Worcester Gas Light..

280

Worcester Electric Light

Current Events

Mar. 20. Plans being made to consolidate Boston & Maine and New York, New Haven & Hartford freight depots.

20. Graduation exercises of Worcester Evening High and Drawing Schools; 39 diplomas and 49 certificates granted.

20. Gesang Verein Frohsinn celebrates 53d anniversary.

21. New England Federation of Metaphysical Clubs meets in Horticultural Hall.

21. Order issued by Postmaster-general Hitchcock to reduce Sunday force of employees affects Worcester postoffice.

23. Gen. Nelson A. Miles and Capt. Richmond Pearson Hobson speak at meeting of Economic Club.

25. Dr. Melvin G. Overlock receives request to exhibit letters of Worcester manufacturers containing tuberculosis agreement, at International Congress against Tuberculosis, in Rome, Sept. 24 to 30. 27. Rev. Robert J. Floody chosen first president of Worcester Metaphysical Club.

27. Andrew Carnegie offers $1500 to First Swedish Baptist Church toward fund for organ.

28.

Democrats of 3d Massachusetts Congressional District tender complimentary dinner to Congressman John A. Thayer. 30.

Worcester Commercial Travelers' Association selects E. Webster Allen as representative at annual conference of United Kingdom Commercial Travelers' Association in Edinburgh, June 5 to 7.

Apr. 1. Stamp sales at Worcester postoffice for March are $40,614.48, a gain of $609.64 over March, 1910.

1. Peleg F. Murray retires after 19 years' service in State police. 1. One thousand nine hundred and twenty-eight papers recorded at Registry of Deeds office in March.

2. Maj. Edward T. Raymond, clerk of Central District Court, clerk of Massachusetts Memorial Commission, receives deed for land for site of monument, from A. P. Hill Camp, Confederate Veterans, of Petersburg, Va.

2. Rev. A. Engdahl of Orebro, Sweden, accepts call to Harlem Street Swedish Baptist Church.

2. Salvation Army seeks site for new building to be erected at cost exceeding $50,000.

3. County Commissioners vote increased pay to Probation Officers A. F. Dunkerton and D. W. Armstrong.

5. Rev. Walton S. Danker of St. John's Episcopal Church made assistant secretary of Episcopal Church Congress to meet in Washington, April 24 to 29.

6. Bishop Robert MacIntyre of St. Paul presides over conference of Eastern Swedish Methodist Churches at Quinsigamond Swedish Methodist Church.

7. Holy Cross debaters win over Fordham. Hon. John R. Thayer, Dr. Edmund C. Sanford and Judge William T. Forbes, judges.

7. Legislative Committee on Railroads visits South Worcester station and meets business men interested in its retention.

11. Delegation of Worcester manufacturers attend annual convention of National Metal Trades Association in New York.

11. June 25 announced as date of opening of new freight yards at Millbrook Street for joint use of Boston & Maine and New York, New Haven & Hartford railroads.

11. Charles H. Norton re-elected president of Worcester County Mechanics' Association at annual meeting.

12. American Antiquarian Society appoint special committee to plan suitable observance of society's centennial in October, 1912. 13. George H. Ward Post, G. A. R., celebrates 44th anniversary. 13. Annual report of Law Library shows total of 28,568 volumes, 1329 additions during year.

13. Directors of Worcester Board of Trade vote to co-operate in soil survey of Worcester County by Department of Agriculture of United States government.

13. Rev. H. C. Wilson becomes pastor of Lake View Methodist Church.

13. Boston & Albany Railroad fixes June 24 as date of opening of new Union Station.

13. Annual convention of Loyal Women of American Liberty to be held in Worcester in June.

14. County Commissioners sign decree to raise $300,000 county tax this year.

14. George N. Jeppson addresses meeting at Quinsigamond Baptist Church called for the purposes of considering improvements and devising methods of attracting industries to Quinsigamond Village.

17. Announcement made that Boston & Albany Railroad is to be placed on separate operating basis by New York Central Railroad Co., beginning July 1.

17. Fiftieth anniversary of departure of first Worcester troops to Civil War.

18. Massachusetts Advent Christian Conference opens two days' session at Second Advent Church.

18. Worcester Art Museum Corporation at annual meeting reelect all officers and elect Matthew J. Whittall, Paul B. Morgan and Frank F. Dresser members of corporation.

