NORWOOD, Nov 3—Few towns in the commonwealth have progressed and prospered as this one has since the panic of 93.
Our leading industry is that of sheepskin tanning, conducted by two rich and substantial concerns. One of these during the time mentioned has enlarged its plant to the extent of many thousands of dollars, and has added a department of wool pulling from South American skins, which was all done as a matter of commercial necessity in other countries up to the time of the change in our tariff laws. This additional department has given employment to about 50 men, while the general improvement in other departments gave work to 50 or 60 more new hands up to the recent break in the leather market.
The other tannery has been running to the full of its capacity, and both are paying essentially the same wages as before the panic.
About 18 months since the Norwood press works were established here at an outlay of about $80,000, and have since given continuous employment to 500 or 600 working men and women.
The other and lesser manufacturing establishments have gone along with a gradually increased output, and the town is an exceptionally prosperous and contented one.
Real estate has had a phenomenal boom, and prices of buildings and building sites have advanced fully 50 percent on the average, while the demand for tenements is far beyond the supply. Norwood never knew better times in all of its history.