The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-12-12
MOSS FOR THE MARKET.
MANUFACTURERS LOOKING OVER
THE FIELD FOR A FACTORY.

A Movement to Organize Company
and Build Factory in Savannah
Tho Abundance of the Raw Material
Near BY, and Savannah's Excellent
Shipping Facilities Favor the Enter
prise-Northern Manufacturers Now
in the City.
Messrs. J. Gardner of Elgin, ILL.,, and J.
Baker of Gloversville, N. Y, who are here
in the interest of a proposed factory for the
preparation of the Spanish moss for COM
merce, took drive into the country yester-
day to look over the field. They will make
several trips out of town along the rivers in
this section where the growth of moss is
most profuse.
Mr.. Baker said last night that he was in
this state twelve years ago, engaged in get
ting out cypress ties and shingles along the
Savannah river, and introduced the first
machine in this section for saving cypress
shingles. During that time the growth of
the Spanish moss attracted his attention,
and since he has become connected with
Mr.. Gardner he brought his attention to the
great quantity Of moss obtainable along the
Georgia coast and the facilities Savannah
affords for shipping it to an eastern market,
where the demand is great.
AN ESTABLISHED INDUSTRY.
The gentlemen have patents covering
their process for curing and preparing the
moss for upholstery work, and they show
samples of the moss which is elastic, and
which, by the process, is toushened. the
joints of the moss which they say break so
easily before refining process being the last
to give way after the moss is prepared for
shipment
MIR. Gardner had one of his factories in
Illinois, but removed it to Homer, La, en-
larged it, and added new and improved
machinery, the result of.six years. practical
work. The factory was destroyed by fire
last April, and since that time he has been
looking about for site near the crude
product where better facilities are offered
for shipping, so that the cost of manufact-
ure can be reduced to minimum and he is
here now to look over the field, find what
the moss can be obtained for. and to Or
ganlze company
Mr.. Gardner brings with him the most
satisfactory references and the best evil
dence that the industry is one that will be
highly profitable to those engaged in it.
TO ORGANIZE A COMPANY.
Mr.. Gardner informed MORNING NEWS
reporter that himself and Mr. Baker have
| contemplated the organization of a COM
| pany with capital stock OF about $4,000,
| 40 per cent. of which they are willing to
| take themselves, leaving the controlling
| stock in the hands of the southern stock
| holders with the understanding that for the
| first year Mr.. Baker will superintsnd the
management of the factory They says
moss day, will require an outlay
of about $1,000 for the necessary
machinery. and they will not ask a
| dollar until the stockholders are
satisfied that it is all that is claimed for it
by the work turned out. They have letters
from the Pullman Palace Car Co. and
leading manufacturers of upholstered
goods, speaking highly of the Gardner
process moss, many OF them regretting that
Mr. Gardner has been unable to fill their
orders, anG Mr.. Baker says that guarantees
| can be furnished that all the moss mana
featured here will be sold at profit which
will be made known when they have con-
ference with such gentlemen as may be
| solicited to connect themselves with the en-
terprise. Steps will be taken in a day or
two to bring about this conference.
| PLEASED WITH GEORGIA
Messrs. Gardner aGd Baker are delighted
with Savannah. Mr.. Baker is no stranger
in Georgia. He relates pleasing story of
| how himself and a couple of northern COM
panions were lionized at Augusta after the
visit of Gen. Lee. Mr.. Baker said that him
| self and friends came south to spend the
winter and have a good time. They had
the two best rooms in the hotel One even
ing. while they were at whist, the landlord
came in looking as if he came on hopeless
errand, and said that he had favor to ask
of them. Gen. Lee, he said, was on his
way to Augusta, whers the people desired
to give him reception, and that the suite
Of rooms occupied by the tourists
were the only suitable ones be had
in the house for Gen. Lee. Would they
give them up for couple of days. Ser
tainly." said Mr.. Baker. I'VE can appre-
ciate the feelings the southern people have
for their leaders, and besides, we want to
see Gen. Lee ourselves" The landlord was
profuse in his thanks, aud was willing to
make any other Of his guests vacate to give
the tourists next choice, but they said, Put
us anywhere you like till Gen. Lee goes
away" When it was noised about the city
chow Gen. Lee got the best rooms in the
house." Mr.. Baker said that there was
nothing too good for himself and com.
panions, and from that incident he came
back afterward and did profitable business
in cedar in the state. and is now here to
help inaugurate and embark in a fixed
southern industry.