19. Report at annual meeting of Central Congregational Church shows membership of 466.

19. Third annual concert of Philharmonic Orchestra in Mechanics Hall.

City Hall

Mar. 20. Annual reports of Parks Commission show balance on hand of $8013.40.

21. Joint Committee on High Schools recommends $175,000 addition to English High School.

22. Joint Standing Committee on Education recommends enlarging lot of Quinsigamond school.

24. Special Committee of City Council gives public hearing on July 4 celebration.

27. City acquires land on Lovell Street as site for Columbus Park school.

29.

Work begins on Albany Street extension under direction of Street Commissioner Frederick H. Clark.

30. Twenty assistant assessors sworn in by City Clerk W. Henry Towne.

Apr. 14. County Commissioners grant hearing on petition of City Engineer F. A. McClure for relocation of highway in Holden, necessitated by erection of Kendall dam.

14. Joint Standing Committee on Public Health votes to recommend acceptance of land on Belmont Street, given by Henry Putnam as site for tuberculosis hospital, and to recommend appropriation of $30,000 for construction of hospital buildings.

15. Worcester Consolidated Street Railway Co. files petitions for franchises in four streets-Park Avenue, Granite Street, Burncoat Street, Mower Street.

16. City Solicitor E. H. Vaughan returns from three months' tour of Europe.

17. City Council adopts order for $50,000 sewer loan; votes to give public hearing on site for tuberculosis hospital; appropriates $1500 for safe and sane July 4 celebration; adopts order for expenditure of $4000 for plans for Waldo Street police station; adopts order taking land below Quinsigamond Village for filter purposes at estimated cost of $17,000; adopts order for location of Burnside memorial drinking fountain in Salem Square at estimated cost of $6519.67.

18. Trustees of Worcester Trade School vote to request appropriation for $6000 for equipping girls' trade school.

18. Sixty-eight policemen bring suit against city on alleged claim for back pay.

Industrial

Mar. 23. Wyman & Gordon Co. buys five pieces of land on Gold Street and Gold Street Court, adjoining its present plant.

25. James Miles & Son secure contract to erect addition to factory of Royal Worcester Corset Co. at cost of $110,000.

25. E. J. Cross Co. secures contract to erect three-story concrete mill, 400 by 80 feet, for Spencer Wire Co. on Webster Street.

27. Fiske-Carter Co. awarded contract to build large addition to mill of National Fibre Co., Bar Mills, Me.

28. Stewart Boiler Works given contract to supply battery of seven boilers for Ann & Hope Mill, Lonsdale, R. I.

28. Hearing by State Board of Railroad Commissioners on petition of Worcester Consolidated Street Railway Co. to issue $1,562,000 of stock to buy property of Worcester & Southbridge Street Railway Co., Marlboro & Westboro Street Railway Co., Blackstone Valley Street Railway Co., and Worcester & Holden Street Railway Co. 30. Texas Co. of New York buys land at Quinsigamond Village for erection of tanks for oil storage.

Apr. 1. Norcross Bros. Co. awarded contract to erect $350,000 Congregational Church and Parish House at Fall River.

1. Worcester Electric Light Co. moves its general offices from Faraday Street to 375 Main Street.

1. Fiske-Carter Co. secures contract to build boiler-house, 51 by 97, and brick stack, 200 feet high, for Boston Mfg. Co., Waltham. 1. Wachusett Thread Co. give contract for $100,000 mill on Holmes Street to A. W. Watson, Warren, R. I.

3. W. H. Blodget Co. will move July 1 to new building now being constructed by E. J. Cross Co. on Arctic Street.

5. Plans received for new freight yard of Boston & Albany R. R. 6. Worcester Pressed Steel Co. contracts with Connecticut River Transmission Co. for 600 horsepower.

7. Worcester Cold Storage & Warehouse Co. awards contract to E. J. Cross Co. to build $25,000 addition to plant on Franklin Street. 8. Webb Pink Granite Co. secures $600,000 contract to furnish granite for New York's new postoffice.

