A Carriage Factory

A CARRIAGE FACTORY  To Employ Seventy-Five Men Projected.  EXCELLENT PROSPECTS For the Re-Opening of the Ferguson Works.  The New Company Will Start Out With a Number of Orders Ahead.  Half of the Capital Stock is Already Raised. 

It will be good news for those interested in the growth of the manufacturing interests of this city to know that plans are being made to re-open the Ferguson Cart and Carriage Company's works, which have been closed since Alva P. Ferguson Consolidated his business with the Pape-Weber Carriage Company, of St. Louis, Mo. , and moved to that city in January, 1896.

The Ferguson works were first established in Ann Arbor about 10 years ago and for a number of years were an important factor in the business life of the city and afforded employment to a large number of workmen. The Ferguson road cart, which was one of the chief products of the factory in its palmy days, obtained a national reputation and was sold in every state in he union.

A company with a paid-up capital of $25,000 has been organized for the purpose of re-opening the works and building a special line of buggies and three styles of Ferguson road carts. If the deal is consummated the factory will be employing 50 men inside of 60 days. The capacity of the works will be 3,000 buggies and 1,000 carts per year. Carriages for the city trade will be built to order.

The new company has an order from Hooker & Co., of San Francisco, Cal., contingent upon its ability to commence the shipment of buggies in January. A Munice, Indiana, firm will also place an order for 500 buggies. It is the intention of the promoters of this enterprise to supply the western trade.

One-half of the capital stock has been subscribed by outside parties and an effort is being made to interest Ann Arbor capital to complete the balance of the capital stock. This is an enterprise which our people should take hold of and push to a successful issue. An institution which will employ when running in full force, 75 men, will be a most desirable addition to the business of Ann Arbor. We have only to look around and see the prosperous neighboring cities whose business depends entirely upon their manufactories to be convinced that we should let no opportunity slip to increase the number of Ann Arbor's manufacturing institutions.

Pontiac has six carriage factories employing a large number of men. Flint has added five carriage shops within a year giving employment to over 300 men.

Ann Arbor is as favorably situated as any of these interior cities for the location of manufactures and the whole city will be benefited by a concerted effort upon the part of our property owners and business men to secure such industries as that which is the subject of this article, as well as securing a profitable investment for surplus capital.