The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-07-19
NAVAL STORES OPERATORS.
A Big Demand in Florida That They
Shall Have n Meeting.


Olustee, Fla, July 17.-Editor Morn
ing News: In your issue of July IA
notice a communication signed BE
lever in a Change" suggesting a meet
ing of the naval stores operators and
naming Jacksonville, Fla, as the place
for such meeting. There is no doubt
that such a meeting. if properly car
ried out, would be a great benefit to
all interested. The tanks will I'M
doubtedly be a benefit to those who
understand the business, or who are
fortunate enough to produce spirits at
profit. or for less than they bring on
the market, but to those who expend
practically all they get for a cask of
spirits in producing it the tanks cam
not be of any benefit. What the oper-
ators want is to organize, and try to
devise some plan or method of reducing
the cost of production. This can only
be done by all agreeing on the same
price for cutting boxes, chipping, dip
ping and establishing a rule by which
labor on all places should be govern
ed. When spirits were selling for As
to so cents per gallon everybody, woods
FOREMAN anu all, WHO tllltI Ildu Vi
could borrow the money invested in a
turpentine plant and banked on the
theory that if we make 500 on one
crop we shall make $4,000 on 100 crops.
But their fond hopes were not real
lied. The result was, when the season
was over, that the factors were forced
to close number of them out. in order
to get back the money they had ad-
vanced. Why was this the case? To
the close observer the question will an
swer itself. My observation is that too
many men who should have been chip
ping or dipping were riding woods, and
the men who should have been riding
woods were supposed owners or mana
gers of places.
Another difficulty was the labor prob
lem. There was not enough box chop
ers to meet the demand or to cut as
many as every one thought he wanted
to insure him a fortune the first year.
Consequently the price was raised, and
the boxes cut were much inferior to
the regular standard box. The same is
true of the other work connected with
the business. The price was raised
and the grade or class of work was
lowered. Their years work ended and
left them with wiser heads and light
err jackets.
Now that spirits have gone down ten
dollars per barrel the same high wages
are being paid and the operators are
powerless to change the result un-
organized. Then why not organize
and establish a uniform standard of
work, a uniform scale OF wages and
have them embodied in the rules or by
laws? Have every member deposit
certain amount with bonded treas
urer. this amount to be forfeited II he
fails to comply with the rules Of the
organization, all forfeits going to de-
FRAY the general expenses.
II such an organization should be
perfected IL would be necessary for the
factors to organize and agree to adj
vance no money TO those not belong
ing to and abiding by the laws of the
organization.
II we expect to do business for
profit we should do everything In our
power to perfect this organization or
something similar that will assist us
10 control labor more SUCCESSFULLY and
m rid ourselves OF the worthless. growl-
ing negro. These worthless negroes
are swindling the operators out of
large per cent. of their profits. / doubt
~ n would be exaggerating to say that
the insolvent accounts on some opera
tors books exceed half their profits
10 date for this season. There is quite
a number Of things that could be done,
but this is not the time 10 discuss them.
We should discuss. why we should or
ganize now, and how 60 remedy the
evils after we have organized.
/ think the proper thing TO do II for
the factors 20 interest themselves IN
this move agree on date and place OF
meeting. issue a circular letter explain
ing the object OF the meeting and mail
a COPY 10 every operator In Georgia
and Florida. I would also suggest that
the meeting be called for the FIRST Of
the week. as Saturday would conflict
with too many paydaya 10 secure a
good attendance. hope others viii eN-
press their views through the Morning
News. ~. ]. "A.