10. J. W. Bishop Co. awarded contract to erect brick factory building for Union Twist Drill Co. at Athol.

11. Graton & Knight Mfg. Co. awards contract to E. D. Ward to erect $20,000 office building on Franklin Street.

15. Hassam Paving Co. invests $50,000 in ledge in business heart of Seattle to secure rock for road making on Pacific coast.

17. New England Steel Roofing Co. incorporated for $20,000. 17. Central Building Co. secures contract to erect $175,000 dwelling at Morristown, N. J., for W. S. B. Thorne.

18. Central Autogenous Welding Co. incorporates for $20,000. 18. E. J. Cross Co. awarded contract to build brick office and storage building and wooden machine shop, two stories, 280 by 106 feet, for Norton Co.

Necrology

Mar. 20. Mrs. A. C. Munroe, 76 years, 11 months and 27 days old; president Y. M. C. A. Auxiliary, widely known musician, of inflammation of the liver, at her home, 30 Hollywood Street.

21. David Carroll, aged 96 years, 7 months and 6 days, Worcester's oldest Irish-born citizen, of old age, in his home, 18 Crown Street.

22. Rev. Daniel F. Cronin, 60 years old, native of Worcester and rector of St. Agnes Church, Dalton, at his home in Dalton.

26. Eric N. Sundberg, 40 years, 2 months and 12 days old, vicepresident of Svea Gille, of heart failure, at his home, 16 Elizabeth Street.

Apr. 3. Miss S. Maria Davis, teacher in Providence Street school, 52 years old, of peritonitis, at City Hospital.

5. Charles E. Lincoln, 69 years, 11 months and 14 days old, Civil War veteran and 42 years a Worcester printer, of pneumonia, at his home, 3 Fairview Terrace.

6. Joseph Sauer, Civil War veteran and musician, aged 72 years, 2 months and 7 days, of Bright's disease, at his home, 28 Maywood Street.

7. Joseph F. Sargent, aged 66 years, 9 months and 12 days, former president Oxford Box & Paper Co., of ulcer of stomach, at City Hospital.

12. John Green, member of George H. Ward Post, G. A. R., 84 years, 10 months and 7 days old, at home of daughter in Providence. 13. John C. Donoghue, prominent in Irish national affairs, aged 49 years, 9 months and 19 days, of pneumonia, in City Hospital. 19. Patrick J. Courtney, aged 69 years and 3 days, Civil War veteran, of heart disease, at his home, 47 Arlington Street.

Parks and Civic Centres

The proposed park system for Chattanooga, the development of Corey, Ala., along lines of civic improvements of a high order, the plans for a "civic centre" which are co-ordinate with the other great betterments now being made in Baltimore, and similar movements in a number of cities of the South and Southwest, are all attracting deserved attention from other communities. The very apparent and highly beneficial results produced impress upon less active centres the importance of such civic improvements. The present need and opportunity for forming organizations leading up to such developments and for inaugurating the work are also made manifest.

When an organization interested in the active work of advancing a city's interests mentions its attractions, it is found that the civic improvements that have been inaugurated or completed are always important items. In a communication from Houston, Tex., published recently in the Manufacturer's Record, the statement was made that "every business organization and club is behind the movement for a city beautiful;" also, "the greatest civic improvement movement ever launched in Houston has been inaugurated by the Chamber of Commerce, aided by the city administration. They have jointly made appropriation for city beautification work which will extend throughout the city. The appropriations were made immediately available, and work on the various projects outlined began at once." The Nashville Industrial Bureau has inaugurated the movement for beautifying that city and has secured the services of E. H. Bennett, landscape architect of Chicago, to examine the possibilities and report a plan for city improvements. Nashville has unusual natural advantages in location, with an extensive river front and many elevated points of vantage to form a basis for attractive landscape treatment. The Industrial Bureau expects the co-operation of the Mayor and City Council, the Park Commission, the Board of Trade, the Civic Improvement Association and the Smoke Prevention League, as well as the moral support of the general public, in carrying this movement to completion.

The fact that costs of such improvements will increase when delayed, owing to the increase in land values, and possibly the occupation of needed lands for business purposes, offers a reason for advancing such civic improvements to the earliest date practicable. Besides, the advantage is great in having a city attractive to prospective settlers when they are looking for a new place in which to establish themselves, as well as for the enjoyment and benefit of the residents. In a recent report to the Board of Park Commissioners of Chattanooga, John Nolan, landscape architect, Cambridge, Mass., said:

"The opportunity that confronts your city to create a comprehensive system of parks is seldom equaled; but Chattanooga is growing rapidly, and the value of land is rising even more rapidly. Therefore, if large and satisfactory results are to be secured, action must be prompt and businesslike. It is doubtful if the preparation of park plans could have been undertaken at a more opportune time."

