Newspaper Page Text
Ordinary
VOL. 72.
ESTABLISHED 1842.
FRIDAY MORNING SEPT. 18. 1814.
FIVE CENTk A COPY.
NUMBER 76
HALF MILLION DOLLAR COTTON
MILL PLANNED FOR LAGRANGE
OVER HALF OF CAPITAL STOCK
SUBSCRIBED IN ONE DAY
To Be Another Link in Chain of
Successful Mills Under Man
agement of Fuller E. Callaway
and Associates.
The launching of any enterprise
requiring the investment of money
is a piece of daring that but few
would even consider in these troub
lous times, but Fuller E. Callaway
and his associates have done just
that and moreover, the idea has “tak
en” and progress is already we., und
er way toward the organization of
a half million dollar corporation to
build a large cotton manufacturing
plant near LaGrange.
The plan was submitted at the an
nual meeting of stockholders and di
rectors of the Unity, Elm City and
Manchester Cotton Mills held at La-
Grange on Wednesday. It has been
rumored for some time that such a'
project was under consideration. Ex
periments have been going on for
some time at the present mills.
Messrs. Fuller E. Callaway and S. Y.
Austin only recently returned from
an extended trip abroad which was
made for the especial purpose
lof visiting Mills and investigating
manufacturing processes in Germany,
Austria, France and England.
In making the announcement Mr.
Callaway stated that the manage
ment had been exceedingly thorough
and painstaking in its experiments
and investigations, and that they
were not only convinced but enthu
siastic over the possibilities of the
enterprise. He stated further that
while the present might seem an
inauspicious time for launching the
enterprise, that in his opinion now
was an exceedingly favorable time.
He pointed out the possible econo
mies in the purchase and construct
ion of everything entering into the
plant, and that the wars among the
European nations presented a splen
did opportunity for capturing some
of their best trade.
The plan is to begin organization
end preliminaries immediately, call
ing in 10 per cent on subscriptions
some time during the fall and possi
bly another 10 per cent early in 1916.
This will afford sufficient capital
for the early plans.
No information was given out as
to exactly what line of products will
be manufactured, but it is under
stood that the new company will
manufacture an entirely different
V product from those of the present
mills composing this successful or
ganization, and that it will go after
a profitable part of the export trade
hitherto enjoyed by mills in Germany
and England.
It was proposed to limit the capi
talization to $500,000.00, and about
$150,000.00 was subscribed within
few minutes. Subscriptions during
the day brought the total to over
$250,000.00, or one half the proposed
capitalization. Among the larger in
dividual subscribers for amounts of
S2.000 to $20,000 each were Messrs
Fuller E. Callaway, C. V. Truitt. J.
G. Truitt. S. Y. Austin, W. A. Hol
mes, J. H. Edmondson. Pharr Bros.
& Childs Co., S. H. Truitt. James
Ranks. Hatton Ix>vej«y, W. E. John
son. Pope F. Callaway, Cason J.
Callaway, William H. Turner, Jr.,
James Newsom and the Messrs. Dal-
lis.
Mr. O. A. Barnard, of J. H. Lane
& Co., New York, stated that his
company would be glad to take a
large block of the stock, and that he
would report the exact amount later.
The Reporter takes this opportuni
ty to extend its compliments to the
canable and courageous captains of
industry who are at the head of this
I new enterprise which will be such
a valuable addition to LaGrange.
Of course, any one can readily see
the vast economies which can be ef
fected by building at this time, but
there are not many financiers who
would have the courhge to taLqe ad
vantage of the opportunity. The
wonderful success which has been
made with the Unity, Elm City, Man
chester and Milstead mills has not
only been a splendid training for
the new responsibilities, but the
500 to 600 investors in these inter-
prises are so well satisfied with their
management as to be willing to hack
them in whatever undertaking these
leaders are willing to endorse and
place their own money behind.
Uncle Jeff Harris
CommentsonWar
Old Unele Jeff Harris, an aged
Troup county darky, lumbered in the
Reporter office Saturday evening in
search of Friday’s issue of The Re
porter and the following conversation
passed between the old negro and one
of the boys at the office:
“What can I do for you?”
“Mis’ Morgan sont me arter one of
yesterday’s Reporter, say ’sue want
to know what dem German’s been
doin’.”
“All right, Uncle Jeff, here is
le."
“Thank you sah, what reckon made
dem Germans keep cuttin up lack dey
doin’?”
“I don’t know Uncle Jeff, that war
doesn’t worry you does it?”
White folks say it makes things
to eat go up so high.”
“That is right, but if the farmers
begin to plant more grain and food
stuffs and less cotton, the war will
not bother our country much."
“Dat’s right, looks lack farmers
will jes’ keep plantin’ cotton. Day
are as bad ‘bout dat as de Germans
is ’bout fighting.”
