The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-04-11
fBY N. T.. FOSTER. J

tBY NJ Il, FOSTER.)
WANTED-Party or parties with some es aIissi
TO take one-third interest with two practical
men In a manufacturing plant at Houston,
thorough investigation Invited Address or
call Edgar Watkins, Binz building
The above advertisement has appeared
In The Post during the past three days. AS
II seemed to be something that might add
a link In the chain of Industrial develop
ment that Is bound to be wrought for
Houston concluded to investigate the mat
ter.
1t Is an endeavor on the part OF two ex-
perienced men to place furniture manu-
featuring plant in the heart OF Houston. !
do not know whether these gentlemen have
secured the party or parties who are Of
fered a one-third interest In the factory.
but do know that they are in earnest and
that the plant will be erected in the course
Of time. and that it will be a success. II
they have secured the desired assistance
the work will proceed at once; II not the
delay will be only temporary.
They are not men with visionary
scheme, or with some plan to dispose of
watered stock, but are furniture makers by
| profession One of them was in the business
at Grand Rapids, Mich, for many years
and the other has devoted half of life
time to the business of turning the forest
trees into lumber and to fashioning this
| lumber into articles OF home use and dec
5ration.
| They have made a thorough examination
Of the conditions In and around Houston
and have reached the conclusion that a
| furniture factory here would be a paying
| investment. The forests of Texas, they
argue are filled with the raw material.
The people of Texas buy millions of dol
lars worth of furniture annually. a small
portion of this is manufactured in the State
| penitentiary, but the greater part comes
| from Michigan aud other Northern States.
| Why not keep some OF this money that is
| with a home factory that will employ
home labor and buy home lumber.
= y
| Not one argument can he made against
such factory, but thousand can be ut
tered in its favor. The fact that Houston
is the best distributing point in the South
is certainly an encouraging factor for the
promoters OF any industrial enterprise OF
| this character. The manufactured goods
can be sent quickly and cheaply to any part
of the State. The advantage in freight
rates will be a big item, and should enable
a home furniture factory to meet compeu-
tion from any source.
Labor is as cheap and as easily to be
secured here as it Is in any other part OF
| thic oountrv Tho dep,and for furniture Ia
constantly increasing and Houston dealers
alone could take the output of one factory.
The market, however, is practically unlim-
tied, and the factory could be enlarged aud
its business increased year by year.
Under all the circumstances can anyone
explain why 1t is that these men have
found II difficult to interest home capital
lists in sucn an investment? The two per-
sons behind 1t are men who would devote
their time, their money and their COM
bined energies to making the business a
success They are experienced furniture
men-know every detail of the work, and
would in no way be making an experiment
in an untred field.
The success OF it means much to them,
but it means more to Houston. And yet
no man has been asked to invest in the
plant from the standpoint of aiding tho
development OF a home industry. II is
simply business proposition--a chance to
take hold of something that will be max
ing anywhere from 10 to X per cent for
the investors before two years have elapsed
and which In the course OF five years would
bring in much greater returns.
y \ =
These two furniture men are not aware
that this matter will be mentioned in The
Post. and very likely they would be opposed
to It being brought before the public In
this way They are going ahead quietly TO
secure what they want. They are not ask
ing the business men for any donation Of
ground for the plant, nor are they begging