Manufacturer Notes: Streeter Glass Company & Terre Haute Glass Manufacturing CompanyMuncie Directories1889 Streeter Harry W, bkpr Ball's Glass Works, h 114 1/2 W Washington 1899-1900 LAND OWNER LIST Name. Post Office. Acres Streeter Harry......................Greenfield.............. 14 1/4 Terre Haute Directories 1901-1902 Streeter Harry W. prest Terre Haute Glass Mfg co, res 2005 N 13th. GLASS MANUFACTURERS. Modes-Turner Glass Co, n e cor 25th and Locust NORTH BALTIMORE GLASS CO, n s Maple av e of C & E I R R. ROOT GLASS CO. n e cor 3d and Voorhees. Terre Haute Glass Mfg Co, 1601-1625 Maple av. _______________________________________________________________________________________ 1870 Indiana Delaware Muncie Census 549 598 Streeter James L 28 M W Produce Dealer 400 Indiana ----Jennie 28 F W Keeping House 2000 Ohio ----Harry 2 W M Indiana McFaren Joana 19 F W Domestic Servant Kentucky _______________________________________________________________________________________ 1880 Indiana Delaware Muncie Census 54 West Washington Street 142 154 Streeter James L. W M 38 County Recorder and grain dealer Indiana ----Mary J W F 39 Wife Keeping House Ohio 142 154 Streeter Harry W W M 12 Son At School Indiana ----Margaret E. W F 6 Daughter Kindergarten Indiana Leeka Emma W F 28 Servant Indiana _______________________________________________________________________________________ 1900 Indiana Vigo Harrison Township Census 505 South Fifth Street 32 34 Streeter Harry Head W M Dec 1867 32 M 3 Indiana Indiana Ohio Glass Mfg ------Catharine A. Wife W F July 1873 26 M 3 2 2 Indiana England Illinois ------Winton H Son W M Sept 1897 2 S Indiana Indiana Indiana ------William A. W M Son Sept 1899 8/12 S Indiana Indiana Indiana Lynch Anna Domestic W F Oct 1864 35 S Illinois Ireland Ireland Domestic Smith William C. Servant B M July 1873 26 S Illinois Unknown Kentucky Servant _______________________________________________________________________________________ Glass Works. Terre Haute Glass Works, bet Poplar and Railroad The Advantages And Attractions of Terre Haute, Indiana As A Business And Manufacturing Center (Terre Haute, Ingalls & Company, 1872) _______________________________________________________________________________________ JAMES L. STREETER is a native of Delaware County, and a descendant of New England ancestors. His grandfather, John Streeter, was a native of the state of Vermont, in which state he lived and died. His father, Calvin P. Streeter, was also a native of that state, and acquired a good business education as a clerk in a mercantile establishment there. When quite a young man (1836) he emigrated to Delaware County, Indiana, and embarked in mercantile pursuits at the village of New Burlington, in Perry Township. A few years subsequently he removed to the village of Wheeling, in Washington Township, and, in 1856, to Muncie, where he resided until his death, January 12, 1881. In this city he engaged in the dry goods trade, and, two years later, accepted the position of superintendent in the packing-house of Ira Hunter & Co., remaining with this firm and its successors until about 1876, when he retired from active business. In January 1841, he married Miss Mary E., daughter of Stephen Long, one of the early treasures of Delaware County. This union was blessed with five children, viz: James L., Stephen, Mary E., Leonora and Laura, of whom the last named two are deceased. James L. Streeter was born December 2, 1841, in the village of New Burlington, Delaware county, Indiana. At the district school near his home he acquired the elements of an education, subsequently pursuing his studies at the public schools of Muncie, and, at a time just prior to the late war, he attended Indiana Asbury university for a short time, obtaining an insight into the classic studies. His inclinations, as well as his experience, led him to adopt mercantile pursuits as his vocation in life -a field for which he is well qualified, and in which he has proved his native ability. His first venture was in the drug trade, in which he formed a copartner ship with Dr. Robert Winton, of Muncie. After conducting a satisfactory and lucrative trade for several years, both retired and sold the store. Mr. Streeter then engaged in the grocery trade, which he pursued for about two years. At the end of that time, he engaged in the sale of dry goods, which he continued for an equal period. Then, in 1870, he became the nominee of his party for the office of recorder of Delaware County. His commercial intercourse with the people of the county gained for him a good reputation for integrity and probity of character, and the election that followed his nomination, in October of the same year, resulted in a large majority of votes in his favor. In 1882 he was complimented by a re-election as recorder. He discharged the duties of his position with great impartiality, and has served with credit to himself, and to nearly the entire satisfaction of everyone as can be reasonably expected of a public official who has so many tastes to please. He has been very unselfish in his efforts to accommodate those whose business leads them to his office. In 1890 he was elected a member of the common council of Muncie, and served as such one term. At this time he is connected with S. Cammack & Co. in the grain business, and is also identified with the R. H. Horne produce company. As a businessman and public official, he has gained the confidence and esteem of all whose pleasure it is to know him, and has won friendship permanent and deep. He is a member in good standing in Delaware lodge, No. 46, A., F. & A. M., and Muncie commandery, No. 18, K. T. February 14, 1867, he gave his hand in marriage to Miss Mary J., daughter of John Marsh, Esq., of Muncie. Three bright, intelligent and promising children, Harry, Edna and Charley, have crowned the happiness of this union. Harry Streeter is an active young manufacturer of Muncie, being connected with the Port Glass works of this city. A Portrait and Biographical Record Of Delaware County, Indiana (Chicago, A. W. Bowen & Co., 1894) _______________________________________________________________________________________ Indiana Marriage Records Harry W. Streeter to Catharine Armstrong September 16, 1896 Marion County Ancestry.com _______________________________________________________________________________________ A BIG DEAL ON. ________ Streeter & Company, of Muncie, After the Bottle House. The deal between Hollweg & Rees, owners of the Greenfield Bottle Works, and Streeter & Co., of Muncie, seems to have been consummated, and more than probable that factory will resume operations by the first of the year. It does not seem to be a sale of the plant, but a five year lease, with an option on it, Messrs. Hollweg & Rees contracting to give the new firm all of their work, which will keep the plant going at least one-half of the time, and they have contracts from other parties that insure then steady work. This will be pleasant news to the many families in Greenfield who have been out of work so long. It has been, and will we understand, be conducted by union men. Greenfield Evening Republican (Greenfield, Indiana) December 16, 1895 _______________________________________________________________________________________ Bottle Works to Resume. Special to the Indianapolis Journal. GREENFIELD, Ind., Jan. 16.