The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-10-24
A SPANISH MOSS FACTORY.
Two nlinoissns, Who Have a Patent,
to Visit Savannah Next Month.

to Visit Savannah Next Month.
The Spanish moss, which is SO plentiful in
this section Of the country, seems to have
attracted the attention of two gentlemen in
the west, who have patented an invention
for preparing the moss in a very short
time so that it is ready to enter into the
manufac .ure of upholstered goods. The
following extracts from letter of inquiry
TO the editor of the MORNING News viii ex-
plain. The writer, Mr.. Gardner Of Elgin,
H., incloses a sample of the product after
it has passed through his patented process,
and says:
Will you please inform me If there is a suffi-
Gent supply Of the crude material in your city
and vicinity, TO warrant the establishment Of a
factory at savannah! manufacture this pro
duct such as the sample incloSed, from Spanish
moss, in two hours time my product costing a
figure that affords handsome profit 10 the
Manufacturer when sold to the joOber. l have
manufactured this article several years and it
has proved the best for mattresses and general
upholstery OF any article, except long drawn
animal hair, which is imported. desire to es
tabilsh the industry on the seaboard, with a
view TO cheaper rates TO New York and Pha-
delphia-also TO be nearer the crude material.
l should give practical test rs soon as the
health OF the south would permit ME TO go
there, with a view of forming a syndicate for
It's manufacture through the south. Please ad-
wise me If in your opinion your city would be a
IaVorAoie locality. own the patents ana con-
troll the article
Col j. H. Estill, to whom the letter of IN
quiry was addressed, replied. First disabus-
ing Mr.. Gardeners mind as to the unhealth-
fulness Of the south, and more especially of
this city, aud referring him 10 the vital
statistics TO show him how healthful loca-
ton Savannah is for those who desire to
come south and establish such industries as
the writer mentions, Mr.. Gardner was in
formed that Spanish moss can be obtained
near the city in inexhaustible quantities for
years and years, and the cost would / Q
merely nominal; that the transportation
facilities OF Savannah are unexceled by
any other southern seaport, and comprise
four steamship lines and two great systems
Of railway.
The correspondence alluded to above was
conducted early In the month, and Mr.
Gardner writes, under date of Oct Is, that
he will visit Savannah about Nov. 10, with
his partner, with a view to looking over
the ground and establishing one of their
factories here. The visiting gentlemen " ill
fluid, if they visit outlying territory, moss
enough to keep their factory going like
Ten yson's brook-to run on forever. The
old plantations, the sea islands, and the
swamns are full Of it. In some places it so
completely covers the branches and foliage
OF the trees as to shut out the light of the
sun from the verdure below, and those own
ing country seats complain that the health
fulness Of the trees is impaired by the pro-
fuseness of the moss, which the owners of
the domains would be willing to give away
to have it taken off.
The moss, much Of which could be picked
by colored children, would be picked at
nominal prices, and could be conveyed to
the city very cheaply by the sloops and
small boats that ply between Savannah
and the plantations and islands tributary
to this city. The Augusta steamers could
bring enough Spanish moss from points all
the way up the river for 100 miles to sup
ply number of factories for period of
many years, A factory on the very largest
scale might be profitably run here and its
products find cheap transportation not
only to the cities of the Q ist and north, but
to the west AID northwest, and if there is a
demand abroad, direct expectation could
be made from this port.