These statements would apply to many places that are contemplating the addition and development of new parks and other civic improvements. The expression that "there is no time like the present " for executing duties of any kind fittingly applies to park improve ments and city beautifying.—Manufacturer's Record.

For Smaller Industries

A good enterprise for this town would be a large, welllighted building, of six or eight stories in some convenient location, which could be rented to small manufacturing institutions, a floor possibly to each one, and power supplied to all floors by the proper machinery in the basement. We heard some business men in a railroad car speaking of this, and they all agreed it would be a good thing for Cambridge; that it would attract here a good many of the smaller industries and introduce into the community a greater variety of manufacture.

There is a good suggestion that the Board of Trade might act on. Undoubtedly there would come here many of the smaller industries if they had inviting locations to go into, and power ready for them. The nice location and the power ready would be great inducements. It is highly probable that if such a venture is set forth, and the smaller industries were invited to occupy floors, say 50 x 100 feet, on a rental including power, of say a 10 per cent. basis, the building would be promptly filled and continuously occupied.-Cambridge, O., Herald.

For Industrial Advancement

The Scottdale Chamber of Commerce prints an interesting outline of its aims which we hope will prove to be its achievements. Its officers have the right idea, and if they are properly supported by the citizens of substance they will be able to accomplish much for the advancement of the community and the common prosperity of its people.

The guaranty fund plan is the most practical ever presented, but it is also the most difficult to put into practical use. The obligation looms up so largely that it frightens the timid mind, and the average business mind is long on caution and short on risk. Yet the obligation is more apparent than real; experience has shown that it is never demanded in full; and under the plan, there is always a material asset remaining in the guaranteed plant as an offset to the obligations of the guarantors.

Perhaps a more serious drawback is that always numerous and often large contingent who want to ride on the car of progress and let the other fellow do the pushing. The trouble with this class of undesirable citizens is that the community can not rid themselves of them as did the ancient Greeks. There is no law of banishment here. These old men of the sea, who ride on the back of every progressive community, may not be shaken off. They have to be carried, and they are sometimes a back-breaking load; they are sprags in the wheels of industry; their example makes murmurings among the people and is as cold water upon the fires of enthusiastic public spirit.

The wise community does not embrace every tramp industry that comes along, but takes plenty of time to make exhaustive inquiry into its personnel and possibilities.

The successful chamber of commerce gives small consideration to any such industries and pins its faith to industries organized by practical people who have good propositions, but who lack sufficient capital to finance them properly. The guaranty fund is very properly limited to an investment of from 40 to 50 per cent. of the capital of the locating company, and this is secured by a mortgage on the whole. It is not an investment; it is a loan. If the industry is worthy and well managed it will be profitable, and its profits are due the organizers and workers. Its incidental benefits will furnish the town's profits and the recompense above legal interest for its loan.-Connellsville (Pa.) Courier.

A notable example of the rapid growth of an infant industry is found in the V.-S. Undermuslin Co., Front Street. This concern began business in March, 1910, with a capital of $50,000. The company was incorporated under Massachusetts laws by Valentine M. Vickery, John H. Stephenson and Aliene M. Vickery. Mr. Vickery is President and Mr. Stephenson is Treasurer and Superintendent. Both men were formerly with the W. H. Burns Co., Mr. Vickery having been their salesman for fifteen years, and Mr. Stephenson having been employed in the office for ten years.

The company occupied the two top floors of the building at the start and have recently reached out and added a large work-room adjoining their top floor. The officers state that this enlargement was made necessary by the great increase of business that has marked their first year.

The offices occupy a section of the front of the building, are generous in size and attractive in appearance. They are finished in mahogany and are furnished with the sanitary type of desks and contain an equipment of the modern aids to business accounting.

