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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: ■' ••