Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 83, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 June 1903 — The Barcas Horse Stocks. [ARTICLE]

The Barcas Horse Stocks.

Must We Lose this Our First Only Big Manufactory. A great deal is being said just now concerning the probable loss to Rensselaer of the only real good thing that has ever located here in the way of a manufactory. If anyone thinks for a minute that this little factory is not a busy place and likely to become a great deal busier, they should take an hour and go out there and see for themselves what is going .on under the roof of the old threshing machine factory The Company has now repohed a point where a ohange for larger quarters is an imparative necessity. More room must be provided at once for the use of their men now employed who are handioapped by their oramped quarters, and also room provided for the hiring of at least a dozen more men. This business has increased until now it is absolutely neoessary to employ more hands to keep up with the orders for stocks whioh are coming in on every mail. A few faots with regard to what this company is now doing and what they have got to do at once, will now be in order to set the matter plainly before our people as regards the value of thisfaotory , to our town and the reasons why an honest effeot should be made I to retain it.

In the first place there are now employed fifteen men at a weekly wage of $250 an average of $16.66 per man. Had the Company room ten more men would be put on immediately which would make the pay roll equal to $415 per week, all of which would be left in this plaoe. for living etc. At the present rate of output 50 machines a month is about the average, for eaoh month, and bring in at least $2500, the greater portion of which is left here in the shape of wages, living etc. The output for last year from Feb. 1902 to Feb. 1903 was 315 oomplete stocks; that for the first months of this year has been 250; which will bring the total for this year up to 600 or 700 maohines, these bringing at least $32,500; not one dollar of which oomes off of Jasper County people, but oomes from all parts of the world. With larger quarters and more help the output would likely be more than doubled inside another year. We are assured that the outlook for the fall orders is amazing and this being the dull season of the year the managers feel that ought to be busy getting up the new building wherever located and get moved before the rush of fall orders oomes in. An order for a oar load (50 stocks) is now on the books to be filled the first week in July. Even at this dull season more orders were received during the last month than for four months about the same season last year.

The company if they remain here, whioh they prefer to do as it iB there home, will put up a good three story brick faotory building whioh will be permanent, and, one whioh they will not pull out and leave in a few years. They will put in a working force of 25 men at once, whioh in all probabilities will be increased to 40 inside of six months from the time they oooupy there new building. They assure us they do not intend to ask anything, as they have to very flattering offers from other Indiana oities, but are open to a proposition from our people with regards to this matter. .They will stay here for a building site and reasonable bonus, and muoh less than they would require from any other town. One of these offers is a three Btory stone faotory building together with all machinery it con-

tains which among other things are all line shafting and a 40 horse power steam engine. The other proposition includes a building lot and « heavy, bonus. The managers feel that they oan not reasonably stay here for nothing and put up there own building when other cities give them such flattering offers, and indeed it would not be good business sense for them to do so.

What are our citizens going to do about this? Let this factory which is likley to develope into one of the big oouoerns of the country get away and lose a pay roll of anywhere from SSOO a week up. when a little hustling will retain it for our goods, and give the young men of the town and oounty profitable employment. The wages paid are good and no extra skilled labor required. The average wage runs from $lO 50 to S2O per week each. The company have two weeks before they must let the other cities know whether their propositions are accepted or rejected. It is now about time to get a hustle on us if vte are tb retain this institutions