Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 February 1917 — MERCHANTS’ ASSOCIATION SECURES BUILDING [ARTICLE]

MERCHANTS’ ASSOCIATION SECURES BUILDING

Kellner & Callahan Buggy Repository Secured For A. Roth Co. Factory —Available Immediately.

Some forty merchants and business men, members of the Rensselaer Merchants Association, met at the George Collins shoe store Saturday night for tiie purpose of> making arrangements, if possible, to secure the Kellner & Callahan room at the corner of Van Rensselaer and Cornelia streets, for the proposed factory of A. Roth Co. of Chicago. B. J. Jarrette, one of Rensselaer’s best hustlers, who has been working like a Trojan to secure this industry for Renseslaer, addressed the association. He explained that the only thing in the way of securing this factory was the securing of a suitable room. Mr. Roth had signified his willingness to accept the Kellner & Callahan room. The A. Roth Co. seems to be a thoroughly reliable firm, being rated at over $50,000. They have been in business for over 12 years and have a factory at present with three floors, each as large as the room referred to above. Labor conditions have become un-1 bearable in Chicago and they feel that they can get away from this evil I if they are able to secure a location I outside of a large city. They have I forty machines packed ready to ship I to a new location and the new place I will be selected this week. They do I not ask the people of Rensselaer for I a single cent and are ready to put up I a sum of money at once if they come I here.

Kellner & Callahan, while they have their room full of spring goods and are right now in the midst of a very big trade on the same, have consented to vacate the room and will move that part of their stock into the Gayety Theatre, pending the erection of a suitable room on their own premises. In consideration the Merchants Association will furnish them with SI,OOO, due in one year without interest and will pay them the expense of moving their goods. It seems practically certain that we will be able to secure the factory and Messrs. Jarertte and Sam Fendig went to Chicago and conferred with Mr. Roth. They feel very hopeful and will be advised by tomorrow morning by Mr. Roth as to his final decision. t There are a number of other places very anxious to secure this factory and it is possible they may receive offers so flattering that they will be compelled to accept them. If the factory locates here they will employ about fifteen women the first week and increase the number about ten each week until they have put to work from fifty to sixty women. They make house dresses and aprons and have a very large sale of the same to the large Chicago department stores. They have a large stock of material and a great number of orders ahead and are very anxious to get located and get down to business.