The Marion Fruit Jar & Bottle Company

THE NEWS OF THE GAS BELT.

The Situation at Arcadia, Alexandria and Other Points.

THE ARCADIA CHIMNEY PLANT.

Something Regarding the Spread of Machinery.

ARCADIA, IND., April 4. - When we called at the Ohio Window Glass Co.'s factory we found everything moving along serenely. The glass in the new tank was running nicely and were it not for the rumors of strife among the different branches of the window glass trade elsewhere, we would feel that there should be contentment here. Contentment does not appear to be one of the privileges that fall to the lot of a window glassworker this year, or in fact for the past three seasons. It is not a question of the difference among the workmen here as much as it is for what they are doing elsewhere that has caused the excitement.

Grant, John and Howard Baker are practically handling the firm's interests. They are all young, but they are well drilled in the art of operating window glass factories. All were originally from that old glass town of Bellaire, O., which has developed so many men who have been successful in the various branches of the glass trade. Secretary Grant Baker informed me that they had made a better average of good glass with their tank than with the two 10-pot furnaces.

Robt. Fox, Frank Bicker, Denny Farrell, Chas. Yenne, Mat Thompson and Dick Fry, from Orestes, are working here. Wm. Vendler left here last week and went to Albany to work. George Hards, a popular blower here, was recently married to Miss Martha Alton, of Findlay, O. The wedding was celebrated here at the home of the bride's sister, Mrs. Oxley. It was a grand affair, numerous presents being received. A number of his fellow-workmen were present, all of whom join us in wishing the young couple many blessings on the journey of life. - Frank Hardman, a gatherer, will leave for Greenfield where he will be employed the balance of the season.

THAT ARCADIA CHIMNEY PLANT.

There has not been anything done lately towards completing the chimney factory which was begun here by the citizens several months ago. It will probably remain in its present unfinished state until the members of the Pendleton Flint Glass Bottle and Lamp Chimney Co., of Pendleton, Ind., come to complete the works, which may be some time yet. The factory is crudely but substantially built. The building is modeled after the style of a window glass factory and no provision is made for windows. It appears a pity to build a factory in such a manner, but the man who had charge of the work evidently had no experience in that line an did not know what was expected. Imagine a factory without windows or ventilation, particularly in the summer time. The citizens put up the building to encourage the Pendleton concern to come there and the latter were to have charge of putting in the brick work. After the building was practically up and no representative of the company came to oversee the brickwork, the citizens became uneasy and work on the building ceased. The members of the Pendleton company will no doubt take this factory, for the manager so informed us at Pendleton a few weeks ago.

ENCOURAGING AT ALEXANDRIA.

ALEXANDRIA, April 4. - The factory of the W. C. DePauw Co. here is doing better this season than ever before in the history of the works. They enlarged the tank last summer and made it 14 feet longer. The blow furnaces were also changed and several other improvements were made which have proven very advantageous. The glass has been running well all fire and the workmen have found it much more congenial than usual in the factory this season. Mr. Lemaire is the superintendent and J. A. Boland takes care of the books. John C. Chisholm has charge of the cutting room.

Chas. J. Faulkner, now blowing here, secured last week an absolute divorce from his wife. They were married at Pittsburg and were from here originally. - Joseph Grant, formerly boss cutter at South Anderson, is now employed here.

Louis Middleton, the Jerseyman, who shippen [sic] shipped a carload of bird dogs from Newcastle to Bridgton last season, is employed here, but has no dog story to tell. Still he thinks there is no place like Jersey in the summer time. I have never found a Jerseyman yet who did not think the same way. - Jas. Stanson and Harry Penn, of Anderson, are working here as is B. Pennington, of Gas City. - John Hart, formerly of Muncie, is blowing here.

Among the others whom we found here were G. Andris, Mercel Meyer, Chas. Wagner, Simon Aurnd, Mat Shoup, Paul Camp, L. Engstrom and Chas. Wagner; George Genaux, the farmer from Spiceland; Chas. Crane of Bridgton, N. J.; Walter M. Hoff; James Marsh, who was at the Alexandria Window Glass Co.'s factory last season; John Deeley, the flattener from Gilman. Jacob Herbel, W. Van Aman, Jr., John G. Cunningham and Frank Hefferan. E. Wery, of Muncie; Chas. Bertiaux, who hails from Ottawa; Patrick Cordon, Frank Irwin and Ray Armstrong.

