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Tampa: Climate promotes Economical Production

Industrial Tampa

1926

Another aspect of production in Tampa will commend itself to the intelligent operator, namely that climatic conditions have a vitally important bearing on manufacturing costs. It is unnecessary to establish the fact that Tampa has an exceedingly moderate winter climate. The employee labors under ideal winter weather conditions in factories that rarely require artificial heat of any description and whose windows are open most of the day. Constant supplies of fresh air by natural ventilation practically eliminate the seasonal illnesses characteristic of the superheated and airtight workrooms of the North and the operative works constantly at peak of efficiency. This eliminates the sag in production in many manufacturing plants of the North and reduces to minimum the loss of time by employees due to inclement weather conditions.

Moreover, the standard American wage scale means more to a Tampa workman six months in each year than it does to his fellow worker in a Northern community. During the most severe winter weather in Tampa the average household gets along nicely with a little heat morning and evening from a portable kerosene heater consuming a dollarÕs worth or less of oil weekly. The contrast between this situation and the huge fuel bills which the Northern workman must meet during the winter months explains in no inconsiderable measure the intense desire on the part of the average Tampa workingman to avoid any development that might disassociate him from his source of income. Add thereto the fact that during the winter months his expenditure on heavy clothing for himself and family is almost negligible and the investigator finds another excellent reason for loyalty to the job.

Source:
"Industrial Tampa: Florida's Greatest City," published by Tampa Board of Trade, 1926.

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