With this last oompnrison, the old
darky picked up his stick and hast
ened out to carry “Mis’ Morgan de
vs ‘bout de Germkns.”
West Point Folks
Visit LaGrange
Every week many of the West
Point citizens visit LaGrange; some
times on business and sometimes on
pleasure.. Several of that little city’s
most prominent people were here
last Monday. Among them were:
Mr. John Johnson, Mayor; Mr. W.
Trox Bankston, Editor of the West
Point News; Mr. R. C. Freeman,
president of Dixie Mills of West
Point; Mr. Gains Huguly, a promi
nent Insurance man of West Point;
Mr. Mike Lamar, of Americus, who
is visiting his sister, Mrs. Lanier at
West Point.
BRITISH PONTOON FOR BRIDGE
ANNUAL MEETING OF FOUR BIG
MILLS HELD WEDNESDAY
Prominent Out-of-Town Visitors
Attend. Resolutions Passed
In the Interest of the Farmers
of This Section.
ftMt* ty American Press Association.
MILL MAKES
BIG SHIPMENT
La Grange Mill Ships 32,000
Pounds of Duck to England.
Sixty-Five Fords
Sold in Troup
The firm of J. A. & Cline Bagwell
has made a remarkable record selling
Ford cars since they came to La
Grange, October 1st, 1913.
From the time that the Ford Com
pany began to make Model T. cars,
in 1908 to the time that the Mes
srs. Bagwells began business in this
city, only nine Ford cars had been
placed in Troup County. Since that
date exactly sixty-five have been
sold in this section and Mr. J. A.
Bagwell states that he expects to
sell at least five more before his year
is out.
These sales amounted to even
more than was anticipated since a
contract was made to place only fif
ty cars.
This success in the automobile
business Bhould be credited princi
pally to advertising, since Mr. Bag-
well is not only a great salesman but
a great advertiser and ■has not let a
week pass since he has been here but
he has had an advertisement in The
Reporter, and those advertisements
have always been convincing. So,
now Troup county is not only much
inhabited by Fords, but these cars
are probably better known in this
section of Georgia than in any other
part of the state.
Mrs. Burgess Has
Bean Success
One of the largest shipments of
duck ever made from LaGrange wus
made by the LaGrange Mill last Sat
urday. 32,000 pounds of duck cot
ton cloth was shipped to New York by
express in time to catch steamship
which left for Liverpool, England,
Tuesday morning.
The goods were sold through the
commission house in New York and
at two-thirty o’clock Saturday after
noon, the mill authorities here did
not know that the shipment was to
be made. The goods left LaGrange
on No. 34, which pastes through
this city at 4:25 en route to At
lanta.
Exactly at 1:45 o’clock Monday
afternoon, Mr. A. C. Towns the effi
cient and obliging express agent here
received a wire to the effect that the
shipment had reached New York In
fine shape. In less than two days the
goods had made a safe passage from
LaGrange to New York, a distance of
over 800 miles.
The officials of the LaGrange
Mill state that their business is on
the boom just now and that they ex
pect to make several more large ship
ments at an early date.
American Bats
Visit LaGrange
Did you get to see the American
Bats that visited LaGrange last Sat
urday ? If you didn’t, it was your
fault and you were certainly unfor
tunate in letting this opportunity
slip by. They were captured and put
in a mail bag on the side walk in
front'of James S. White gqd Spipks
.Hardware 'Company.
The boys who made the capture
were anxious to show them off too.
Although nothing was said about the
prisoners, a big card was placed on
the keg labeled thusly: “American
Bats.” Then too, the keepers paid
much attention to their pets and con-
stahtly arranged the top of the keg
so that too much sun would never
bother them, and would occasionly
peep in to see if they , were resting
comfortably.
All these little cares attracted
much attention and the passers-by
became interested, many .of them takr
ing thp trouble to look into the mat
ter, to .find that they had only been
the vi&im of a joke and instead of
seeing American Bats, only Brick
Bats came to view. For with all
ease and comfort several common
red clav bricks rested in the bottom
of the keg.
Base-Ball Players
Visit LaGrange
The fact that LaGrange is a fine
place is verified by the fact that peo
ple who have been here once are
surely coming again. It doesn’t mat-
ter whether they were here on a visit
or just on business, they are convinc
ed with their first trip here that they
have struck a garden spot and right
then make up their minds to come
again.
This fact has been carried out
since the close of the 1914 baseball
season by the numerous return visits
of the LaGrange players. Last Sun
day, Mr. Sid Holland, our popular
second-sacker, and Mr. Will Wald
ron, who was considered the best
third-baseman in the league and who
Is now making good with the At
lanta team, came to the “City of
Elms and Roses" and received a cor
dial welcome from tneir many friends
here.
