The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-03-11

Tho committee appointed Monday
night by the Commercial Association to
draw up some plan, or make recon.
mendations, relative to the establish
ment OF tobacco manufactures in Roa-
noke met last night in the rooms of the
association.
Messrs. Rives. Reynolds and Hoge,
OF the committee, were present. Mr..
Rives took the chair in the absence of
Mr.. Andrews. A. d. Stultz, of the firm
Of Is. L. Gravely s. Co., tobacco manu-
facturers, of Martinsville, was present
and was asked by the chairman to give
his ideas in regard to the manufacturer
of tobacco in Roanoke.
Mr.. tultz spoke as one who thor
oughly understands tho business. He be.
gan by saying that tho first thing neces.
sary would be company with sufficient
capital to establish and carry on tho bust
ness. The factory must be established
nrst' the warehouse afterward. The fac
tory necessarily brings tho warehouse,
but the warehouse does not ne cess aril v
bring the factory. In Martinsyille they
pay out upon an average $1,000 to
$4,000 per day for tobacco during the
season. This money goes into tho
hands of the farmers, and, OF course.
the merchants of the place reap their
share of the benefits"
Mr.. Stultz thought company organ
lied for the purpose OF tobacco manu-
facturingshere should have a capital of
about STOP, 900, Of which amount sos.
600 should be paid in during tho first
year. This would be sufficient to manu-.
facture half million pounds Of tx bacco,
and about 300 hands would be given en-
ployment. Women and children will
nave to be employed in factory of this
sort.
The speaker emphasized tie impor-
lance of having sufficient capital to en-.
able the company tocompeto with older
factories.
customers, said he, "often refuse to
buy even the best brand of tobacco from
small manufacturers because they fear
that after establishing trade with
that grade of goods, the manufac-
turers may go out OF the business and
cannot continue to fill their orders"
For this localitya common or Medium
grade should be the line.
Mr.. Hoge said he had talked with n
number of men in Roanoke, who had
the capital and would invest 1T in such
an enterprise, provided it is established
upon the right basis.
MIR. Rives thought the money should
be raised among Roanoke men. IF thew
put their capital into the scheme, 9th.
ers will not hesitate to invest in It too.
Another suggestion offered was that
an effort be made to interest the whole
sale merchants and jobbers in the CITY
to handle the home product. There
are enough of these firms in Roanoke
TO handle almost the entire OUTPUT of
such factory as the one sugg posted.
The committee has not vet drawn
any set of resolutions Or suggestions,
but will do so between now and Satur
day night. 1t will recommend the Or
ganization of a joint stock company, after
the order of banking institution, to
elect president and board of directors,
II experienced men. the directors to
elect manager and make monthly re.
ports to the stock holders.
Tho committee will sugg est that steps
be taken at once to organize the COM
pany with acapital Of SlOO, 900. OF which
amount SOS, 600 be paid in the first wear
and have the factory in operation in
three or four months. 1t is thought that
this can be done easily if the proper
steps are taken.
The committee will have another
meeting in the rooms of the Com mercial
Association Saturday night at o'clock,
and 1T is hoped all of the members will
DO present. A report will then be for
mulated to be laid before the CONNER
cial Association at its next meeting,
Monday night.