--Harry W. Streeter, of Muncie, who has leased the Hollweg & Reese bottle works plant, of this city, for five years. has everything about ready for starting up. He has had a new glass well drilled for the especial use of the factory. Saturday the men will be hired. About one hundred will be employed and later increased to 150. This factory has been idle for the past two years. The Indianapolis Journal (Indianapolis, Indiana) January 17, 1896 _______________________________________________________________________________________ HIS NEW POSITION. Harry Streeter Has Leased a Glass Factory at Greenfield. Harry Streeter was in Muncie yesterday. Mr. Streeter is now a full fledged resident of Greenfield, Hancock county He has leased the Holeweg & Reese fruit jar factory in that town and is doing a large amount of business. His sister, Miss Edna Streeter, will soon go to Greenfield to assist in the work in the office. She will act as Stenographer. The Muncie Morning News (Muncie, Indiana) January 18, 1896 _______________________________________________________________________________________ Manager Streeter, of the bottle works at Greenfield, has employed nonunion glass blowers to take the place of Strikers. The South Bend Tribune (South Bend, Indiana) January 20, 1896 _______________________________________________________________________________________ Trouble is expected at Redkey because the Greenfield bottle works has employed forty non-union men. The Republic (Columbus, Indiana) January 21, 1896 _______________________________________________________________________________________ To Greenfield James L. Streeter and Harry Streeter left for Greenfield this afternoon to assume charge of their new glass factory. Household goods were taken. Miss Edna Streeter will go next week. The Muncie Daily Herald (Muncie, Indiana) January 22, 1896 _______________________________________________________________________________________ The following special from Greenfield shows that all is not smoth (sic) sailing for Harry Streeter in his new vocation at Greenfield. "Harry Streeter, formerly with the Port Glass company, at Muncie, is now trying to brave the contempt of the people of this town by bringing a set of men here to work for the "Redkey' list, which means 50 per cent. off the union scale, and less each succeeding week thereafter. The union scale is 90 cents net. This leaves the non-union men working for 40 cents on the dollar. This is not a backwoods town. The sentiment here is favorable to union principles. The meeting in the court house developed that fact. Later an officer of the green blower's association circulated a petition which was signed by everyone of consequence in this city of 7,000 inhabitants. The petition was presented to Holweg & Reese, wholesale and retail dealers in glass and queensware at Indianapolis. The firm formerly operated this plant themselves, and their relations with their union employes were so friendly that it occasioned pleasant comment; but this firm claims not to have time any more to be bothered by running a glass house that was donated them by the citizens of this community, so they have leased it to Harry Streeter, and as stated, the terms of the said lease are that they shall receive 5,000 gross of fruit jars, delivered at Indianapolis, 25 per cent per gross cheaper than any can be secured from any union factory in the land. Mr. Streeter claims to be without capital, and it is evident that were it not for liberal terms of this lease, Streeter could not get a factory to practice on. The Muncie Morning News (Muncie, Indiana) February 9, 1896 _______________________________________________________________________________________ A Mob of Toughs. One of the most disgraceful mobs that ever assembled in this city formed near the saloon on West Main street in the vicinity of the glass factories on Saturday evening last. A lot of young men, including a lot of strikers of the bottle house, stopped a horse and buggy on the street near the saloon, which contained Ed. Duncan and Wm. Jones, workmen at the bottle house. They were taken out of the buggy and fearfully beaten. The strikers, assisted by a few local toughs, thought the buggy contained Mr. Streeter, the manager of the bottle factory, and it was their intention to give him a rough handling. Mr. Wm. Jones, one of the occupants of the buggy, was taken out and beaten in a horrible manner and taken to a box car attached to a through freight and the mob ordered the railroad men to put him off at Knightstown. We understand Jones is now at his home in Anderson in a dangerous condition. We think that it is about time that the many unlawful acts were stopped. Our beautiful and glorious Mayor seems to be sawing wood. It will be remembered he is Chief of Police. The Hancock Democrat (Greenfield, Indiana) March 12, 1896 _______________________________________________________________________________________ THAT GREENFIELD FRACAS. ______________ Scab Glass Workers go About the Town Armed so it is Said. People at Greenfield put up about $3,000 cash to Holway & Reece, of Indianapolis, to build a glass factory at that place. The company operated the plant for a year then closed it down. After two years of idleness the was leased to Harry W. Streeter, of Muncie, with the understand that he furnish them with glassware at a reduction of 25 per cent. under rates. He put a lot of non-union men to work, but the town people would not tolerate them, owning to the alleged bad character of the new comers. Others come to take their place and they go about town armed to the teeth. An outbreak is feared at any time and serious trouble may result.--Anderson Telegram. The Muncie Daily Herald (Muncie, Indiana) April 27, 1896 _______________________________________________________________________________________ Fire at the Bottle Factory. At half past five this morning the office at the bottle factory of Mr. Harry Streeter in the city, was discovered to be on fire. An alarm was turned in and the department responded to the call. They made good time, but did not throw a drop of water on the same. The driver of the fire wagon drove to the fire and then got down off the wagon and warmed himself. The present fire company is in a demoralized condition, and if something is not done soon we will have no company to fight fires. The Hancock Democrat (Greenfield, Indiana) January 28, 1897 _______________________________________________________________________________________ A Big Blow. One day last week Messrs. Will Pierce and Joseph Sharkey, two blowers at the bottle house of Mr. Streeter in this city, blew 285 dozen one-half gallon fruit jars. This is said to have been the largest blow ever recorded in this State. These gentleman accomplished this remarkable feat in nine hours. At the prices paid by this factory for blowing jars these gentlemen were paid $17.10 for this job of blowing. The Hancock Democrat (Greenfield, Indiana) February 25, 1897 _______________________________________________________________________________________ On Tuesday last the bottle factory of Mr. Streeter, in this city, drilled in another gas well on the farm of Mr. Geo. R. Chappell, north of this city. It was a very poor well. The Hancock Democrat (Greenfield, Indiana) April 29, 1897 _______________________________________________________________________________________ Arthur Curts, recently from Greenfield, says that Harry Streeter's glass works at that place will run all summer. Muncie Daily Herald (Muncie, Indiana) June 30, 1897 _______________________________________________________________________________________ Closed Down. The Streeter glass works of Greenfield, owned by J. L. Streeter and son Harry, of this city, has closed down for a fortnight. During the shut-down necessary repairs will be made and the employees will enjoy a vacation. The Muncie Morning News (Muncie, Indiana) April 29, 1897 _______________________________________________________________________________________ The Greenfield bottle factory will close about the 20th inst. on account of the poor prospects of a fruit crop in the west. The Banner (Knightstown, Indiana) May 13, 1898 _______________________________________________________________________________________ The Greenfield bottle works will shut down on Saturday next. It is not known how long they will remain idle. The Hancock Democrat (Greenfield, Indiana) June 16, 1898 _______________________________________________________________________________________ Going to Put in Blowing Machines. Mr. Harry Streeter of the Greenfield bottle works, is getting ready to put in machines to blow fruit jars. Mr. Louis Hiatt, of Muncie, Ind., has recently had letters patent issued him for a glass blowing machine, and he, Mr. Streeter and several other gentleman have formed a company and are now engaged in building a machine at Indianapolis, which will soon be tested in the factory here. The Hancock Democrat (Greenfield, Indiana) February 16, 1899 _______________________________________________________________________________________ At the Bates House yesterday was a young man who has made a record in the business world--H. W. Streeter of Greenfield. Although he does not appear to be over twenty-five years old, he controls a manufactory of fruit jars at Greenfield which has a large output. There are only seven other manufactories of glass fruit jars in the United States. They have not combined as yet, and as trust fever is wearing off, there is said to be no possibility that they ever will. Mr. Streeter is often mistaken for the Mr. Streeter who is the State agent for dependent children, but they are not related. Speaking of business conditions he said: "We are not expecting even ordinary business results for the remainder of the year. The canning of peaches usually brings the big fall demand for fruit jars, but reports from all parts of the country indicate that the peach crop is a failure everywhere, except perhaps Southern California. We must depend on the supply of plums and pears for our fall trade." -Indianapolis Sentinel of yesterday. The Hancock Democrat (Greenfield, Indiana) August 17, 1899 _______________________________________________________________________________________ A bottle machine invented by George Pill, of Indianapolis, is being tried at the Streeter plant, Greenfield. The Muncie Morning News (Muncie, Indiana) September 10, 1899 _______________________________________________________________________________________ New Fruit Jar Machine a Success. For sometime past Jos. Hiatt, of this city, has been working on a fruit jar machine, which has been erected at the Streeter fruit jar factory. On yesterday the machine was completed and it turned out several handsome fruit jars and the machine is now an assured success. The jars made by this machine are very fine. Mr. Hiatt was the proudest man we have seen in many a day yesterday over his successful machine. The Hancock Democrat (Greenfield, Indiana) September 21, 1899 _______________________________________________________________________________________ Bottle Factory Starts Up. On Monday last the bottle factory in this city began operations. They will begin with one bottle blowing machine of Mr. Lute Hiatt's patent and will add other machines as fast as they can be made by Mr. Hiatt. Several blowers will also be employed and in a few months they will be in a position to turn out more fruit jars than they have ever done before. It is the intention of Mr. H. W. Streeter to manufacture several different kinds of bottles in connection with fruit jars. ......... Harry W. Streeter who has been spending several days in the east, returned home on Friday last. He was successful in disposing of a large amount of the products of his bottle factory. The Hancock Democrat (Greenfield, Indiana) November 16, 1899 _______________________________________________________________________________________ NEW TERRE HAUTE INDUSTRY. ______ Commercial Club Gives Money and Site to a Glass factory. TERRE HAUTE, Ind., Dec. 5.--At a meeting of the soliciting committee, the manufacturers' committee and the directors of the Commercial Club it was decided to accept the proposition of Mr. H. W. Streeter, of Greenfield, Ind., to establish a glass factory in this city. He asks for a bonus of $5,00 cash and a site which will cost about $1,500. At the meeting of the committees, $1,100 of the amount was subscribed and there is little doubt that the full amount will be raised at once. The factory os to employ from 150 to 200 men, and the plant will cost between $60,000 and $75,000. Mr. Streeter says that the pay roll will be $1,500 a week. It is the intention to manufacture glass fruit jars as a specialty, but other glass products will be turned out. Mr. Streeter is a son-in-law of Capt. W. H. Armstrong, formerly mayor of Terre Haute and now a resident of Indianapolis. The Commercial Club has been making tests of the sand found near the town, which has long been thought to be a fine quality of glass sand. The tests have confirmed this belief, and it is the intention of the club to make a special effort to secure glass manufactories. "Producers' gas" will be used. Prof. Noyes, of the Rose Polytechnic Institute, has demonstrated that the coal found within a short distance of the city can be used to great advantage in the manufacture of this gas. At one of the city rolling mills "producers' gas" has been in use for a long time, and the experts say that nearly twice the heat units can be obtained for the boilers than if the coal were burned in the furnaces. The Indianapolis Journal (Indianapolis, Indiana) December 6, 1899 _______________________________________________________________________________________ Streeter glass factory, Greenfield, has resumed operations with twenty-four blowers and fifty other employees. The Monroeville Breeze (Monroeville, Indiana) December 21, 1899 _______________________________________________________________________________________ No. 279—December 3. H. W. Streeter, manufacturer of fruit jars. Employees: Males, 83; females, 7; males under sixteen, 5. McAbee, D. H. and Robinson, J. E.; First Annual Report Of The Department Of Factory Inspection Of The State of Indiana 1897 (Indianapolis, Wm. B. Burford, 1898) _______________________________________________________________________________________ STREETER JAR AND BOTTLE WORKS, GREENFIELD. At this plant a lockout was inaugurated on December 19, 1898, on the same date as at Redkey and Swayzee. Mr. Streeter employed one hundred and eighty-five persons, among them being about fifty glassblowers. A reduction of wages for blowing half gallon fruit jars was the immediate cause leading to the trouble. Only twelve men were directly affected, but others had been reduced at various times, and an uneasy feeling prevailed, caused by the belief that other cuts were contemplated. Rather than continue in this uncertain frame of mind, they decided not to accept the cut, thereby hoping to remedy the evil of continued reductions. The Labor Commission visited Greenfield in January and February, 1899, and held interviews with the firm and the men. Mr. Streeter made the following statement: On December 17, a notice was posted reducing the blowing price of half gallon fruit jars a half cent per dozen. This cut only affected twelve blowers, and as the reduction was slight he did not think the men would strike, especially as they were earning from $75 to $150 per month. He claimed the cut became necessary on account of the competition brought about by the machine-blown fruit jars manufactured by Ball Bros., of Muncie. This firm had made a market quotation of $3.25 per gross for quarts, and with that as a basis, Mr. Streeter said he was forced to put hand-blown jars upon the market at $3.15 per gross, the latter being less perfect, and hence not as salable. The cost price of quart fruit jars ranges from $3.00 to $3.09 per gross, allowing two per cent. for selling and two per cent. as a cash discount. He added: "I found I was only getting $2.05 per gross for the product that was costing me $3.06 to $3.09 per gross, and hence T was losing money. Thus I had to either continue losing money, cease producing or cut wages. I chose the latter, thinking that if there was an advance in the market I could restore the wages. The cheapening of production by the blowing machine is such that hand-blowing will soon be obsolete, and the men might as well realize the fact now as later on. The breakage in the making of hand-blown jars is about ten per cent., while with the machine it does not exceed three per cent. If present prices continue I can not make the product and exist, and were it not for the advance that usually comes later in the season I could not exist at all. If my men do not want to work at the wages, I will, no doubt, be forced to employ others. I will not recognize any union, but will meet committees of my men if locally organized. The grievances of the men were as follows: Most of them are eastern men, and at the close of the last season, before returning home, were given to understand that they were all wanted again. and were told that the former prices for blowing would be continued for the coming fire. In September, after having worked but three weeks, the half-gallon blowers were cut one cent per dozen. About the last of October the quart blowers were cut from 44 cents to 4 cents per dozen, and on December 17, the following notice was posted: We, the undersigned, agree to pay the following scale until we see fit to make a change: Scale. Two men in a shop— Pints...................3 cents per dozen. Quarts................3 1/2 cents per dozen. Half gallon..........4 1/2 cents per dozen. Three men in a shop— Pints...................3 1/2 cents per dozen. Quarts................4 cents per dozen. Half gallon..........5 cents per dozen. (Signed): SWAYZEE GLASS CO., CLOUGH GLASS CO., HARRY STREETER GLASS CO. They said: "Mr. Streeter took advantage of us because we are not organized. He never reduced wages in all departments at one time. He would first cut the half-gallon blowers; then at another time the quart and pint blowers, and in this way he avoided a strike until the third cut was made, to go into effect on December 19, 1898. On December 20, we held a meeting and effected and organization, and appointed a committee to wait upon Mr. Streeter, asking for .the union scale of wages, and a recognition of the union, and union rules to govern the factory hereafter. This recognition was point blank refused us, and we joined issues with the Swayzee and Redkey workmen, .who were making the same struggle, agreeing to remain out until the three plants granted our petition. We are, being supported by the Green Glass Blowers' Association, morally and financially, and we expect to win, or continue idle indefinitely." Complaint was made because of deductions for breakage, and the cutting of the prices of blowing when only two men worked at a shop. They stated that when one blower was idle for any cause the price for blowing was cut a half cent per dozen for the other two men working on the same shop. In the various efforts made at settlement, Mr. Streeter offered to employ the men on a sliding scale, and the following proposition was made: "Whenever the prices of jars reaches $3.50 per gross I will agree to raise the price of blowing a half cent per dozen, when it reaches $3.65 I will raise another half cent per dozen." This proposition was rejected, and nothing would be considered satisfactory but the union wages and union rules. On February 2, 1899, co-operation was suggested by the Labor Commission as a proper solution of the vexed controversy, and Mr. Streeter offered to try the experiment on the following basis: That an invoice be made; separate books be kept; that orders already billed be filled; that the same contracts existing between Mr. Streeter and Hollweg & Reese, of Indianapolis, and a St. Louis firm be carried out; that the price of gas be left to experts to be settled by arbitration, and that Mr. Streeter receive a certain per cent. on all sales made for furnishing the capital and business experience. The men voted against accepting the proposition unless assured that their earnings would be equal to union wages. At this point negotiations were closed, as the Labor Commission saw no possibility of effecting a settlement, and decided that time alone would force one or the other party to the controversy to yield. On Friday, March 31, the lockout was "declared off," and the factory resumed operations with twelve "shops" in operation at the reduced scale. Loss of wages, $800 a week for fifteen weeks. McCormack, L. P and Schmid, B. Frank; The Second Biennial Report Of The Indiana Labor Commission for The Years 1899-1900 (Indianapolis, Wm. B. Burford, 1901) _______________________________________________________________________________________ Number. | Date of Inspection 1900. | Name of Establishment | Goods Manufactured | Males | Females | Males Under 16. | Females Under 16. | Total. | Sanitary Condition | Paid | Age of Boiler Years | Pressure Pounds | H. P. Boiler. | H. P. of Engine. | When Inspected | Inspectors orders--See Exhibit C, Number. 888 | May 22 | H. W. Streeter......| Jars and bottles........| 106 | 13 | 10 | 2 | 118 | Good.... | Weekly, cash .... | 10 | 40 | 20 | 15 |........