Mr. Culberson
Takes Charge
Mrj A. Culberson, formerly of
Shelby, N. C., has been elected su
perintendent of the Dixie Cotton
Mills and arrived in LaGrange last
Monday to take up his duties. Mr
Culberson will move his family later.
He is an exceedingly pleasant and
affable gentleman and comes most
highly recommended. Mr.. Culber
son will receive a warm welcome
by the people of LaGrange.
MR. STEVENS BUYS
BULL ST. GARAGE
Mr. Charles Stevens, son of Mr.
M. E. Stevens,, recently purchased
the garage known as the LaGrange
Auto Supply Company and has chang
ed the name of that place to the New
Bull Street Garage.
Mr. Stevens is an automobile man
of much renown and is well known
throughout -Troup coupty. Much
success has been predicted for hifn.
Eberhardt Case
Is Thrown Out
One of the most important cases
that were disposed of during the ses
sion of the city court last week was
j that of Mr. T. V. Eberhardt. This
case came up in the city court as a
result of a True Bill returned by the
Grand Jury for assault and battery.
The case came up last Thursday
and was thrown out, nol-pros.
Mrs. L- L Burgess of LaGrange,
probably has the state-wide record
for growing beans. At her home on
Broad street, Mrs. Burgess has a
double row of beans 135 feet long,
and the vines have been bearing since
June 10th. By actual weight she
has gathered forty gallons from this
row up to this time and the fruit
is still thick on the vines.
Mrs. Burgess has certainly set a
record for all bean growers and the
plant has almost proven to be an ev
er growing series.
Mr. Rogers Buys
Allen’s Garage
Mr. E. G. Rogers, of Columbus,
who recently came to LaGrange from
Roanoke, Ala., where he has been in
the automobile business for several
months, has purchased the Alienas
Garage and will continue the busi
ness at that stand.
Mr. Rogers is a machanic of un
usual ability and comes to LaGrange
well recommended. He has already
made friends here who hope for him
much success.
TROOP COONTY FAIR TO BE
HELD LAST OF OCTOBER
The executive committee of the Troup
County Fair Association met last night and de
cided to hold the fair this year during the last
wee k in October. Preparations are being made
to make this one of the most successful fairs
ever held in this county. The premium list
will be ready for distribution in a few day3.
The officials state that they think the fair
will prove more beneficial to the Troup County
farmers this year than ever before. The low
price of cotton should cause the displays to be
of a more diversified nature, and will in that
way encourage the farmers to practice diversi
fication of crops.
Next week the Reporter will carry a full
account of the plans and developments of the
fair. The .executive committee which met
Thursday night follows: R. C. Key, acting
chairman, H. W. Caldwell, John D. Favor, Ely
Callaway, C. N. Pike.
MULE ALMOST
BURIED ALIVE
Animal Falls In Ditch And Has To
Be Dug Out.
A mule belonging to Caldwell
Lumber Company probably experi
enced one of the • most gnique posi
tions of the body ever, undergone by
animal. Near the lumber yard
ditches hove been dug. for . the pur
pose of laying, the new water mains
and only a small space was left be
tween two of these 1 ditches for the
wagons to pass in and out of the
yard.
Last Tuesday nro-riiing when one
of the wagons wus ,, going in the
yard, one side came too near the
edge and the driver attempting to
get back in the narrow .passage
pulled the line too hard and' the mule
on the "other side, who was blind,
fell in the ditch. In some: way the
animal turned completely over and
fell directly Upon his back in the
hole which fit his body as if it bad
been tailored for him. His fqet
stood straight, gjp and the other mule
was jerked on £o£> Of him.
It was necessarjr to ciit the har
ness to free the animal .oh top. Aft
er this it took about two hours to
dig the ditch wider so that the blind
mule could free himself.
Fortunately, no bones were brok
en and a thorough examination 'of
the animal showed no signs of in
jury. He Certainly narrowly escap
ed being burled alive.
Mr. M. E. Stevens
Will Not Farm
In last week’s issue of The Reporter
it was stated that Mr. M. E. Stevens
who wus replaced Monday as super
intendent Of the LaGrange Mill, by
Mr. John Baugh, would take charge
of his farm near LaGrange. Mr.
Stevens states that this was a mistake
that he intends to take about a mon
th’s vacation on his farm, fishing and
Ibunting and then would probably
take charge of some mill again.
Mr. Stevons states that he has nev
er been on a farm but three days in
his life and that it rained two of
those. He says that he was born in
a house oWngd by a cotton mil! and
during has entire life has never lived
in a house unless it was owned by an
organization of this kind. His father
was the superintendent of a large
mill and he himself has been in the
Employ of some mill for the past
twenty-five years. During that per
iod of time, this makes only his sec
ond change,
IlAGRANGE DRY GOODS CO.
