Fairmount is Growing; King City Glass Works mentioned

FAIRMOUNT IS GROWING.

A Busy Little City In Grant County

With Nerve.

Special to the Indianapolis News.

Fairmount, September 25. — Much has been said in the past three years of the prosperity and growth of the numerous towns in the gas belt, but during the past twelve months many of the industries have been closed “for further orders,” and but little could be said to satisfy the minds of capitalistic investors to the end that they invest their means. Through all the business depression, though, Fairmount has had her share of it. She has gone steadily forward, spending money in public improvements, such as roadways, sidewalks, school buildings, fire department, and the complete system of water-works, fire alarm system, and the citizens have also been liberal in the matter of building.

Of the industries that will operate this season, the Big Four Window Glass Company, with its two hundred and fifty employes, is the largest on the list. The payroll of this concern amounts to $14,000 per month.

The Fairmount fruit-jar and bottle-works employs two hundred people and pays in wages between $10,000 and $12,000 monthly.

The King City glass-works, manufacturers of glass electrical supplies, insulators, etc., employs 200 people and has a payroll of $8,000 every 30 days.

The Dillon glass-works will not light their fires until sometime in December, because of some litigation and expensive repairs, but when started will pay out every month $12,000 in wages.

The Emerson Desk Company, a new concern just going into operation, will before the first of the year have 100 men at work, and estimated payroll is $4,000 monthly.

The Fairmount brick-works employ . . . [illegible text] . . . men, and pay in wages an average of $1,500 a month.

The Citizens brick-works employ about the same number of men as the Fairmount, and the payroll was about the same.

Besides these industries wood-working factories and mills give employment to several hundred men who are well paid, and are what might be termed home-getters.

The prospects for the winter are encouraging. The merchants are expecting and are prepared for a heavy business as their stocks of goods will attest.

Last week the surveyors for the Indianapolis and Marion electric car line completed the preliminary survey through the town, which, if the road should be completed, will make Fairmount one of the best trading points on the line. The report is in circulation from an authentic source that the Chicago and Eastern Indiana railway will be completed this fall and winter from Fairmount to Muncie. Should this be the case the city will gain new business, as there is no other town within a distance of fifteen miles.

Fairmount has a population of nearly thirty-five hundred people, three large school buildings, six churches, good hotels, a bank, several secret societies, a fire department, police force and the push and energy it takes to make a first class city; and unless something unforeseen occurs the population will grow close to 5,000 in another year.