| 888 No. 888—May 22. H. W. Streeter, Greenfield: Fill out and post all blanks; secure affidavits from all minors between the ages of fourteen and sixteen years and keep them on file; post laws. McAbee, D. H. and Spees, D. F.; Fourth Annual Report Of The Department Of Inspection Of The State of Indiana 1900 (Indianapolis, Wm. B. Burford, 1901) _______________________________________________________________________________________ HEARD AT THE HOTELS. H. W. Streeter and Luther Hiatt, of Greenfield, with other capitalists, have formed a stock company, and will at once begin the erection of a fruit jar factory at Terre Haute. Mr. Streeter is now conducting, at Greenfield, a fruit jar factory, owned by Hollweg & Reese, of this city. R. L. Ogg, superintendent of the plant, who was at the English today, said that the they are getting ready to put in machines at once, and will probably have them ready for use within two or three weeks. They have a machine that is entirely different from those now in use in the factories of Ball Bros., of Muncie, and Wilson & McCulloch, of Marion. It is a patent that Mr. Hiatt, who is a blower, has been working on for a long time, and experts who have seen it, Mr. Ogg said, are of the opinion that it is the best machine yet invented. Mr. Ogg says that it is impossible to spoil a jar in it. The principal fault with other machines is that they have either broken many jars or have turned them out with flaws in them. Mr. Ogg said that the Hiatt machine would blow a bottle with an inch neck, and that it was probable that it could be perfected so that it would blow bottles which would completely revolutionize that business. One machine, it is calculated, can do in eight hours what three men will accomplish in nine and a half. One man operates the machine. Mr. Ogg said that it is likely that the flint blowers will be employed at the machines, as the greens have not proved themselves capable in that line so far. However, efforts are to be made to get the greens membership in the flint's union, which will give them the opportunity to learn the new trade. Mr. Ogg said that the men who are interested in the Terre Haute enterprise met there last night to perfect arrangements regarding machinery. The new plant will employ one hundred men, and will be the only factory of the kind in that part of the state. It will probably be non-union, like the factory in Greenfield, as the two factories will be conducted under the same management. The men who are thrown out of employment by the adoption of machines at Greenfield are to receive places at Terre Haute. Mr. Ogg said that at the new factory every effort will be made to produce gas from coal. He is of the opinion that it will not be long until that method of supplying fuel must be adopted in the gas belt as the only solution of the fuel problem. He has not heard of anything lately of the attempt to organize a fruit jar trust, and believes that the scheme has fallen through. The Indianapolis News (Indianapolis, Indiana) January 11, 1900 _______________________________________________________________________________________ A Glass Company Organized. [Special to The Indianapolis News.] Terre Haute, Ind.--The Terre Haute Glass Manufacturing Company has elected officers: President, Henry W. Streeter; vice-president, W. C. Doak; secretary, H. H. McLain, and treasurer, Frank McKeen. this is the company which was to establish a glass factory here, in consideration of a bonus of $5,000 and a building site. Mr. Streeter and the practical glass manufacturers who came with him are from Greenfield, Ind. The factory will be in operation by May 1 with 150 employees. The Indianapolis News (Indianapolis, Indiana) January 27, 1900 _______________________________________________________________________________________ Another Fruit Jar Factory. Mr. Harry Streeter of this city, with a number of Eastern as well as local capitalists, are getting ready to build a fruit jar factory in this city at no distant day. We understand the company will soon commence to build the plant. It is to be a very extensive factory and will give employment to a large force of men. The Hancock Democrat (Greenfield, Indiana) March 29, 1900 _______________________________________________________________________________________ Better Telephone Service. The Central Union Telephone Company are going to put private telephones at the Weston paper mills, at the bottle works of Harry W. Streeter and C. W, Morrison & Son, in this city. The Hancock Democrat (Greenfield, Indiana) April 12, 1900 _______________________________________________________________________________________ M. D. Stewart & Co., at the old straight wood school furniture factory, have just put in a machine to make boxes for Streeter's bottle factory. The Hancock Democrat (Greenfield, Indiana) April 19, 1900 _______________________________________________________________________________________ INDEPENDENT AND THE FRUIT JAR COMBINE JUDGING from information, which comes to hand this month, in regard to the combination of fruit jar manufacturers, the organization of which was reported in the April number of The Review, some fun seems to be promised by the independents, or the concerns who are outside of the combine. The manufacturers who have entered into an agreement to maintain prices say that they wish it distinctly understood that no "trust" has been formed, and that they have merely sold their entire output for a year to another manufacturer, who will place the entire production upon the market. These concerns are the Ball Brothers Glass Manufacturing Company, of East Muncie, Ind.; Marion Fruit Jar and Bottle Company, Marion, Ind.; Port Brothers Glass Company, of Muncie, Ind.; Swayzee Glass Company, of Swayzee, Ind.; H. W. Streeter, of Greenfield, Ind.; Giles Glass Company, of Uplands. Ind., and the Atlas Glass Company, of Washington, Pa. These factories, it is claimed, control from 80 to 85 per cent, of the fruit jars made in the United States. The individual plants have a capacity of about 500,000 gross for the season, representing about ten months' work, as some, if not all, of the factories are often shut down from July to September. The demoralized condition of the trade in fruit jars for several years past, it is said, and the earnest desire to bring about better conditions is the motive which induced the present concerted arrangement. Prices have been so low that there was little or no profit, and some action was necessary. Last year the ruling price for quart jars was $3.25 per gross, and even this rate was cut in some instances. In fact, there was so little profit in the business that many jobbers who had quantities of old jars on hand would not take them from their cellars. The combine price has been fixed at $4.75 per gross, f. o. b. at the factory, for porcelain lined tops. The independent concerns will take advantage of the opportunity to increase their trade. The principal outside houses are the Sun Fruit Jar Company, New York; Lockport Glass Works, Lockport, N. Y.; Winfall Glass Works, Winfall, Ind.; the Consolidated Fruit Jar Company, New Brunswick, N. J., and the Poughkeepsie Glass Company, Poughkeepsie, N. Y. Two new plants have been opened, one in West Virginia, which was to begin operations this month, and