Adjoining the office is the sample room, its tables loaded down with filmy undergarments, embroidered and beribboned, tucked and ruffled and hemstitched, with delicate laces everywhere in evidence a sight to entrance a woman, but simply bewildering to mere man. Mr. Vickery, who is in charge of the sales department, states that the success which has come to them is due to the novelty and newness of their creations and to their boldness in striking out along new lines.

In the rear of this floor are the stock and shipping rooms, well fitted for the service for which they were designed and indicative of the prosperity and volume of business at this time.

On the floor above are the work rooms, where the first impression the writer received was that of miraculous cleanliness-an impression that deepened with closer inspection. The air seemed full of fluttering white garments, whisked about by the deft fingers of women who bore little resemblance to the type the writer has seen in other industries. It appeared as though the handling day after day of spotless white cloth in such finely lighted and ventilated work rooms, under conditions that could be well described as super-sanitary, had left its impress upon the physical appearance of the employees. One of the officers afterward remarked that this constant touch with materials so pure and delicate undeniably made for physical and moral cleanliness.

In a separate room on this floor is installed the designer, Mrs. C. M. Bishop. Here originates the first garment in any new style. It is interesting, too, to note that here the ordinary rules of industry are reversed the garment is made before the pattern. The product is finished and approved before the pattern is made. The success of an undermuslin business measures to a certain degree the skill of its designer-and the V.-S. Undermuslin Co. is successful.

Adjoining this room is the cutting room, where, by means of a sturdy curved knife and with astonishing ease, the cutters cut an average of 144 thicknesses of cloth at a time, using a flimsy paper pattern as a guide, with unerring accuracy. This room is lined with webs of cloth averaging 60 yards to the web. The cloths just at present in vogue are nainsook, crepe, cambric and cross-bar lawn.

An interesting operation close by is the stamping of pieces for hand embroidery. The embroidery itself is done outside the factory by women who acquired their skill in sunny Italy-the home of fancy needlework.

The plan of operation centralizes in the stock room, whence the work is issued to the operatives and to which it is returned after each operation. This system is necessary because of the infinite variety of changes possible in the operations required to complete a single

garment, and is apparently successful in preventing mistakes and in hastening the progress of the work.

In an enclosure surrounded by a wire grill are stored the laces and trimmings. The stock here ranges all the way from simple hamburg and baby ribbon to expensive imported laces. All stock issued from the lace room is cut to pieces accurate in number and length for a designated order.

Two interesting machines are the Adams bias cutter and the Adams folder for making bindings, etc.

As a demonstration of how far human ingenuity has gone in the development of the sewing machine, a trip through this plant is most interesting. It almost seems as though the makers of some of the attachments found here had endowed them with human intelligence. No pen could easily describe the celerity with which some of the operators are able to transform the appearance of the cloth upon which they are working. Ruffling, tucking, binding, hemstitching, felling these are but a few of the operations carried on at a pace faster than the eye can follow. And when occasion arises some of the machines combine two or three of these operations with no apparent diminution of speed. Some of the devices used are original with the concern and have been developed by the machinist in charge, Mr. Williams.

Buttons are attached by one machine while one winks, and the buttonholes are made by another almost as quickly. The needle of another machine zigzags back and forth to join two pieces of lace without making the ridge of the ordinary seam, while still another makes the usual seam, but bears a reciprocating knife which trims off any surplus cloth.

A corps of inspectors goes over every garment, but finds little to reject, for "seconds" mean a considerable reduction in the operator's pay.

The garments are pressed by the use of gas irons heated by Bunsen burners, a special installation of gas and compressed air pipes furnishing the proper combination of air and gas. Here the garments are carefully folded and made ready to go into boxes.

Some of the largest consumers in the country are large and regular customers of the V.-S. Undermuslin Co., and their force of 150 employees is being added to daily-an example of the truth that "Worcester Made Invites Trade."

New Polishing Machine

The Central Autogenous Welding Company, 73 Union Street, is turning out a new polishing machine, known as "No. 4 'Heavy Duty,' ,"" the feature of it being its annular ball bearings. It is claimed that this machine is unusually economical in its use of power, and that the troubles with abrasive material found in the babbitt bearing, no matter how well housed, are entirely eliminated in the ball bearings of this machine. These bearings have just been improved by the introduction of balls to take end thrust, and the makers state that the wear of years of constant service would be hard to find with a micrometer.

