The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-06
HOW MANUFACTURING PAYS.
MIR. WAREHOUSES; EXPERIENCE AS
A MANUFACTURER IN SAVANNAH.

A MANUFACTURER IN SAVANNAH.
The Local Conditions Discussed in
the Light of His own Experience
with the Conclusion That the Con-
ditiOns in Savannah Are Eminent
~ Favorable TO Manufacturing i'm
Every Way-The Four Canvnssing
Committees Which Have Done
Active Work, Make "A Good Show
ing-The Others Promise to Begin
Work at Once.
There was an interesting meeting of the
general committee of the Citizens Indus
trial Association at the Metropolitan Hall
last night, the chief feature being an adj
dress by Mr.. A. w. Morehouse. of the
Morehouse Manufacturing Company AS
a practical Illustration of what has al
ready been done in Savannah in manu-
featuring and of what may be accomplish
ed in other lines Mr.. Morehouse gave his
experience for the benefit and encourage
ment of the committeeman, and those in
terested in the subject of manufacturing
generally.
the chairman, Col. Estill, called upon Mr..
Morehouse to give his experience as a
practical manufacturer. Mr.. Warehouses;
remarks were listened to with general in
terest and met with the decided approval
Of the meeting. In part Mr.. Morehouse
spoke as follows:
GAS a manufa cturer and a loyal citizen,
l feel it my duty to aid this movement
by touching upon our experience as man
ufacturers in Savannah and entering into
a brief discussion of this question from
the standpoint of a MANUFACTURER.
IN January, 1892 we began the manu-
facture of baking powder in Thomasville,
Go. In July, 1898 we removed our small
plant to Savannah to improve our manu-
featuring and shipping facilities, and eX-
tend our trade. At that time we investi-
gated a number of Southern cities with a
view to securing the most advantageous
location. We found that we could manu-
facture our product in Savannah and
freight it to other cities under considera-
ton al the same cost that we could manu-
facture in other cities. Water transport
tation on incoming material is largely re-
sponsible for this saving. We reached Sa-
vannah on the eve OF the panic with but
little money few friends, practically no
esta blished trade, and with only limited
experience and knowledge of the baking
powder business. We found the advan-
tages we were seeking, but to counter
act these we also found a deeply-rooted
false prejudice and sentiment against Sa-
Vannah factories and their products. Other
local manufacturers, l am quite sure, win
bear me out in the statement that this
prejudice has existed and does yet to a
limited degree. 1t is needless to say that
we had to struggle for an existence in the
beginning. But we finally surmounted diff
culties and established our business on a
safe and fairly remuneralve basis.
I'VE are drawigin our trade from seven
Southern states, in which territory we
compete successfully with the products of
all other sections of the country-and in
cidentally fight the nefariOus attacks of
the Baking Powder Trust of the North,
which cannot pay dividends on $l9,50O,cO)
of watered stock and compete successfully
with Southern manufacturers, and which
is seeking through legislation TO suppress
Southern competition. We are selling some
goods North of the Mason & Dixon line.
Eighty per cent. of the money that passes
through our hands is brought into Sa-
vannah from other states, which is an
illustration of the advantages to be gained
by Savannah operating her own factories
instead of crowding other lines of bust
ness.
"A mandatory doing 100000 business
per year goes further toward advertising
and enriching a community than local
retail dry goods, clothing or shoe business
doing $1,000O00 annually.
The one creates and distributes and the
other absorbs; the one reaches out and
brings in money to sustain the other l
do not mean to reflect upon the business
institutions we have in these lines, because
they are a necessity-a credit and help
to our city, and we are justly proud of
them but | wish to emphasize the fact
that twenty prosperous factories in our
midst viii add to the revenue of the al
ready established business of Savannah
and will create room for others. A large
manufacturing interest in Savannah will
support twice the number of stores we
now have, greatly enhance the value of
real estate. largely increase our popula-
ton and add literally to the general wei
fare and prosperity of our city.
I'VE need first wholesome sentiment to
encourage, promote and sustain manufac-
turing; confidence too, is lacking, but
this should not be when we reflect that
we have the ocean at our door, which is
really the key to the situation as regards
most lines of manufacture. Labor is plen-
tiful, cheap and satisfactory. Strikes are
unknown Our climate is mild, thus per-
hitting labor to work twelve months in
the year without interruption. Fuel Is
cheap. Rents are moderate, the cost OF
living not, great. Raw material is abund-
ant and easily accessible. We occupy
commanding position if we could but re-
alize it. With the necessary ex-
perence we could. in most
lines, defy the competition of
the world. We are not. however, i'm
proving our opportunities. We are Jet
ting other towns and cities, who are not
favored as we are in many respects build
up at our expense. Our cotton business
is slipping away Our lumber and naval
stores trade, within a few years will be
thing of the past. Our wholesale bust
ness is being gradually curtailed on ac-
count of Northern and interior competi-
ton. / ask then what is to become of
us and what will our children do for
livelihood, unless we open up new avenues
aud turn our attention to other things.
II We do not wish to experiment in new
fields, cotton manufacturing is a demou-
strated success in the South, why not
equip fifteen modern mills in Savannah,
and thus start up the wheels of progress
4 In rot r1.u Of h14g