Cambridge History from News Articles - Part IV

by Charles Upton
Issue No. 157 - May 1986

"THE GLASS WORKS"
The Daily Jeffersonian, Cambridge, Ohio.
Friday, November 23, 1900

"Is it too late to secure the location of the Glass Works" is now the question before the citizens of Cambridge. A well attended meeting of the Stockholders of the Improvement Co. was held last evening and President R.V. Orme read a telegram from Judge Campbell who is now in Pittsburgh trying to close up the deal, stating that the delay in raising the money was detrimental and that perhaps it was now too late to get the plant. It seems that the towns where the several glass houses are now, are making efforts to retain them and the glass company is hesitating about moving. At the meeting last evening Mr. Beckett reported that each of the Gas Companies had subscribed for ten shares and F.L. Rosemond reported that amount now subscribed amounted to $50,800. Another meeting will be held Thursday evening at 7:30 o'clock.

"GLASS COMPANY, IMPORTANT"
The Daily Jeffersonian, Cambridge, Ohio.
Monday, November 26, 1900

About one third of the subscribers to the stock of the Cambridge Improvement Company have not paid the first installment of 10 per cent required by law. They cannot be counted until this is paid, and the Company therefore cannot assume they have $40,000 of stock. If you want to help the Company get the glass plant, pay up to C.C. Cosgrove, treasurer. The most important thing now is to let the Improvement Company know what it has to depend on.

"GLASS WORKS SECURED"
The Daily Jeffersonian, Cambridge, Ohio.
Friday, November 30, 1900

At last the effort of the Cambridge Improvement Co. are crowned with success and Cambridge has secured the Glass Plant.

Late Wednesday evening it was rumored on the streets that the matter was settled, and after a few inquiries it was learned that R.V. Orme and Fred L. Rosemond had received telegrams from Judge J.W. Campbell, then in Pittsburgh, stating that the papers had been signed by the Glass Company and the matter all settled securing the glass plant. There is one condition to the agreement and that is the immediate payment of the first assessment of the stock. Now let all who have not paid the necessary ten per cent, on their shares do so at once and all should attend the mass meeting to be held at the courthouse this evening.

The Cambridge Herald.
Wednesday, May 22, 1901

The glass house people, when here recently, asked the Improvement Company for several more acres of ground fronting along the B. & 0. railroad, needed because of change and enlargement of plant over first plans. The Improvement Committee hesitates about granting the demand, for the reason, they claim, that it will virtually "shut in" the remaining land owned by them intended for building sites and materially lessen their value. The glass company seemed determined in the matter and the situation has given some concern lest the town should lose the plant. It is to be hoped matters will be satisfactorily adjusted.

The Cambridge Herald.
Wednesday, July 24, 1901

The Improvement Company are considering the matter of building a number of houses on their glass plant addition. "Houses for rent" are scarce in Cambridge at this time.

"REAL ESTATE TRANSFERS"
The Cambridge Herald.
Wednesday, August 14, 1901

The Cambridge Improvement Co., to the National Glass Co., 15 acres Cambridge township, $1.00.

"REAL ESTATE TRANSFERS"
The Cambridge Herald.
Wednesday, August 21, 1901

The National Glass Co., right of way for railroad switch across Improvement Co's land, $1.00.

The Cambridge Herald.
Wednesday, September 18, 1901

The Glass house is running full force and full-time with good prospects of a prosperous season. Byesville Enterprise (Author's Note: I do not know if this pertains to the operations at Byesville or Cambridge.)

The Cambridge Herald.
Wednesday, September 25, 1901

It is reported that the National Glass Company is negotiating for the purchase of several more acres upon which to build a large addition to their already immense plant in course of construction here.

The Cambridge Herald.
Wednesday, October 16, 1901

The glass plant is a busy place these days. A large force of men are employed in its construction but there remains much to be done before it is completed. It is an immense structure built of stone, brick and iron.

"GLASS WORKS NOTES"
The Daily Jeffersonian, Cambridge, Ohio.
October 26, 1901

The supervising architect of the Glass works was here this week and says everything is now moving rapidly. Over one hundred car loads of iron were delivered during the month and is now all on the ground, so that a large force of men can work.

The enlargement of the plant south, increasing the capacity two thirds as much as the three stacks will be proceeded with as soon as the work on the first plant will permit.

Although over one hundred houses have been erected this summer they are all engaged and we have not yet felt the impetus of the influx of glass workers. The absence of houses convenient to the works is causing the Glass company great anxiety, and they inform our people that it will be utterly impossible to start the plant until they can get places for their workmen to live. Fifteen new houses are under way in the Improvement company addition, but these will scarcely make a beginning. No better investment can be made by persons of small or large means than to build some houses near the glass works.

The Cambridge Herald.
Wednesday, October 30, 1901

In the list of incorporations last week were the Cambridge Glass company, capital stock $500,000; the Guernsey oil and gas company, Cambridge, capital stock $300,000.

"HOUSES MUST BE HAD"
"THE CONTINUOUS TANK PLANT WILL NOT BE ERECTED TILL RESIDENCES ARE BUILT FOR THE WORKMEN"
The Daily Jeffersonian, Cambridge, Ohio.
Monday evening, November 11, 1901

David Carl, the general superintendent of the National Glass Company was here the latter part of the week, accompanied by several of the men who will have official charge of the plant here. They hired a team and spent the day hunting houses, with little success.

Mr. Carl said they had expected to start this plant by December 1st, but that it would probably be January 1st before it would be put in blast. He said they were sadly handicapped by their inability to secure houses convenient to the plant for their workmen; that they would bring a large number of men here at once, if quarters could be found, and that this would aid them in pushing the work along.

It was further learned that while the company is ready to proceed with its continuous tank plant, south of the present plant, which would increase the capacity two thirds, they had decided to do nothing in that regard until Cambridge people showed a disposition to house the workmen in suitable quarters.

The apparent indifference of our citizens to make good the assurance given the glass people has riled them considerably, and it is remarkable that our people do not take hold of the matter and show by their disposition to provide for these people that we are interested in getting these manufacturers here.

There is no place in or near Cambridge today where property can be owned at such a small cost, and with such a good income, as in the vicinity of the Glass Plant. Lots are cheap, they are free of corporation taxes, al- though on the line, and good paying tenants are assured, at prices as high as in town, yet our citizens take no more interest in it, than if the glass plant was at some other place.

Cambridge is getting a very black eye right now.