
above statements had the approval
of the Fairmont Foods officials in
Parkersburg.
When it was learned last week
that the company planned to close
its doors Charles l.. Briner, secre-
tary to the Mt Top Chamber of
Commerce, sent a telegram to John
A. Robins, president of Fairmont
Foods, of Omaha, Nebraska, asking
for facts as to the closing. Mr.,
Briner received the following re-
ply:
In connection with your tclc-
gram received yesterday we have
not as yet reached definite de-
cision to close our Oakland plant.
However, we are considering
this action because it seems i'm
possible to produce profit from
this operation and if our local man
agement cannot find way to inn
prove its situation we see no other
alternative"
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