The Forrest City times., 1895-05-10
ANOTHER oPPoRTUNITYLosr.

| ' plant of the Southern Seating and Cab inet Co.,, of Jackson, Tenn, was de- stroyed by fire. Shortly afterwards the company made inquiries of certain citizens here. with view to locating and rebuilding at Forrest City. Con- siderable correspondence ensued, and at one time the probabilities of secur- ing this factory were very promising Suddenly the correspondence ceased. and we were at loss to understand what influence was operating against this point. We were satisfied that the company were convinced of our great natural advantages, our liberality. our anxiety to have and encourage them. Their representatives had been here. and had spoken favorably of locating. The matter was dropped, however, and and we never knew until yesterday what the cause was. The following extract from a letter received yester- day explains the matter:
 JACKSON, TENN, May :, 1895. Landvoigt X yadakin,
 Forrest City. Ark.
 On November 6. you wrote us to ship you one No. 50 roll top desk. That was a memorable day in our career as our factory burned that night. We wrote you about it. You replied .'come to Forrest City and rebuild" We had been reading your excellent paper regularly and saw the position you were in on freight rates. and concluded we did not want to be squeezed by them and concluded not to come. We refused to consider overtures relative to locating because of railroad rates.
 The railroads out and in from Jackson have done nobly by us, and the citizens of Jackson have probably done more for us than the citizens of Forrest City could have done. They knew us-they knew We were practical. hard-working and eco nomical men. Paid cash for everything. and our plant was big benefit to the town.
 Now don't feel down on us because we are not at Forrest City. We are in the South. We ought to have the preference over northern facto- ries, all other things being equal. and we can, 1T given an opportunity. make things more than equal
 Our purchases of raw material are liable to reach as far west as Forrest City.
 Now join with us in helping make Jack son the Grand Rapids of the South and we will join with you in making Forrest City the Sheboygan of the South, noted for chairs. or make Forrest City the Buggy City of the South.
 Respectfully yours.
 SOUTHERN SEATING & CABINET Co.
 K. w. MARTIN. Manager.
 While We deeply regret the loss of this great Southern enterprise-the loss of another grand opportunity to build up and benefit this section-it gives us pleasure to note that the com pany has rebuilt their factory and are again prepared 10 fill all orders for church. hall, hank and office fittings. and have added school furniture and apparatus. Had we been differently situated as to freight rates and rail- road advantages, Forrest City, no doubt, could have secured the plant. and it would have been great bless ing. Their statement should cause every citizen imbued with the future advancement of Forrest City, to think soberly of the situation. Here we are in the heart of great natural resources, denied the good offices of manufacto- ries by reason of unreasonable rail- road tariffs. combinations. pooling of interests, and abeyance of competition.
 It is almost sufficient to convert us to the populist theory of government ownership.