THB GRBBNING LANDSCAPE COMPANY, MONROE, MICHIGAN 



37 



FACTORY GROUNDS 



0 



THE beautiful refines. It is an educator. It is an 

 incentive to higher endeavors. And so at last the 

 great truth is found that it pays to surround the fac- 

 tory with trees and shrubs and flowers and beautiful 

 lawns; that a mechanic in such surroundings is not on!}- 

 a better workman but a better man ; and that the product 

 of his labor is of better quality and of greater worth. 



In pursuance of this well-known fact many factory 

 owners and managers make liberal yearly appropriations 

 for beautifying their grounds ; and in some instances the 

 operatives themselves have banded together in friendly 

 co-operation, each department assuming some part of the 

 work or some portion of the yard and vying in friendly 

 rivalry to surpass in garden excellence. A case in point 

 is that of the employees of the Grand Trunk shops at 

 Battle Creek, Mich., who divide their grounds in ten parts, 

 allotting one to each department, including the counting- 

 house and office department. Prizes are put up for com- 

 petition and much interest awakened among the employees 

 not only, but thoughout the entire section of the city ad- 

 joining the factory. 



Many benefits accrue, not the least of which is the 

 spirit of fellowship and bonne entente that prevails. And 

 as a business pi'oposition it pays to have fine surroundings, 

 the impression made on visitors and prospective clients 

 being the most convincing argument of the prosperity of 

 the concern and the quality and popularity of its product. 



On account of the imperative demands of manufac- 

 turing interests for good shipping facilities, most factories 

 are located on the outskirts of cities near a belt line of railway 

 service ; at any rate that is where they ought to be. In such loca- 

 tions the land is cheap and a tract sufficiently large for a small park 

 is available adjoining each factory, where the employees may rest 

 at the noon hour in the cool shade of large trees, and surrounded 

 with the incense of flowers they gather strength and poise and 

 calm for toils to come ; and the owners and managers of these 

 industrial enterprises — those who bear the burden of responsibility 

 — those whose brows are wrinkled with the carking cares of end- 

 less details — those to whonn a payroll looms like a huge spectre to 

 be met and vanquished weekly — they will find a ramble through 

 the park a soothing balm ; and when lost in a labyrinth of business 

 the Ariadne of Rest will give them back the long-sought clew. 



But no matter how small the grounds may be there is always 

 room for some vines on the walls of the building, for some trees 



Plate 35 



GROUNDS OF LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTE 

 CONNECTED WITH RAILROAD SHOPS 

 In a small Michigan city the employees of a raiload shop have banded them- 

 selves for mutual help, and the little building in the background is where they 

 meet for study and intellectual calisthenics. In the foreground is where they meet 

 for pleasure and relaxation. It is their garden. They have divided it in ten sec- 

 tions by a system of walks, and each of the ten departments of the shop is allotted 

 a section to plant and manage as it sees fit. As might be expected among high- 

 grade mechanics, much ingenuity is exercised. Heretofore the main dependence 

 has been tender bedding annuals, but the intention is to change gradually to hardy 

 shrubs and perennials. 



on the street line and on the sunny side of the property, and for a 

 few shrubs near the foundation walls ; and even in extreme cases 

 where there is no ground at all available, window boxes can be 

 suspended from wires or held on brackets, and some Bay-Trees or 

 others that grow in tubs, placed on the steps and in the entrance- 

 way, will give a cheerful note to the surroundings. A place of 

 business, or any other place, without some form of living greenery 

 looks as dull, dreary and desolate as perdition would look with the 

 fires left out. A business that does not look on the cheerful side 

 of things is already on the bink, and a factory that has no form 

 of vegetation around it except the moss on the boss's back is 

 beckoning to the financial adjuster, and listening with eager cars 

 for the horn that blows the everlasting toot. 



Why not listen to the love-song of the birds in your garden 

 instead? Why not join in their joyous chorus? Joy is wealth. 