The Alexandria Window Glass Co.'s factory is working along steadily. They make good glass here and have a very good standing in the trade. Their glass appears to take well with those who use it, for the inquiry comes back for more of the same kind. Like many others their glass is sold ahead. They have several good orders on the books.

MR. HEESR' [sic] HEER'S STOCK SHEET.

H.W. Heer, the secretary of the company, appears to be in touch with the trade alright. He does not like the form of the American Glass Co.'s stock sheets, which all factories, members of that company are using. He keeps a book of his own. It is smaller in form and more convenient to handle and not so complicated as the sheets of the American Glass Co. He takes off his stock reports daily and has done so for years. When he gets an order he does not have to go out to the ware shed to see whether he has it on hand. If Mr. Heer's system prevailed, it would be an improvement.

Chas. L. Finch, the flattener, whose ingenuity we noted last summer, is still here. He says the developments on his window casting machine are going alright - Chas. Berry, an old Pittsburger and Ohio Valley boy, is flattening here. John Leck, of Streator, is cutting, also C. H. Greiner. M. Liljelund, of Norristown, Pa. is blowing here. Among the others we met were John M., Siemer, J. P. Cheeseman, John McCoy, Chas. Albright and John McIntire.

The Crystal Window Glass Co., of Summittville, Ind., are doing very well. The glass they were making when we called there was alright and the men informed me that they have had a very good run thus far this fire. We did not get to meet our old friend D. J. Smith the secretary. There are only a few changes in the factory. C. Kindburg, of Del Ray, Mich., is here. Among the old workmen were Mike Callahan, Herb Martin, John Donlon, Rich Kuckert, A. Winters, Thos. Duffey and Chas. Ruffing.

TRADE GOOD AT FAIRMOUNT.

At the Big Four Window Glass Co.'s factory, Fairmount, Ind., we found everything encouraging. They have a very steady and regular set of men and there are few changes. Sec'y H. A. Gable is as jolly and sociable as ever. He has gained 20 pounds. A. L. Reed, the manager, as usual, has everything well in line. The company have plenty of orders and look for a prosperous season.

The Marion Fruit Jar & Bottle Co. are doing good business at both of their Fairmount factories. They have made some great changes at the old "King City" factory. A new tank was put in, on which there are now employed 42 blowers, many of whom were lately employed at Ball Bros.' Muncie. This company has numbered its factories. The factory at Marion is No. 1, the Dillon factory, No. 2, and the King City, No. 3.

J. Shaughnsey, the window glass blower, is still employed at the "Big Four," and is quite a hustler in the interests of labor. Geo. McCallister, formerly of Marion, is here this fire. Among the others whom we met at the window glass factory here are Wm. Dowling, Thos. Dancey, Wm. Arnold, Jerry Gorman, Geo. Lytle, Ed Robinson, Jule Honeyaux, Wm. Conliff., John Lewins, J. C. Montomery, Walter Cline and W. B. Norcross.

THE MARCH OF PROGRESS.

A few years ago in talking to an Eastern shade maker, an off-hand workmen, mention was made of the pressed branch and he started to curse the pressers: "If it had not been for the pressers and the press we would be making all ware off-hand and conditions would be better for the off-hand workers." The presser of today will no doubt smile, as we did then, at such a remark. Just imagine the off-hand workmen producing all the tableware that is now manufactured and in use in this country. The off-hand workman would have 60 or 70 pieces for a turn's work, where 600 or 700, and in some cases 1000, of the same article could be produced in the same time at much less cost, on the press. The glassworkers of the East have not become fully reconciled to the press yet, and many of them entertain the same views as the shade maker mentioned

This will amuse some of the employes of the press houses in the West, but they had just the same excuse to offer that pressers have now, against the improvements that are coming into that trade. The press drew the trade from the off-hand workers of the East and was principally responsible for the wonderful strides of the glass trade in the West. Just the same as the improved methods and patent appliances in nonunion houses are today day drawing the work away from union houses who refuse to adopt them or to charge the style of working.

If a machine is an improvement today over the methods with which you won your successes 10 or 15 years ago why not gauge it according to the amount of skill required. It may be less than that required on a press and much less than that used by our Eastern brothers, on off-hand work, years ago, but nevertheless it is on the line passing from one stage or condition to another, and if you grasp the situation you will not be laughed at years hence as you have cause to laugh at the opinion entertained by the Eastern shade maker about the coming of the press. - MACK.