THE LANDS BOUGHT

Cordage Company Competes Purchase of all the Lands Under Option-$20,650 Paid Over-Exact Sites of Structures not yet Decided on.

[Welland Tribune, 18 August 1905]

According to announcement previous to the passing of the by-law, the officers of the Plymouth Cordage came to Welland this week, and completed the purchase of all the lands under option by them, viz., about 180 acres, paying therefor the sum of $20, 650, The lands purchased are as follows:

The McCoppen farm (formerly owned by Mr. Westward), 50 acres; price, $6,250. This includes the dwelling house formerly occupied by Mr. Westward.

The John Leitch farm, 63 acres; price, $6,000.

R. Morwood, estate farm, 50 acres; $4,500. This lot lies in the rear of the McCoppen property (calling Muir street or the canal the front.)

J.D. Gunn, a number of lots; comprising about 17 acres; consideration, $3,900. This property lies between Muir street and the canal, and between Mr. Boyd’s residence and Rice’s planing mill, fronting on both Muir street and the canal, eligibly situated hence the higher price than the other property

The following were here in connection with the matter; President Loring, Homes, sr. and jr., treasurer and assistant; Mr. T.S. Hobbs, Ontario representative, and Mr. Lindsay of Lindsay Bros., Milwaukee, representatives, all of the Cordage Co., and also M.C.C.R. Engineer Sharp and other M.C.R.R. officials.

The exact locations of the buildings has not yet been decided upon, and upon this will depend the manner in which the switch connecting with the railways will be put in. The Co. would have liked to buy the block of land lying between Muir street and canal, and between their present site and the M.C.R.R. tracks, including the sites of Rice’s mill, McCoppen’s hotel, etc., but the lands were held at too high prices. Did they own this block the switch could have been brought from the railroad along the canal, without the necessity of crossing Muir street. As an alternative it is possible the main factory buildings may be placed on the Westward farm (east side of Muir street) and the warehouses on the west side of Muir street.

Mr. Frank Holmes will be the company’s manager at Welland.

The town council at a special meeting Wednesday evening passed a by-law empowering the company to construct a switch connecting their factory with the railways.

The Cordage Co., party made their headquarters at Niagara Falls, driving to Welland and returning on Tuesday and Wednesday. Whilst at the Falls they negotiated with the Ontario Power Co., for power for the Welland works.

Mr. Howard, the company’s engineer, started at work again yesterday, and just as soon as the preliminaries of railway connection, building contracts, etc., can be arranged, work will be begun and pushed with the utmost vigor, to begin manufacturing in December if possible.