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/BL, Y First Sod Turned for New American Optical Plant ;^< oe 3: «'.!>*' s ' - I here in the city of Belleville. (Continued from Page 1) "The increased manufacturing i Norm'an Edwards, Hobt. capacity made possible by this Pringle, chairman Industrial new plant, when completed, will Commission, J. Fred Wilson, M.L.A., Hastings West; Don Allen, enable American Optical Co. manager American Optical Com- Canada, Ltd., to keep pace with pany Prescription Shop, Belle- the growth of Canada, and the vDlc: H. R. Willmott, manager rapid accelerating demand for Northern Electric, Organ Division, our products froth home and Belleville, and members of the abroad. city council. "We hope the citizens of Belleville will be as proud of this Big: Asset to City building of 87,000 square feet as In his opening address, Mayor the officials of the company were Follwell chairman for the cere- when the plans were finally commonies told the large crowd pres- pleted. ent that the city was indeed for"For 25 years the company has tunate in having many industries been manufacturing lenses in locate here. "But we are par- this city, and may I express the ticularly proud to have the hope that this ceremony today American Optical Company, Can- will be another milestone in the ada, Ltd., here because for the of our Company's pleaspast 25 years it has not only given history ant and congenial relationships gainful employment, to many of with the citizens of Belleville. our citizens, but has contributed "It is the Company's plan to in a great measure to Belleville's make the surroundings of all the advancement and progress." The company employees, May- employees in the plant as pleasor Follwell said, are of the high- ant and congenial as possible, in est calibre and have made the keeping with the high standard best citizens. Manager Gilbert of work for which they already Scott has been very active in the have a national reputation. Mathers and Haldenby are the interests of this community. "We are proud of the Northern architects while the general conElectric Company, and today we struction contractors are Anglin are justly proud of the company Norcross. ai.d people who have been in "We expect to ship our proBelleville for the past 25 years ducts all over the world," Presiwlit) have such confidence dent Lett went on. "The new plant increased production and in Belleville that they have in- means our lens will find their way to vested two million dollars in a Egypt, Africa, South Amernew sit d and a larger industry." ica andIndia, "he added with a smile," "We afre proud and happy to a few might go to Ireland." welcome) the representatives of "We of the company sincerely " * .,'/:ie rican Opti^lf Company, vnp that the ._conf f.nial spirit that Su/a, *V'f'"/; :..' '*.': Litmted, thev;> associates jhas always characterized relations nd met bers of the architectural between us and the city of Belle- of years of effort. We looked! id coi struction firms. Today, ville will always be maintained pretty much over Canada and tur,/./ the sod that once more ! and will^ continue until long after had many attractive offers made by other communities to · locate ustory in Belleville, On I am laid under the sod I have with them. We saw many/lovely just turned." b« .£ the citizens of Belleville sites but the thing that Brought I ,;ay 'Thank You5 for this splen- Grateful For Co-operation us back to Belleville was the fine did new plant and the contribupeople who have worked for us tion you have made to the ad- Mr. Gilbert B. Scott, Belleville for years. The Mayor and Invancement of this city," Mayor manager of the American Optical dustrial Commission did a lot Company, Canada, Ltd., in brief Follwell said amid cheers. address stated that "I would like for us, but you people had the First Sod Turned to first state that I am speaking final say." "We have been here for the on behalf of my fellow-workers At this point one of the gold- in the Lens Manufacturing Divis- past 25 years," Mr. Buckley said en spades was formally present- -ion of the American Optical Corn- "and have built a fine reputation ed to President Lett, who official- panw, Canada, Limited, and I on square dealing with the peoly turned the first sod while a wish to say for them and myself ple of this city." huge bulldozer roared its ap- that we greatly appreciate the He predicted that when the new proval. Photographers' bulbs assistance given by the City of plant was finished, it would be flashed and the large crowd Bellevdlle, the Industrial Com- the finest most up-to-date buildcheered as Mayor Follwell and mission, the Belleville Utilities, ing of its kind in the world. "It Manager Gilbert Scott formed an and other public bodies of whom will be a plant which the people .escort to the company president we have asked assistance, and here will be proud to work in, whom we have received the and it will be one of which Belleas he plunged the spade into the fro.m most efficient co-operation. earth. "After many years of effort and ville will be proud. "Ever^r arIn his address, President Lett study, are now gathered to- rangement has been made for said "I deem it a privilege and gether we and have turned the first employees' comfort. He paid tri*nor to4 turn the first sod of this sod in, an enterprise which will bute to Mayor Follwell, tm city ^-v of the American Op- culminate in a very.few monthb, council and the Industrial Com, Limited, and Belleville will have without mission, also to representatives t doubt the finest ophthalmi? lens manufacturing fltlant in the Ita&jsh Empire, and ' ; the largest leris manufacturing plant in the Dominion of Canada. "This plant Will have the most modern machinery, designed after years of reseai/ch carried fput in Canada, the Ujnited States; and England. "No effort is being spared to make this plant not only th# most up-to-date and efficient in the world from a manufacturing point of view, but also we, the employees in this plant, will be working under the most healthful, comfortable, and pleasant conditions possible. Few will be able to take as much pride in their surroundings as we, the employees of the American Optical Company, Canada Limited in Belleville. This is, indeed, a gala event, particularly for my fellow-Corkers and myself, who are being asked to operate the most efficient lens plant in the world under ideal working conditions. It is now up to us, in return for this plant, to produce the finest ophthalmic goods that can be produced, thereby making the City of Belleville and the Dominion of Canada, famous the world over, for its efforts in providing better vision to humanity. "In the future, may the words Belleville" and "Better Vision" be synonymous," concluded the speaker. Tribute To Employees Mr. W. G. Buckley, director of the parent company of Southbridge Mass., paid one of the finest tributes ever accorded employees of an industry wfien he told the large number Present that "it was the fine type of people in your city that /swung the decision of my company to erect the new plant here. tToday"