The bearings are packed with grease and the overflow of this through the housing, it is claimed, thoroughly removes the abrasive material that may gather about it.

The company claims that the machine maintains a true running spindle, and that this unchanging feature is a large factor in obtaining or bettering the standard of quality in polishing, and that the freedom from repairs and replacements and the economy of lubrication make this machine worthy of critical comparative examination.

The Daylight Bakery

The Daylight Bakery, Currie & Fairbanks Co., 742 Main Street, is a modern bakery that is developing a good business under its new management. The real ownership of the business is vested in the Bay State Milling Co., of Boston. J. Leroy Brown is president; E.C.Harris, treasurer, and Charles S. Saunders is manager of the bakery.

The Daylight Bakery specializes in bread baking and obtains its name by reason of the fact that the huge ovens and the shipping and sales rooms are on the street floor, where patrons and passers-by can see for themselves the apparatus and the methods of handling stock. It goes without saying that neatness and cleanliness are necessary accompaniments of a bakeshop conducted under such circumstances.

It is interesting to go through the plant and see just how barrel upon barrel of flour is converted into the staff of life, to appear ultimately upon the tables of thousands of Worcester homes.

Starting with the flour in the barrel, the first step is the sifting. The barrels are stored in the basement and are opened in a room in the rear of the basement. This room is finished in concrete and is kept spotless and free from any source of contamination with the same care as the other portions of the plant. The flour is dumped into a Hunter's flour sieve and passes through that into an enclosed conveyor which carries it to the

floor above. Here it passes automatically to a Day's dough mixer. This machine has a capacity of two barrels of flour at a time and the mixing arms are rotated by an electric motor. The flour is delivered to this machine a little at a time, and in about twenty minutes the mixer has prepared a huge mass of dough with a thoroughness which, it is said, would be impossible by any direct human manipulation.

The dough is then dumped into long steel troughs, shaped like a letter U, which have been thoroughly greased. Here it is left to rise until it doubles its volume, a matter of four or five hours. From here it is taken to sturdy tables, whose tops are scoured to resemble a Dutch housewife's doorstep. On these tables the dough is scaled, moulded and put into pans.

From here the pans go into proving boxes galvanized iron boxes in which the pans repose in orderly rows upon skeleton shelves of iron rods. Here the dough is subjected to a gentle heat and allowed to rise a second time.

SALESROOM AND OVENS IN DAYLIGHT BAKERY

Then comes the process of baking. This brings the visitor to the most interesting machine-that is the best descriptive word for itin the whole process of bread making and baking. This is the Crandall Pettee reel gas oven. In its essentials this is simply a huge galvanized iron drum, within which revolve shelves above a series of gas flames. It impresses one as being of that type of apparatus whose very simplicity in principle leads to wonderment as to why it was not invented many years ago.

It, however, is the latest thing in baking apparatus and uses the intensity and delicacy of control of the gas flame and the energy of a little-horsepower motor to turn out bread, for which the claim is made that it is cooked more evenly and thoroughly and with less care than on the older type of ovens. By means of a pyrometer the heat of the interior of the oven is watched. The oven is operated at a temperature of 400 degrees Fahrenheit and this degree of heat is secured within four minutes from the time the gas is lighted. The pans are placed upon shelves which hang from shafts which are themselves fastened to a central shaft slowly rotated by the small motor. By this method of construction the shelves remain in a horizontal position and approach and recede from the gas flames with unvarying regularity. The great advantage of this oven is stated to be that it is more reliable, produces a more even bake and is cleaner than its predecessors in this field. Four of the older types of ovens are also in use, but two of these are to be taken out and replaced with a new gas oven of the same type as the one described. Other advantages claimed for the new type of oven are that by means of an isinglass window and interior electric lighting, the process of baking can be closely watched, and that by opening the door and the back draft, the heat is quickly dissipated.

THE DAYLIGHT BAKERY

The baking is nearly all done at night. The dough mixers are started at 6 p.m., the bakers begin work at midnight and the actual process of baking begins at about 2 a. m, When the day force arrives the tables and counters are piled high with loaves, which are soon wrapped in waxed paper, and before the sun has reached the zenith, stores in all parts of the city are delivering Daylight bread to "the ultimate consumer."

The day of the sanitary bakery has come.