Years brings changes to Whitall Tatum

PASSING YEARS BRING CHANGES

AT OLD MILLVILLE, N. J., FACTORY

What the passing of time in the glass industry bring with it the introduction of machinery and newer methods, means to one large plant is told in a recent issue of the Bridgeton Evening News in describing the changes which have taken place around the plant of the Whitall Tatum Co. of Millville, N. J. This probably is typical of other factories which have been operated over a long period of years. The newspaper said:

"The razing of scores of old houses in South Millville by Whitall Tatum Co. marks the passing of some of the landmarks which have stood in that section of the city for more than 50 years. Houses in "Grumble Alley," or Maylin street, are among those that are being town down. These structures have been eyesores to South Millville for a number of years. There may have been a time when they were beauty spots and when they may have been much sought after as places of abode but of late years they have been mere shelters in which protection from the rain and snow and weather was offered. The only attractive feature about them was the rent which did not eclipse five dollars a month.

"The row of company houses on South Second street midway between Second and Third streets is also being removed. This was a typical row of so called factory houses and the raxing of these dwellings does nothing but improve the appearance of the locality.

"It is not probably that the Whitall Tatum Co. will rebuild on these sites, as the days when workmen for glass factories are needed are fast being forgotten. Millville will never see 1,700 workers leaving the South Millville works of Whitall Tatum Co. again. Those days are gone forever. The automatic machine has ousted the men. Therefore the company needs no houses for its employes. Even now they have more dwellings than there are men to occupy them. Both sides of South Second street are lined with dwellings owned by this company. There are more on Buck street, none of them are very pretentious and none of them renting for very much money. Perhaps it is well that there are houses of that character for workers in Millville just now when wages are not what they used to be, or rather, it might be said that while the wages may be the same, the living cost has soared to triple what it used to be.

"Whitall Tatum company possesses much real estate in Millville and it is possible that some of it may be for sale. The southwest corner of High and Mulberry streets, owned by that company, is vacant, the houses having been moved to other sites. There isn't any "For Sale" sign on the property.

"There has been no information given out by representatives of the company of any plans regarding what is to be done with the sties in South Millville on which stood the old houses. There are several rumors being circulated as to how and for what they will be used.

"These changes are the signs of the times — indication of progress and invention. The fact that Whitall Tatum company will employ less men does not mean that the output of glass ware will be diminished. Rather it will increase. The installation of machines expedites the manufacture of glass bottles and while there may be fewer men at work in the big plants, the shipment of ware is greater than ever."