Fires lighted at California Glass Insulator Co.

FIRES ARE BUILT

UNDER FURNACE

Of California Glass Insulator

Com­pany — Working force of

50 Men

In keeping with the manner in which they secured their location and working quietly with one object in sight that of placing their plant in operation the California Glass Insulator comapny [sic] company was placed in operation today by building fires beneath their furnaces. Fifty men were given employment by the concern and all of the employes were selected from Long Beach residents. The plant will be in complete operation by April 30 and will but mark the beginning of a growing industry for Long Beach. Provision was made by the company when it secured its site near Ana­heim road and Daisy avenue for fu­ture growth and units will be install­ed as rapidly as possible. The first

unit is that of the insulator portion of the concern and workmen have been busy for months getting the site in shape and in erecting the build­ings. Long Beach is unusually favor­ed for a plant of this character, freight rates and a nearby supply of raw material offering an inducement which but few parts of the country could offer.

The promoters of the company early recognized the value of a site on the harbor district and opened ne­gotiations with the Chamber of Com­merce last year in an effort to secure the site. W. L. Camp then secretary of the Chamber took an active part in the negotiations and through his efforts differences as to inducements which for a time seemed insurmount­able were adjusted and the announce­ment was made that the company would come. Hardly had the final papers been signed than the promo­ters of the company had a force of men laying off the ten-acre plot which they secured and within a few more weeks other workmen were actively engaged in erecting the buildings.

The most improved machinery was orders and glass manufacturers from the east visited the plant in the last few weeks to inspect the improv­ed machinery and through one of these visitors it was learned that another glass company probably would locate here and work in conjunction with the Insulator company. The second concern will manufacture a different line of glassware than the Insulator company and the promot­ers of this concern which is now located in New Jersey are said to be as enthusiastic over the prospects here for manufacturing their product as are the owners of the Insulator com­pany.

The plant was secured for Long Beach through the aid of the Palos Verdes company and the Domin­guez Land company which agreed to donate a free site of three and one-half acres. The company after this inducement was offered agreed to purchase six and one half acres addi­tional to be used for the construction of additional units and then a stumbling block found in the lack of railroad facilities. Finally this surmounted by the Chamber of Com­merce when it agreed to see that a switch was put in from the Pacific Electric to the plant. This was done and late last fall Mr. Camp drove the last spike in the switch.

The Chamber of Commerce never paid for its organization more than when it secured the glass company and in addition to furnishing means of employment for Long Beach citi­zens has given the city another means of advertisement in that the plant is being watched with interest by glass manufacturers in all of the country.