Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 90, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 February 1920 — RENSSELAER FACTORY IS PROSPERING [ARTICLE]

RENSSELAER FACTORY IS PROSPERING

History of Rensselaer Manufactufuring Company from Its Boginning to Dato, About a year ago tfhe Rensselaer Manufacturing Company was organized by local men with the assistance of Mr. R. M. Johnson of Chicago. At the time of the organl ation of the Company it was the intention to assemble trucks In connection with the manufacture of furniture in the new Company’s plant. With this idea in mind the Company procured the factory building, real estate and all equipment of the Columbia Furniture Company and thereby obtained an elegant factory site and factory building, containing more than forty thousand feet of floor space, located on the Monon railway and equipped with service switch, electric power, and all necessary machinery for the manufacture of furniture. The conditions created on account of the war rendered It impractical to attempt the assembling of trucks as originally Intended as no satisfactory arrangement could be made insuring the delivery of material and the Company turned Its attention to the manufacture of high-grade furniture and soon found that there was such a demand for it that they hud no time to develop the truck industry. The Company, through the earnest efforts of Its organizers, and especially Mr. Johnson, worked out designs of high-class furniture that has met the requirements of the most particular furniture dealers throughout the country and the industry has developed by leaps and bounds from the modest beginning of shipments amounting to less than three hundred dollars In the first month to over fifteen thousand dollars In the month of December, 1919. . * During this time the Company has increased the number of its employees up to forty men who are practically all highprice mechanics. The Company’s pay roll is distributed each two weeks, the largest amount of the pay roll so far amounting to approximately four thousand dollars. This money is being expended for the most part in Rensselaer and as the factory’s output is sold to the outside world the money is all brought into the community by tho Company from outside sources and would never reach Rensselaer were it not for the existence of this factory. \ The growth of the Company under the careful and efficient management of its organizers has been most phenominal, and Rensselaer is now beginning to realize the Importance of this industry and to appreciate Its value to the community. Since starting the Company has built up Its entire business, worked out its lines of furniture, organized its own sales force, marketing its output and organizing and systematizing its factory force. All this has been accomplished with the results above mentioned and the Company now finds the demand greatly in excess of its factory capacity, being more than one hundred thousand dollars behind with the orders at this time and others being received daily faster than they can be filled. Mr. Johnson’s contract with the Company expired at the -end of the year and he found it necessary to give his attention to his other Interests. In his place the Company has been for’tunate, however, in procuring as its business manager, Mr. George W. Royster, wiho for a great many years has been connected with the International Harvester Company and immediately before coming here was in charge of that Company’s business as General Agent at Salt Lake City, Utah. . Mr. Royster has bought a farm near Rensselaer which he is improving and will convert into a modern country home, residing thereon and has become financially interested in the Rensselaer Manufacturing Company and will be an important factor in the further development and growth of this Company. We are glad to extend to the organizers of this local manufacturing plant our appreciation of their efforts and feel that this has become one of the most important and worthy enterprises of the community. ,