Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-10-05
TIE WO0LEN MILLS.
Some Definite ction Taken In the Right
Direction.

A public meeting was held at the Court
house last night to discuss the proposition
of the Santa Rosa Woolen Mills to move
their plant to this city. A large number of
merchants and business men were present.
Judge w. H. Beatty, President of the I'm
provement Association, called the meeting
to order. and nominated Mayor Gregory to
preside. The Mayor was unanimously
elected, and took the chair. F. A. Baker
was elected Secretary.
Roberl Devlin, being called upon, stated
the objects of the meeting, substantially as
stated at the last meeting Of the Improve
ment Association and published at length
in the RECORD UNION. He stated that
Messrs. Luttrell and Loughery, of the Santa
Rosa Wooden Mills, had bought out the
other member of the firm, Mr.. Walker, and
desired to move their mills to- a more adj
vantageous location. twas desired to form
a stock company 10 build a, mill and carry
it on in this city. 1t would take SAC, 900 to
build the mill, and Messrs. Luttrell and
Loughery would each take $4,000 worth of
stock, but were willing that the citizens of
Sacramento should hold controlling in
terest If they desired. Tire California State
Bank had subscribed for So. 500 in stock,
and he had assurance that others would
take stock. He said that Mr.. Luttrell
would explain more fully.
Mr.. Luttrell then addressed the meeting
at some length. He said it was a simple
business proposition. This city was the
best possible location for the mills, as the
productive section of California was from
Benicia north and east. He believed that
the investment would pay from one to
three per cent. per month.
Mr.. Loughery also addressed the meeting,
showing why Sacramento was the best
place in the State to carry on wooden mills.
The machinery of their mills was all of the
latest pattern and in perfect order. They
invited the meeting to appoint committee
to visit their mills and examine the ma
chinery.
Mayor Gregory said that the propositions
were very fair and deserved careful consid-
Grafton. He hoped those present would
express themselves fully on the subject.
A Abbott spoke favorably to the propo-
sition. He had lived in Marysville, where
wooden mills had been conducted success
fully and paid ss high as 80 per cent. on the
capital invested. He had stated that the
California State Bank would subscribe
81, 500. He thought the people Of Sacra-
mento should look into the matter very
carefully before rejecting the proposition.
He thought committee of active men
should be appointed to interview people
who had money to invest and point out 10
them the advantages of the proposition.
Judge Beatty said he believed that the
establishment of manufactures here would
be of great benefit to Sacramento. He
agreed with Mr.. Abbott in regard TO the
appointment of n committee, and had no
doubt that there would be enough SUBJ
Spri bod prOp1T1tlv n carry M,
Many persons who would not wish to en-
bark in the business as pecuniary invest
ment would do so in order to see the new
industry started.
E. ]. Holt had no knowledge of the
wooden mills business but believed it
would be good thing for Sacramento if
the proposition of Messrs. Luttrell and
Loughery was accepted.
E. Tryon, ST., said that he had been talk
ing with Mr.. Luttrell about the matter,
and had told him that Sacramento was the
best place in the State for wooden mill.
He recited his experience in the Capital
Wooden Mills. He had hard struggle
and had been twice burned out. He and
his associates had held a meeting and de-
cided to rebuild the Capital Wooden Mills.
They were willing to put in the machinery
they had on hand, or if that was not salts
factory they could have two mills. He did
not think they could rely on two or three
per cent on the investment There was
plenty of skilled labor here that he had
trained himself. He did not believe that
there would be free trade in WOOL If he
thought there would he would not want q
wooden mill al any place. There was no
place superior to Sacramento as a location
for the mills.
The details of the business were then
discussed at considerable length.
Mr.. Luttrell said that the starting of one
mandatory would bring others, and this
would soon be manufacturing center. He
spoke of the great advantages of the Fol-
som canal, and spoke of Folsom as the fu-
ture Lowell of the Pacific coast. Sacra-
mento would consume all the mills could
turn out, and if Mr.. Tryon started up his
mill there would be plenty of room for
both. People who came from the East
would locate where the manufactures are
in order to find employment for themselves
and their children. In regard to the effect
of the tariff legislation, he said that neither
of the tariff bills proposed to take the
tariff off the manufactured article There
was no question but that the manufacturers
could make more profit if the tariff was
taken off the raw material. He concluded
by saying that if he was rid of his prop
erty in Sonoma he would not ask Sacra-
mento to put in dollar. He would build
the mills himself, and he would build them
in Sacramento, because it possessed greater
advantages than any other city on the
coast. A paper had been prepared for the
signatures of those who desired to take
stock.
Mr.. Tryon stated that there was an East
ern man in the city who wished to start a
tannery here and there had been some talk
of locating near the wooden mills and
using steam from the same place.
William Schaw, of Huntington Hop
kins Company, thought the moneyed men
of Sacramento ought not to allow this OPP
portunity pass. The establishment of this
industry would lead to others.
c. II. Cummings and l.. Elkus spoke in
the same line. The latter said that the
goods from the Santa Rosa Mills had good
reputation.
Mayor Gregory did not think the people
of Sacramento would allow this oppor-
tunity to pass. He favored the appoint
ment of a committee to canvass, and he
believed the necessary amount of stock
would be subscribed within a very few
days.
Mr.. Abbott moved that Messrs. Schaw,
Cummings and Lewis be appointed as such
committee.
Mr.. Cummings suggested that in place of
that he would recommend committee of
three to issue invitations to persons liable
to be interested in the movement to meet at
some stated time when Mr. Luttrell could
be present and present the matter to them
in detail.
Mr.. Abbott thought the idea good one
and desire it to take the place of his
motion.
NJ. Devlin moved that L. Elkus be
added to the committee.
]. W. Avery, who had come in late,
spoke strongly in favor of the movement
Messrs. Cummings and Schaw stated that
they could not serve, and the following
committee was finally appointed: A. Alb.
bolt, E. ]. Holt, L. Elkus, L. L. Lewis and
@. A. Luhrs.
The meeting then adjourned.