The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-09-11
LIMIT PRODUCTION
THAT is THE SLOGAN OF THE
NAVAL STORES MEN.
DOWN TO FIFTY PER CENT.
NEW BOXES CUT WILL BE REDUC-
ED ONE-HALF THIS YEAR.

representing sixty Per Cent of the
Naval stores Output-Permanent
organization Formed and Omcers
EIected-A Scale ofWages Adopted.
renting Out Boxes to Laborers Is
Prohibited-A Most Important Step
in the History of the Naval stores
Industry.
Jacksonville, Fla, Sept. 10.-Two hun
dred and fifty operators, representing
over third of the distilleries in the
turpentine belt, and at least so per
cent. of the entire output of the South
ern states, assembled in convention in
this city to-day and solemnly pledged
themselves to restrict the cutting Of
turpentine boxes during the coming
twelve months to within SO per cent of
the boxes cut last year.
This was the most important action
taken by the meeting of the naval
stores operators in their most success
full effort at organization to-day. For
the first time in the history of the in
dustry those who are the source of sup
ply to the entire world of a product
which has become indispensable and
for which no substitute has yet been
found have perfected an organization
for their common protection on
lines which cannot fail to succeed.
For weeks the originators of the
movement to combine the turpentine
operators have labored to get together
the operators and form an organization
that would bring a condition that
would enable the producers of naval
stores to control their own product. BY
the agreement to curtail production and
at the same time to regulate the abuses
of labor a most important betterment
in the condition of the industry has
been achieved.
The meeting was held in the tenn
porary structure used by the Trinity
Methodist Episcopal Church since the
recent fire and although the premises
were freely rendered, the delegates
were not unmindful of the fact that
they were in a Methodist Church and
consequently a collection was taken
up. netting a handsome sum to be APP
piled to the erection of a new structure
The meeting was called to order by
temporary president A. D. Covington,
who introduced Mayor Fletcher to
those present.
Officers Are Elected.
The Mayor made an eloquent address
of welcome, which was responded to in
fitting words by S. L. Varnedoe. an
eloquent Georgian now in the turpen-
tine business near Tampa. At the con-
cusion of his address he moved the
election of A. D. Covington as presi-
dent, which was unanimously carried.
Then followed the election of w. J.
Hiburn, vice president; J. C. Powell,
secretary: H. A. McEachern, treasurer.
w S. West also made a forclble
speech and then the report of the COM
mittee on constitution and bylaws
consumed the better portion of the day
The name of the new organization is
to be the Turpentine Operators Asso-
citation, and while the meeting was
carried on strictly by the operators
themselves, the factors, under the
terms of the constitution adopted.
were made eligible to membership ana
a resolution was adopted to notify all
factors of the action of the organlza-
ton and ask for their cooperation.
1t was agreed that the action OF the
convention and the resolutions adopted
concerning the cutting of boxes and
the scale of wages should not go into
effect until operators representing six
ty-six and two thirds of the entire tur-
pentine output shall have become
members of the association, and agreed
to abide by the rules laid down. This
percentage those present are confident
they can secure.
The Scale of Wages.
The most animated discussion was
upon the question of the scale of wages
The following scale was finally adopt
ed:
Chipping. SO for 10,50o boxes and no
rations; raking trees. 20 to'25 cents,
horse wagon and driver SIC to $780, dip
ping SO 1-3 cents per barrel; cutting
boxes one and one-quarter cents. Rent
ing out boxes to laborers was prohib-
tied.
AS this was a general rule laid down.
the constitution was so worded as TO
allow the sub-associations to be form
ed to be allowed discretion in certain
cases. For instance, in case of back
boxing and in case where leased lands
required the cutting of certain num-
Der of boxes in a certain time or in
case of contracts made by parties who
were obliged to box trees and make
way for the lumber men, the settlement
of these questions was left to the dis
erection of the sub-associations to be
formed, which are to submit their de-
cisions to the executive committee of
the general association for final assent
But in the territory of each sub-asso-
citation no more than so per cent. of
new boxes was to be cut. The discus
sion of all of these subjects were ami
mated, but the desire to all to obtain
definite results rendered a harmonious
agreement possible.
1t was nearly midnight when the
final adjournment for the day was TAX
en-. There will be final meeting in the
morning to appoint committee and ar
range for financing the organization.
Address of Prof. Herty.
An interesting feature of the conven-
tion was the address of Prof. Charles
n. Herty. of the University of Geor-
gia. He said:
Gentlemen of the convention, I have
been introduced by the chairman as
government expert. 1 prefer to be
known simply as a Southern boy trying
TO do what / can for the interests of
me section which 1 love. / am
Georgian and 1 feel that while acting
Tor the government in carrying on my
experiments it is a higher privilege to
De called a Georgia boy.
Il am devoting my time to her In
terests and have given up my summer
vacation in order to work on the lines
which believe are worth working on
The work is not yet complete, but l
am trying to learn in the pine forests
all that can he laarna6 in the VaV of