The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-04-14
fBY NJ e. EnsTER.l

| II is generally admitted that Houston
and her people should do everything pos
I sible to encourage the location oil facto-
ries here--that the future Of the city de-
ponds upon its industrial expansion.
Thus far there has been little accom-
plished in this line. We have several
manufacturing plants. but we are adding
to our industries very slowly. There has
been a great deal OF talk, but the actual
results are not what they should be In a
place like Houston.
Agitating these matters can do no harm,
and 1t behooves every citizen to appoint
himself a committee OF one to talk fac
tories TOR Houston.
Get 1t blazoned forth TO the world that
this city has every advantage for manu-
featuring center. There is no need for the
least exaggeration. Houston has such ad-
mirable facilities that it is hardly possible
for our own citizens to realize the Won
derful opportunities for manufacturing de-
velopment that exist here. We have bee.
SO content with our reputation as mer-
chandizing center and as cotton market,
that we have hardly comprehended the I'm
limited possibilities that lie before us.
That Houston affords the best field for
speculative enterprises and for manufac-
turing undertakings of any city OF its size
In the United States can be safely con-
coded That 1t will one day become the
greatest commercial and manufacturing
center In the South can we'll be prophe-
sled.
Whether the day for the consummation
OF our expectations shall be In the near
future or in far distant years, is for the
citizens that are now here to decide. BY
proper effort on the part Of our capitalists
and business men Houston can in the next
five years establish such a reputation for
encouraging manufacturing enterprises
that these institutions will begin to come
here without solicitation on our part.
II home people will take hold of Hous-
tons industrial development with the
precedented advancement within the next
few years. 1t is already the exchange
point for more trades and traffic than any
other city in the State and it can easily
become the leading manufacturing mart OF
the entire South.
In connection with the subject OF en-
couraging local manufacturing interests I
have been very much impressed with a
plan adopted by the Business League of
Atlanta, Ga. Atlanta is a pushing, thriv-
ing town, and we can we'll afford to ex-
anime into it's methods OF promoting in
dustrial growth.
l At a recent meeting Of Atlsnta's Bust
ness League the subject of factories came
up and among other things was mentioned
the need OF some practical plan to bring
prospective investors and parties needing
capital directly in contact. The secretary
suggested a method which was unanimously
adopted. 1t was that the league keep set
OF books containing the details of pros
pective investors who have money they
want to put into manufacturing industries
OF various kinds and of manufacturers
who want capital for already established
business or contemplated business.
Under this plan alternate pages are de-
voted to both classes The first page is
headed Capital for Investment" and the
second page Capital Wanted" Parties
with money to invest are asked to call at
the league and make a statement of their
business to the secretary. He personally
investigates the details of their financial
standing or the business for which they
solicit capital, and il their claims are
found to be all right their names are en-
tered on the leagues books. These names
do not appear on the books shown the gen
eral public, each entry being numbered
instead. In this way the league acts as
medium for bringing investors and man
ufacturers together. and no brokerage is
charged.
Shortly after this plan was adopted In
Atlanta, and before it was publicly an
nounced, three prospective investors and
three parties wanting money invested in
manufacturing concerns of various kinds
called at the league and casually men
toned to the secretary their needs. He in