Choice of Factory Sites.
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Particulars Concerning Boroughs of which the Councils are Offering Commercial Inducements to Prospective New Ratepayers.
It is only those industries which are officially classed in all the " first lines," equally as regards demand as supply, that are at the present time extending output. Some of the industries which at the moment enjoy the benefit of "A" classification all round may lose that pride of place at very short notice. This risk of cessation of activity for them is ever present in certain branches of munitions manufacture, but it does not apply to the motor-transport group and several allied sections. Hostilities will cease one day, Lord Derby thinks quite suddenly, but the boom for British commercial-motor makers will go on increasing. Not only have the devastated areas to be rebuilt and their true inhabitants repatriated, but the accumulations of home and export orders have to be satisfied. All this will take years, and will call for new works, both 'Chief and subsidiary. ' Our desire is to afford cities, boroughs and urban districts the opportunity to put forward their, respective claims, and to give indications of the commercial attractions and terms which they are prepared to offer in order to add to their rateable value. It is possible, too, that some of the counties may have points to advance later on.
Barton-on-Trent.
03urton-on-Crent has an 'active Commercial Development Committee at the disposal of its ratepayers, under the chairmanship of Mr. Counthllor Jenkins. The secretary is Mr. G. T. Lynam, M.Inst.C.E., F.S.I., the borough engineer and surveyor.
Burton-on-Trent is one of the industrial centres which claims to be a centre in many other respects, and not the least of all in the matter of means of communication. It also claims to be a centre in relation to supplies of raw materials, and particularly of fuel. As to the value of Burton water, that is known the world over.
It must be pointed out that the railway facilities at the disposal. of Burton-on-Trent are exceptionally good. They are furnished by the Midland, the London and North-Western, the Great Northern, and the North Staffordshire railway companies, all four of which serve the town direct. The Grand Junction Canal passes through the borough for 2i miles, and so affords an alternative means of communication for supplies which can be handled on the inland waterways of the country.
The town appears to be entirely free from unfavourable conditions of living ; the supply of houses is excellent, the health record is testimony to the sanitation, and the percentage of open spaces is remarkably high. It goes without sayins, that workers in the town can quickly gain access to beauty spots within an easy radius, whilst at the same time the pricirsal business cities of the country can be reached rapidly. Train services to the following representative cities may be quoted: London, i2i hrs. ' • Birmingham, 40 reins. ; Nottinghaan, 45 mins. ; Derlay, 15 wins.; Leicester, 50 wins.; Sheffield 70 mins. ; Manchester, 2 hrs. ; Liverpool, 21 his, Burton is also favourably placed for purposes of highway communication, with fairly-level highways running in most directions.' As regards gas and electricity, the Corporation of Burton-on-Trent is open to make special terms with works of comparatively-large size, and to offer both facilities and inducements in these departments. Cheap fuel, power, and lighting are found to go together, and it is claimed by this local authority that there is an abundance of male and female labour at Burton. There are so many works and various trades in and around the borough, although it is usually credited with being only a brewing centre, that fluctuations of activity in one trade release labour for employment in another, thus establishing a general balance;
The rents of workmen's cottages vary between 3s. 6d. and 6s. 6d. per week, free of rates, taxes, and water charges, and the number Of six-roomed houses is considerable..
As to water supply, Burton is well placed, both by the service of the South Staffordshire Waterworks Co. and from the River Trent. Well-sinking also invariably gives gratifying results ; a sufficient supply of water for most manufacturing purposes can be obtained from wells of about 20 ft. deep for the cost al pumping only.
Finally, as to educitional facilities, there are 16 schools under the direct control of the local authority, and three non-council schools—two Church of England, and one Roman Catholic. There is also a grammar school, founded in the year 1520 by 1/4 illiam Bean, Abbot of Burton, and a girl's high school on the same foundation as the grammar school.
Cheltenham.
One is usually inclined to remember Cheltenham as " Charming Cheltenham with its Spa." Cheltenham, however, possesses unique advantages when considered as a suitable centre for manufacturing purposes. It has first-class railway facilities, both east to west and north to south, whilst it is only about 10 miles by road to the port of' Gloucester, and under 40 miles by road to the larger port of Bristol. Seeing. that most new factories will avail themselves of road-transport facilities, the comparative nearness of Cheltenham to the great waterway and channel of the Severn is a poineto which direct attention deserves to be drawn.
We understand that the' Chtitenham Corporation, acting as regards correspondence through its Town Clerk, wishes to emphasize the claims of the borough
upon manufacturing interests. The amenities of Cheltenham as a Spa should certainly not be in any way impaired by the advent of such industries in these days of electric lighting and power, in which directions assurances as to railway facilities and rates will be forthcoming. Land is not expensive, and available sites adjoining one or other of the railway companies are eminently adapted for the erection of new factories.