another at New Albany, Ind. There are bottle factories all over the country ready to take advantage of the situation should prices prove a sufficient incentive to change from bottles to jars. The combine, however, it seems, think little of this latter element, as time and money would be required to equip such plants. The capital of the federated factories, or rather, of the Ball Brothers Glass Manufacturing Company, which has purchased the output of the other factories, is said to be in the millions. There is a report that company has secured a strong financial backing from bankers in New York. The combined capital of the factories, prior to the agreement, was less than $1,000,000. The fact that there are manufacturers of caps or covers for fruit jars other than those who make jars is thought to be a point of special significance, and that indeed it is the key to the situation, for this element may resist the dictation of the combine. Mr. Glenny, of the Glenny Glass Company, is quoted as saying, "That his company are not manufacturers of fruit jars, but have been drawn into the business incidentally. We have," he continued, "a specially prepared tin cap for fruit jars. We went into this business last year and sold many thousand gross to factories and the trade at large. We now have a factory which turns out 2,200 to 2,500 gross per week. When we learned that there was to be an advance in the price of jars, we went in as others did, and bought largely, investing $15,ooo to $20,000, buying from some of these very companies now sold out to Ball. We have placed other contracts, too, buying all that the new West Virginia factory will make, and we will probably buy the output of the New York house, the one at Lockport, which is one of the largest in capacity. We are buying elsewhere too. We sell quart jars complete at $4.25 per gross, which is 50 cents per gross under the the newly established price, and we can sell lower if necessary. Ball, I understand, has made the price of porcelain lined covers $2 per gross. Last year he sold at $1.75 per gross. We made sales last year as low as $1.20 per gross. We can manufacture 40 cents per gross less than they can; in fact, we have made prices as low 80 cents per gross. We offered our caps to some factories and had them brought to the attention of Ball, but he gave them a black eye. Understand, we are in the glass business, and have been drawn into this by chance." The manager of the Vacuum Can and Jar Company, when asked what the effect of the combination would be, said: "The jar we make is a patent one, and the combination will not affect us. It will give the jar people a chance to get a living, which they have not been doing lately. Jars have been sold here as low as $3.16 a gross. There was no money in them at that price. The trust price announced, $4.75 a gross, allows a fair margin, but is not exorbitant. I don't believe there will be any independent companies. All will go into the trust ere long. Nor do I believe bottle manufacturers will go to making Mason jars. I understand they are all busy as they can be in their own line." W. H. Barren, of James S. Barron & Co., said he thought $4.75 a gross only a fair price. "Think of it," he said, "144 jars, 144 rubber rings, 144 tops, all for $4.75! That's cheap. There is not a great deal of profit in them at that price. I think the combination will prove a good thing, and I don't believe there will be any competition. No jar can be made so cheaply as the Mason, and all the Mason jar makers will be in the trust." The Consolidated Fruit Jar Company said: "We are not in the combination. Beyond that I do not care to say anything. We can't say what the effect on prices will be." George Alexander, treasurer of the Phoenix Cap Company, which makes tops for fruit jars, said: "This combination appears to be wholly one of Mason jar makers, and affects no others. The Mason is a very cheap jar. Every manufacturer almost has made it for years. Glass is cheap, and the patent has run out. So many have made them that competition has forced prices down, until there has been no money in them. I am glad to see the price go up. I don't believe there will be much competition from cap makers going into the jar business." L. Garvin said: "I have been in the business thirty years, and this year's rise of prices is nothing but a repetition of what happens regularly every decade—combination or no combination. I do not believe the combination will affect much; all depends on the fruit crop." James Rorke, of Edward Rorke & Co., said: "Something is needed' to procure uniform prices on fruit jars—one for the big dealer and another for the retailer. The big dealers get no more rebate on their purchases from the manufacturers than the small buyers. As we take all the risks, we should get a lower price. If this combination, which I believe is backed by bankers acting as agents for the manufacturers, will fix a price and offer a liberal scheme of rebate, it will be a great thing." Parish & Unger said: "I believe sugar and fruit are the ruling factors in the price of jars. When sugar is cheap and fruit is plentiful, jars will sell regardless of price. Enough of the Eastern manufacturers are out of the combination to make competition strong and wholesome." The outcome of the fruit season will be looked forward to with much interest. It is thought by some that if the season is good 800,000 gross of jars will find sale. Others maintain that the fruit crop has very little to do with the number of jars sold in any year, as failures of crops are local, and a shortage of sales in any particular section is fully made up by the increased sales in some other section. Ball Brothers are reported to have about ten acres of ground covered eight feet deep with fruit jars, and they continue to turn out thousands daily. It is said they are holding the stock, looking for a big increase in prices when gas as fuel fails them. L. C. Cole, who is largely interested in the manufacture (jf glass fruit jars, says the report of the combine is not correct as far as he is concerned. "I have had a proposition to go into a trust," Mr. Cole said, "and my answer was that my plant is for sale at a price." House Furnishing Review Volume XVII No. 5 (New York, New York) May 1900 _______________________________________________________________________________________ Another Fruit Jar Factory. Arrangements are now about completed for the establishment of another fruit jar factory in this city. It will be as large, if not larger, than the one already here. It is the intention to install the Hiatt-Streeter machines in this factory. This factory will give employment to a large force of workmen and will be quite an addition to the manufacturing interests of our city. The Hancock Democrat (Greenfield, Indiana) June 7, 1900 _______________________________________________________________________________________ Gas by a New Process. A Terre Haute special dispatch to the Indianapolis Journal, in speaking of the new glass house of Mr. Harry Streeter in Terre Haute, says" Experiments in producing a gas by a new process for the manufacture of glass, which have been in progress at a factory in this city, have proved a