The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-10-06
COMBINE OF THE MILLS.
a MOVEMENT TO BUY Up ALL TIE
RICE MILLS OF THE SOUTH.

| The Standard OIL Company and English
Capital said to be Behind the Synd!-
cats-Between 100000 and So,
100000 Already at Its Disposal-op-
.ions said 20 Have Eeen Secured on
the Savannah Mills-What the Mill
Men say.
A big rice mill combine is on foot to buy
up all the rice mills in the south and operate
them under one management.
Just who are in the syndicate is difficult
TO learn, but it is believed that English cap
i.alists are behind the movement and the
Standard Oil Company is also said to be
interested in it.
Press reports stare that options have teen
secured on the mills at New Orleans,
Charleston, Savannah and Wilmington.
The options on the Savannah mills are
stated TO be as follows:
The Lower steam rice mill 1000, the
Planters steam rice mill $3.50. 600, and the
Habersham milf 100000. All of the
options are for short terms aad will soon
expire.
BETWEEN 81 900 900 AND 81. 0o0, 900 TO DO 1T.
The capital required to pay for the mills
is estimated at between 81 900 900 and
e, 100000, and the operating capital is
placed at 81, 900, 900. half Of which is TO be
| Immediately placed CT the disposal Of the
managers Of the mills.
A MORNING NEWS reporter sew the Off
| GERS of the Savannah mills yesterday as to
| what foundation there is for the reports
| The mill men were not disposed to be
communicative upon the subject, but it was
learned that such a scheme has been on
| foot for some time and that negotiations are
still pending. No conclusion has yet been
| reached, however, aud the Savannah mill
men do not seem to regard the passing of ell
the mills under one control as probable.
| They expressed a doubt as 10 the consum-
nation Of the scheme.
| WHAT SAVANNAH MILL MEN SAY.
Manager John Screven, OF the Lower
steam rice mill, said that he understood
there was something of the kind on foot
ard that some negotiations were IN progress,
but be was not at liberty to state anything
! concerning the matter; aud, in fact. knew
very little oft. Personally he did not think
it would amount to much.
Mir. George J. Mills Of the Planters Rice
| Mill Company is ont Of the city.
Mr. William Neyle Rabersham, treasurer
of the Upper rice mill, said there had been
good deal of talk of such scheme when
English capitalists we're buying up Amer-
can industries some time ago, but
| ne uhu nob DedTQ 30 MuCn OF IL
lately. There was still some talk of it
however, aud something might develop
from it. He had very little idea that the
scheme would be carried out, however,.
Mr.. Habersham said he understood that it
was English capital tina: proposed to buy
out and control the mills. He did not be-
lieve the plan of controlling all the mills by
any one company or corporation would
| prove successful,
| CLOSE MANAGEMENT REQUIRED.
"A rice mill to be successful said Mr..
| Habersham, requires skillful management
and close personal supervision
A Chicago dispatch 10 the MORNING NEWS
last night said: "A movement is on foot to
buy up all the rice mills OF the south and
throw them into pool. The Standard Oil
| Company and English capitalists are
supposed to be behind the enterprise.
| Options will be secured on the mills at
New Orleans. Savannah, Charleston and
| Wilmington. The only announcement
made when the options were asked for was
that the syndicate proposed to buy all the
mills In tue country and put in what is
known as the Dutch milling machinery
which is the kind used in India. An agent
of the syndicate says the now process will
be cheaper than the old TO the planter, and
the price of rice will be lowered so much
that importers of foreign rice viii not be
able to undersell American"