Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/710

 622 EISTORY OF GOODHUE .COUNTY of the Red Wing Wagon Company was purchased, machinery was installed and work at turning out sewer pipe was at once commenced, a ready market being found from the start. ( hir year later. John H. Rich, to whom belongs the credit of originating the sewer pipe idea in this city, formed the John H. Rich Sewer Pipe Company, a close corporation, of which John H. Rich was president; W. II. Putnam, secretary, and Horace S. Rich, treasurer. This company, with a capital stock of $200,000, purchased a tract of land near the old fair grounds on the line of the Duluth. Red Wing & Southern, later bought by the Great Western railroad, and erected a spacious and substantial factory of cream colored brick. The opening of this factory was a gala day in the life of Red Wing. Invitations wire sent to the lead- ing citizens of the city and stale, as well ;is to many prominent workers of clay products throughout the United States. In response to this invitation, the multitudes gathered from near and far. February 13, 1893, and Judge W. ('. AVilliston, in a ucjii speech, dedicated the factory i<> the cause of labor. Mrs. II. A. Willard pressed the button to tie' accompaniment of the martial strains of the Ft. Snelling First Regiment Band: and as; in response, the wheels began to move, there began a new era of prosperity for the city an. I people of Red Wing. The relations of the two companies from the first was of the friendliesl nature, and there was an amicable understanding which prevented unfriendly competition. Toward the latter part of the existence of the two companies, the officials occupied offices together. This friendly agreement resulted, in November, L901, in a consolidation of the two companies, the older com- pany bringing into the new corporation its longer-established market, while the newer company contributed its larger factory and greater room for expansion. The consolidation was one of the business moves that has had the greatest influence upon the commercial activity of the city. The capital of the new com- pany, which took the name of one of the consolidating com- panies, the Red W 7 ing Sewer Pipe Company, was placed at $500,000. with the following officers: President, John H. Rich; vice president, E. H. Blodgett : treasurer. Horace S. Rich; secre- tary. C. E. Sheldon; counsel, 6. M. Hall; directors, John H. Rich. E. H. Blodgett, H. S. Rich, E. S. Hoyt, W. C. Williston. C. E. Sheldon. W. H. Putnam and Fred Busch. I >n February 7. 1902. Factory B. the original factory, whose building was purchased from the Red W^ing Wagon Works, was destrbyed by fire. In remarkably short time it was rebuilt, and was in operation May 12 of the same year, less than ninety days from the time of the disaster. The product of the Red Wing Sewer Pipe Company is used