Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 96, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 August 1909 — Lack of Express Competition Loses Us a Factory. [ARTICLE]

Lack of Express Competition Loses Us a Factory.

Rensselaer has lost another factory, this time through having but one express company. A few, days ago the Commercial Club received an offer from a concern in LaCrosse, Wis., which manufactures auto tops on a large scale, to locate here. E. L. Hollingsworth was sent to LaCrosse to investigate the proposition and the result of his visit is told in the following letter to the president of the Commercial Club:

“I visited LaCrosse and met the proprietors of the R. L. Kenyon Co., makers of auto tops, and went through their factory. They are the most thoro business men and are bound to make their business a success. “Their shipments are made very largely by express and owing to the arbitrary methods used by these companies, where no competition exists, precludes the possibility of the company locating where but one express company has service. “They did not object so much to lack of rail competition (for interstate commerce regulates rates) but there Is no government control of ex-

press rates. “So we have lost the very best thing that has been offered. They have a proposition for a bonus of $15,000, and they agree to employ 150 men (no boys or women) for five years before they get the bonus. “We need the interurban railway, for that will bring another express company. I hope the election carried in Carpenter township.”