50 years ago: 'Capital expenditures' are too much; Interpace will close

50 years ago Population 3,179 (U.S. Census 1960 and 1970) Layoffs: Any uncertainty about the possible closure of the Lincoln Interpace plant suddenly became fact Tuesday with a terse announcement from company officials that "Interpace Corporation today announced that it will close its Lincoln, California clay products plant." The announcement was underscored with the layoff the same day of 53 employees, 11 of them salaried personnel and the rest hourly workers. Another major layoff of personnel is expected at the end of February, with some minor layoffs prior to then. Complete closure of the plant is scheduled for the end of April. C. Norman Bowler Jr., president of the heavy clay and minerals division of Interpace said, "It is with great reluctance that we have found it necessary to close the Lincoln plant. The company cannot justify the major capital expenditures that would be required to continue production. We will wind down operations over the next 90 days and will close the plant permanently at that time." Union stewards of Operating Engineers Local No. 3 and Chauffeurs, Teamsters and Helpers Local No. 150 were notified Monday of the pending shutdown and in turn notified the 185 hourly employees they represent. The two unions form the Lincoln Industrial Council. The plant has 35 salaried employees. The official news release was read to members of the city council by Herbert Hansen, general manager, pipe products, at a special session Tuesday morning requested by Interpace officials. Informed sources have indicated that several groups have expressed interest in buying the Interpace Corona plant and the assets of the Lincoln plant, but Hansen held out little hope a sale would become a reality. A last-ditch effort last week by a group of local businessmen to stave off the closure of the plant apparently had little effect. At that time, telegrams were directed to Interpace Corporation and to state and federal legislators seeking to delay the shutdown. It was a case of too little, too late. The plant has a weekly payroll of $37,000 and is the community's major industrial employer. In backing up the economic reasons for closing the century-old plant, company officials termed clay pipe as "the Cadillac of the industry" and unable to compete in a market which offers less expensive plastic and concrete pipe. The high cost of fuel was also cited as a major reason in the decision to shut down. In full production the plant has a monthly fuel bill of $70,000. (The kilns are gas fired via PG&E.) Seniority is not the apparent yardstick in determining the order of layoffs but rather the needs of the plant's operations in its wind-down phases. This was evidenced by the fact that among salaried personnel laid off Tuesday was one with 40 years of service and another with 36 years at the local plant. Cutting of employees was strictly termed as layoff rather than termination. When and if termination comes about, presumably by the end of February which appears to be the deadline set by Interpace officials for the possibility of a sale, the employees will be notified as to severance pay, if any, and how to go about applying for any retirement pay to which they would be entitled at age 65. The corporation has been the sole contributor to the retirement fund, which is placed in trust. Under terms of the largest contract negotiated last June, hourly workers with more than 10 years employment would be entitled to $5.50 a month for each year of employment in addition to social security benefits. This formula applies up to a maximum of 30 years of service. Employees with less than 10 years of service are not eligible for retirement benefits. The average length of service with the local plant is 27 years. Retirement benefits for salaried employees are based on a formula applied to the last five years of earnings. According to the State Department of Employment, workers who have been laid off could be eligible for a total of 65 weeks of unemployment pay. The first full period would be for 26 weeks, with three extensions of 13 weeks each possible under various programs. A worker who was receiving $192 weekly pay would receive $78 a week in unemployment benefits. Laid-off Interpace employees are expected to average a little more than $100 per week in unemployment pay. The Placer County Human Relations Commission lists $5,050 a year as poverty level for a family of four and $5,870 for a family of five. 75 years ago Population 2,410 (U.S. Census 1940 and 1950) March of Dimes: Leave the porch light on. Be sure and remember the porch light this Saturday night, Feb. 3. If you wish to contribute to the March of Dimes, you may do so between the hours of 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. A Camp Fire Girl or a Boy Scout will call at your door for your contribution – if your porch light is on. In order that many of our unfortunate children may walk in the years to come, two youth groups of Lincoln will march this Saturday night for the March of Dimes. The youngsters, about 35 in number, will completely cover the town from city limit to city limit, stopping at any home where a porch light is burning. The youngsters will work in groups and plan to carry the miniature iron lung which symbolizes the March of Dimes for 1951. It is expected they will be in uniform. It is urged that every resident who has not yet made a contribution or who wishes to contribute again to have a sum of money, whether it be change or bills, ready for the collectors. It is also important that the porch light be left on if it is desired that the youngsters stop. The entire proceeds of this collection will be credited to the local March of Dimes Fund. 100 years ago Population 1,324 (U.S. Census 1900, 1910, and 1920) Ad: The Lincoln News Messenger ran the following advertisement: "Office Equipment. Blank books, loose leaf ledgers, ruled and blank paper, time books, stationery, hotel registers, ink, ink stands, paste, rubber stamps, catalog racks, envelopes, letter and clip files, cabinets, staples and machines, punches, dies, seals and every office necessity for all businesses. These are the celebrated Carlisle goods." More Lincoln history Shortly after the town of Lincoln was established, a reading room was created. This room moved around and was once housed at 648 5th Street, where Simple Pleasures is now. In 1904, the city began to support the reading room with tax funds, and in 1906, the city established a board of trustees. One of the board's first actions was submitting an application to Andrew Carnegie for funding a new library. In 1908, the application for a Carnegie grant was approved in the amount of $6,000, and the town raised an additional $3,000. The bricks used in the library's construction came from Gladding, McBean (as did the roof tiles). The cornerstone was laid on April 3, 1909, and the Lincoln Public Library opened at the corner of 5th and F streets on Sept. 1, 1909. In 1867, Chauncey L. Hotchkiss (ancestor of the Leavell, Fuller and Van Dyke families) purchased a lot on the southeast corner of 5th and E streets. The Hotchkiss home stood into the 20th century. Walter Jansen, (of Jansen's Feed, currently the Jansen Building on Lincoln Boulevard) eventually acquired the land and in 1923, presented the corner to the Lincoln Woman's Club, which appointed a committee composed of Emma Williamson, Carrie Gladding, Clara Hayt and Marguerite McCullough. Gladding donated $3,000 as a memorial to her mother. Gladding, McBean gave $1,300 worth of building materials. Other gifts from members amounted to $3,500. The total cost of construction in 1923 was $11,860. Source: "Images of America, Lincoln" by the Lincoln Area Archives Museum. This book and others are available for purchase at the museum, 640 5th Street. Open Thursday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thank you for reading! MBO