Education in Cheltenham is, of course, known to be exceptionally good, either for boys or girls ; there are, as a matter of fact, schools to suit all tastes, and at all scales of fees, whilst it may be said that instruction is in every case up to the highest standards. _Shopping facilities are good, and the basing of Cheltenham upon Gloucester and Bristol in respect of so much in the way of imported food stuffs undoubtedly helps to keep down the cost of living.
Proximity to lime and coal deposits should be attractive in connection with not a few industries. Means of communicatiSn with Birmingham and the Midlands are fully as good as those. which exist with the Forest of Dean arid South Wales, whilst Cheltenham can also offer, through the medium of the Midland and South Western 3-unction Railway, supplies direct. from Southampton as regards imports, and can converely offer shipment that way, as well as through Bristol, as regards exports.
Nottingham.
The Nottingham City Council attaches so much importance, at the present juncture of events, to its development as the industrial centre of the Midlands, that its Industrial Development Officer, Mr. F. M. Evanson, has apparently received instructions to place the city's claims before the motor and allied industries. The geographical position of Nottingham, in the centre of the Midlands and directly within easy distance of a large number of seaports, whether by rail or canal, or by road, will shortly be materially improved by the completion of the Trent Navigatioli. / Nottingham is an economically-managed city, and the rates have recently fallen by no less than 5d. in the X, to which fact the Corporation rather proudly points. The proximity of Nottingham to the iron and coal fields does not call for any demonstration. In health, it claims to rival Burton, Cheltenham or any other centre, and also to offer first-class facilities in respect of education, coupled with attractions as a residential area.
We have had the pleasure of perusing some A the literature for which Mr. Evanson is responsible, and we were particularly impressed by it, and .by the business-like way in which it has been compiled. The inducements which the Corporation is prepared to offer appear to us to be remarkable, even going so far under certain coeditions as the provision of sites free of rent for a term. Each application, however, will be considered on its own merits.
Nottingham enjoys a reputation as a clean city. Its great lace industry imposes cleanly conditions upon so many of itaworkers, whilst the attractions of the river Trent are such as to render the taking of reasanable recreation a simple matter, in conjunction with the electric-tramcar and motorbus services.
Passing more jaarticularly. to Nottingham's claims as a manufacturing and business centre, it is served by the main lines of three railways—the Midland, the Great Northern and the Great Central. The Trent is the third largest river in the country, and the opportunities to use it for communication to the East Coast, through the important ports of Goole, Hull, Grimsby and Immingham, are being. developed. Canal. junctions are numerous, and the wharf accommodation at Nottingham is by no means inconsiderable, whilst both the wharves and warehouses are being rapidly extended. The scale of tqlls on the Trent is a low
one, and the navigation is free below Grimsby. Nottingham is almost the centre of the country, equally as regards rail and water connection, whilst it must be• similarly placed as regards highway communication, now that such transport is being developed generally.
There is a free labour market in Nottingham, under normal conditions, and the educationg facilities are good. There are no fewer than 69 free elementary public schools, four secondary and allied schools, and various high schools. Continuation and technical courses are arranged on a modern scale, whilst there is local provision to deal with children who are unfortunately afflicted by blindness, deafness, or other defects. Technical courses in connection with the Nottingham University College, which we understand is generously subsidized by the Board of Education and by the Mrporation of Nottingham, are arranged. They cover the following subjects: Mechanical engineering; fitting, turning and machine-shop work ; electrical engineering ; mining ; telephony ; telegraphy; building trades, including architecture ; carpentry and joinery ; plumbing ; hosiery.
The charge for gas at Nottingham is from Is. 6d. to 1.10d. per 1000 cubic feet, according to consumption and requirements. This compares. with a charge by slot meters of 3s. id. per 1000 cubic feet.. The Corporation's gas works have a maximum weekly capacity of 7000 tons of coal. Electricity for power and heating is lid. per Board of Trade unit ; this is the mostfavourable rate as a rule, but every demand is treated as a special case, where circumstances justify the consideration. The fiat rate for lighting is now aid. per Board of Trade unit.
The public parks 'and recreation grounds of Nottingham are as numerous as are its free libraries and museums and other means of indoor amusement. In short,, our advice to readers who are about to examine the claims of rival centres for factories is that they should not fail to get into touch with Mr. Evanson, and to apply for a copy of the descriptive book, accompanied by illustrations, maps and diagrams, for the issue of which he is responsible, in order to help them to reach a wise decision.