PAYING 10c FOR COTTON
, LaGrapge ' Dry Gopds. Co. have
'come to, the aid of their customers
iand havqsont out notices to all hav
ing fall ^accounts, agreeing to give
10c per jpound for cotton to apply
on same,t basis, 4s, provided same is
brought jin to them at once. This
will be big help to the farmer and
enable hiih to come out and settle all
of his obligations.
They a|so agree to take cotton in
trade at) 10c per pound. This will
The si godd opportunity for all to buy
their fall jind winter goods and pay
fi^' samejjin cotton at 10c per pound.
Hlas Much Trouble
UWith Motorcycles
Tv{i\. Edgar Mitchell of West Point
wjho ^has recently joined the Ford
members seems to have much trou
ble wfah motorcycles. During the
past month he has had two collisions,
both of which have done considerable
damage to his little Ford Roadster.
,Mr. fditchell, who is head of one of
the departments of Lanett Mills,
state i that he thinks that the motor
cycle i Wre his “hoodoo”. He says
ti)at x>rh of theoe accidents occurred
at t: mis when he thought himself
sSlfes ,. 1
i ' I
Wednesday, the 16th, was the dute
of the annual meetings of four of
the enterprises connected with the
General Offices, namely, the Unity
Cotton Mills, Unity Spinning Mills
and Elm City Cotton Mills, of La-
Grange and the Manchester Cotton
Mills of Manchester, Ga.
The reports of these enterprises
were highly gratifying to the stock
holders ahd reflected much credit up
on their capable officials.
The meeting of the Manchester
Cotton Mills was held in the fore
noon. All of the old officers and
directors were re-elected, and the
usual semi-annual dividend of 4 per
cent was declared payable on Octob
er 1st.
The meeting of the Elm City and
Unity Cotton Mills was held in the
afternoon, and these enterprises, too
made gratifying showings. The Elm
City Cotton Mills declared its usual
quarterly dividend of three per cent,
and the Unity Cotton Mills declared
its regular quarterly dividend of 4
per cent, ’both payable on October 1st.
No changes were made in the offi
cers and directors of the Unity and
Elm City Mills.
Among the visitors from out of
town, were Messrs. O. A. Barnard,
of New York, W. H. Tobey of Chica
go, James Banks, Allen F. Johnson
and Col.' Geo. M. Traylor of Atlan
ta, CHpliaip P. G. Awtrey and Mes
srs. W- B.’ Johnson and Don Carter of
Manchester; Mr. M. M. Hunt of River
View, Ala., and Messrs. John Hall,
Charlie Hall, R. H. Colley and other
stockholders in the county.
The visitors and some of the local
officials of the mills were delightfully
entertained at a dinner Tuesday eve
ning by Mr. and Mrs. C, V. Truitt,
and Mr. and Mrs. Fuller E. Calla
way entertained at luncheon on Wed
nesday. Needless to say, the repasts
were up to the usual mark of these
accomplished hostesses and were
greatly enjoyed by those present.
Mills Show Sympathy For Farmers
A significant action taken at these
meetings was the adoption of a reso
lution reflecting the sympathy and
interest of the managers of these big
mills for the farmers of this section
in the distressing situation created by
the European wars. A [resolution
was introduced by Mr. Fuller E.
Callaway, in which the officers were
instructed to give preference in the
purchase of cotton to the producers
'of the surrounding section, and to
buy as much cotton as resources per
mit, paying as liberal prices as pos
sible, considering the prices which
the mills are able to obtain for their
manufactured product. The resolu
tion in full follows:
“Whereas, the terrible wars rag
ing' in the principal European Coun
tries have for the time being closed
the usual outlets for a large portion
of the eotten crop produced in the
Southern States, with the result of
forcing the price of cotton below the
cost of production and its real value;
and
“Whereas, the interests of all of
our people are identical and anything
that works a hardship upon the farm
ers affects all other business and
private interests, and the pre
sent situation calls for co-operation
between all interests;
Be it therefore resolved, that the
management is hereby instructed and
authorized to give preference in the
purchase of such cotton as this com
pany can use to the producers of the
isurrounding section, buying cotton
to the extent of our resources and at
as liberal prices as possible consider
ing the prices which they are able
tn obtain for our manufactured pro
duct.”
In discussing the matter in the
meetings, the fact was brought out
that the rpills are themselves facing
a trying situation, in that they too,
for the time being are largely limit
ed to American consumers for the
outlets for their products, jand that
these consumers are demanding con
siderably lower prices than last year.
The^fact was also brought out that
the mill companies have the respon
sibility of trying to provide regular
employment for their thcqsands of
employees, the families of whom will
suffer greatly if regular employment
cannot be given. The sense of the
resolution was that the management
of the mills are to give first pre
ference in the purchase of all cot
ton to the farmers of the surrounding
section, and it is understood that
the officers will construe this liber
ally and probably pgy the farmers a
slight advance over the prices at
which they can buy cotton in other
sections. •; h: ■' ••