success. The cost of producing gas by the new process is claimed to be less than half the cost of natural gas in the boom days of the Indiana gas belt. The Hancock Democrat (Greenfield, Indiana) July 19, 1900 _______________________________________________________________________________________ Harry Kinder left Tuesday for Terre Haute, where he goes to work in the bottle factory of W. H. Streeter. ......... Last Saturday the new bottle factory of Harry Streeter at Terre Haute made its first shipment of fruit jars. The Hancock Democrat (Greenfield, Indiana) July 26, 1900 _______________________________________________________________________________________ Name of Company When Filed Talbot Place company..............................................June 17, 1899 Terre Haute Electric Company................................June 23, 1899 ....... Terre Haute Glass Mfg. Co......................................January 20, 1900 Carter, Thomas J.; Annual reports of the officers of state of the State of Indiana (Indianapolis, Wm. B. Burford, 1901) _______________________________________________________________________________________ Strike at Terre Haute. Special to the Indianapolis Journal. TERRE HAUTE, Ind., Aug. 30.-The blowers of the Streeter glass factory are out, owing to a disagreement over wages and the right to join the national labor organizations of their trade. They say that they have been paid about 25 per cent. less than the union scale of wages. Mr. Streeter says the men refused to continue at work and were discharged. He says he anticipated a demand for an advance in wages that could not not be conceded. The men say that he offered a compromise advance, but that he did not want them to join the union. The men came here from Greenfield, where they had worked for Streeter in a nonunion factory. When the Terre Haute Commercial Club was negotiating with Streeter to locate in this city, the Central Labor Union notified the club that he employed nonunion labor, and asked that before the club give him a bonus he be required to employ union men and to pay union wages. It is said that he agreed to this. The men at the factory say he was willing they should form an independent union that would not bring the factory under the national agreement as to wages. The Central Labor Union will ask the Commercial Club to enforce its agreement with him. The Indianapolis Journal (Indianapolis, Indiana) August 31, 1900 _______________________________________________________________________________________ GLASS WORKS ARE RESUMING ________________ Terre Haute, Ind., Sept. 5.--The Streeter Glass factory started yesterday morning with glass blowers from Muncie. Aurora Daily Express (Aurora, Illinois) September 5, 1900 _______________________________________________________________________________________ The Terre Haute Express, Historical Industrial Record of the Prairie City Terre Haute Glass Manu- facturing Company The newest industry of Terre Haute, and one which promises to be of very great importance in the industrial growth of this section is the manufacture of glass. The possibility of the coming of glass manufacturers to the city came with the discovery that the coal of Vigo, Sullivan and Green counties could be used for making what is known as "producer gas." Several years ago a bank of fine sand was found near Coxville, but it was useless until a method of utilizing it commercially was found. Some time ago experiments were made with the coal of this section and it proved that it could be used in the manufacture of glass. The Commercial Club took up the matter and has already succeeded in locating two plants, one the Terre Haute Glass Manufacturing Company, situated on Maple avenue on the Big Four and Vandalia tracks, which was started some weeks ago. The old piano case factory was utilized as a main building for the concern, and the remainder of the plant built new. The majority of the capital in the enterprise has been furnished by home capital. H. W. Streeter is president, and H. H. McLane secretary. This company produces glass fruit jars and green bottles. It has a capacity of 4,200 dozen per day, and sells its output by the car load only to jobbers and wholesales throughout the country. Since the plant has been in operation it has been visited by thousands of people, most of whom have never visited such a place. On the day that the concern was formally opened the commercial Club, with their ladies and a few invited guests, were taken to the plant through the courtesy of the Terre Haute Electric Company. A brief description of the process of making glass jars will be of interest to those who have not had the opportunity of visiting the plant. The most important feature, perhaps, are the "producers." The heat from the burning of coal itself cannot be used to bring the mass of sand, lime, etc., to the proper temperature, but there must be made from coal, a fine quality of gas. This is done in "producers," which are huge furnaces ten feet in diameter and fifteen feet high. the coal is placed in them from the top and through the burning fuel a constant draught of steam is forced to make it burn slowly. The bottom is immerged in water to prevent an air draught. This burning produces a gas which is conveyed by means of pipes to a reservoir. A tank eighteen feet wide, fifty feet long and five feet deep is filled with a mass of sand, lime, soda and arsenic, over which mass this gas is burned, making a temperature of from 2,500 to 3,000 degreed Fahrenheit. It requires three weeks to heat the bulk to the proper temperature, and it is maintained for a year at a time. The tank is made of the finest fire clay, which has to be replaced at frequent intervals. At one end of this tank the molten glass becomes somewhat cooler than at the other. Small apertures are arranged where the glass blowers insert their pipes, bring out a ball of white hot glass and blow it into the molds. These molds are opened by boys who carry the jars as they come from them to a furnace. In this furnace they remain from two to six hours, being gradually pushed the entire length, and come out thoroughly tempered and cooled. They are then ready for sorting and packing. Each blower can make upwards of a thousand jars per day. The plant here will run when in full operation two sets of blowers of twenty-one men each, making a total of forty-two. One of the interesting features of the works is the mammoth stack 125 feet in height, which is required to produce a sufficient draught for the producers and for the melting tank. The glass industry, if properly developed, will bring much commerce to Terre Haute, and will be of vast benefit in developing there heretofore unknown resource. The citizens of Terre Haute take great pride in this new factory and wish it every success. It has been the first one to invade this field, and it is to hoped that it will meet with the success which has been predicted for it. Terre Haute Express (Terre Haute, Indiana) October 1900 _____________________________________________________________________________ The Terre Haute Glass & Manufacturing Company has been placed in the hands of a receiver, on application of Beatty Bros., of Columbus, Ohio. The assets are placed at $80,000 and the liabilities at $70,000. The concern manufactured fruit jars. Pottery And Glass World Volume XI Number 5 (Chicago, Illinois) May 1903 _______________________________________________________________________________________ HARRY W. STREETER DIES SUDDENLY THURSDAY _________ Of Spinal Meningitis at Indiana- polis __ Lived Here For Several Years. _________ Harry Winton Streeter died at Indianapolis Thursday morning at the home of his father-in-law, Capt. W. H. Armstrong, of spinal meningitis. He had been sick but three days. He leaves a wife and three young children. Mr. Streeter came to Terre Haute several years ago from Greenfield where he had a glass factory, to become manager of the Streeter Glass factory of this city. He left Terre Haute about a year ago. His wife was a native of this city. Their home, first on south Fifth and later north Thirteenth, was the center of much social life. Both Mr. and Mrs Streeter were very popular in this city. Their friends are shocked and grieved to hear of Mr. Streeter's taking off in the prime of his manhood. The funeral will be held Saturday morning at 11 o'clock. Terre Haute Evening Gazette (Terre Haute, Indiana) May 20, 1904 _______________________________________________________________________________________ Catherine Armstrong Streeter, of Terre Haute, is an Indiana woman whose life record possesses elements and factors out of the ordinary. She was born at Terre Haute July 14, 1874, of a family of substantial business and social position. She attended the common and high schools of her native city and in 1891 graduated from Knickerbocker Hall, a girls school at Indianapolis. In 1896, when she was twenty-two years of age, she. became the wife of Harry Winton Streeter, of Muncie, Indiana. Mr. Streeter was connected with the business of glass manufacture at Muncie. His affairs were highly prosperous and his future was one of much promise at the time of his early death in 1903. In the meantime three children had been born into the home, and Mrs. Streeter was left with these as practically her only asset. Mrs. Streeter refused to accept the common lot of widowhood. She determined to make herself independent and make that provision for her children which the death of her husband had interrupted. She had no special business training, only determination and resourcefulness. She at once came to Terre Haute, and here started in the insurance business. Mrs. Streeter confesses that she had never seen a policy and and had absolutely no experience or knowledge of the insurance business. But she applied herself to mastering its principles, and despite early discouragements she was soon turning in a large monthly report of business, and once started that business has grown and accumulated until today she is at the head of one of the best agencies in Terre Haute and represents some of the largest and best known companies. It would be only natural that she took much pride in her record as a business builder, but it means most to her because it has been the means by which she has reared and educated her three children. These children are: Winton, a student in the Rose Polytechnic Institute at Terre Haute, was in the United States service, stationed at Camp Taylor, in the Field Artillery, Thirty-Seventh Training Batten,-, with the rank of second lieutenant; William Armstrong, a graduate of the State Normal School at Terre Haute, was in training for army service with the S. A. T. C, and is now a student in the Rose Polytechnic Institute; and Virginia, still at home and in school. Besides keeping up her home and providing for the education of her children Mrs. Streeter has always contributed generously to all good causes. Her father was the late William H. Armstrong, who was born in England and was three years of age when his parents came to the United States. He had only a common school education and as a boy he enlisted as a soldier in the Union army. He was all through the war and rose to the rank of lieutenant. After his military service he located at Terre Haute, where he engaged in the drug business. He became prominent in city affairs, served as mayor and for thirty years was president of the board of trustees of the State Normal School. He was also one of the prominent members of the Grand Army of the Republic and the Loyal Legion, and he organized the Sons of Veterans in Indiana. In 1890 William H. Armstrong removed to Indianapolis, where he engaged in the manufacture of surgical instruments, a business that is still carried on by members of the family. He died at Indianapolis in October, 1914. William H. Armstrong married May Eldred, who was born at Joliet, Illinois, and finished her education in St. Xavier Convent in Chicago. She is still a resident of Indianapolis. They became the parents of six children, three sons and three daughters: May A., wife of Frank Cleland, of Indianapolis; Mrs. Catherine Armstrong Streeter; Richard F., who died at the age of thirty years; Helen A. , wife of Moses H. Malone, of Indianapolis; William C., of Indianapolis; Eldred B. , who is a commander in the United States Navy. Dunn, Jacob Piatt; Indiana And Indianans Volume III (Chicago, American Historical Society, 1919) _______________________________________________________________________________________ Indiana Deaths Harry W. Streeter May 19, 1904 at Indianapolis 36 Years Old White Male Ancestry.com _______________________________________________________________________________________ Lured by quality sand, and aggressive commercial Club of Terre Haute, Harry W. Streeter founded Terre Haute Glass Manufacturing Company in January 1900, to fabricate mason jars and green bottles, utilizing the factory abandoned by Cobleigh Piano case company at 16th and Maple. It was the first Indiana business to use producer's gas for fuel. McCormack, Mike; Terre Haute: Queen City of the Wabash (Chicago, Arcadia Publishing, 2005) _______________________________________________________________________________________ Historical Perspective: Building permits in Terre haute increase in 1900 Mike McCormick In the summer of 1899, a successful glass manufacturer from Greenfield named Harry W. Streeter expressed interest in building a plant in the Indiana coal fields. Using a facility at 16th and Maple streets built to house Cobleigh Piano Case Co., it became the first glass plant in Indiana to use producer’s gas for heating fuel. Though its name was the Terre Haute Glass Manufacturing Co., it was called “Streeter Glass Company.” Its immediate success making mason jars and green bottles meant much to Terre Haute’s future. Sadly, Streeter died while his firm was in its infancy. Tribune Star (Terre Haute, Indiana) May 1, 2010 _______________________________________________________________________________________ Root Glass Company ......... In October 1905 Root acquired the Terre Haute Glass Manufacturing Co, to fabricate Mason jars. On Nov. 9, 1909, Root sold the former Streeter plant to Ball Brothers Glass Manufacturing Co. of Muncie........ visions.indstate.edu _______________________________________________________________________________________ Go To North American Soda & Beers Home |