The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-10-22
WILL RAISE $4,000
THAT AMOUNT NEEDED FOR CIGAR
FACTORY BUILDING.
$500 HAS BEEN RAISED.
CITIZENS MEETING MADE LIBERAL
RESPONSE.

Nothing Less Than 500 VIII BE
Sought, as Bonds VIII Pc of That
Observation-Disclosures Who sub
scribed at the Meeting-Great In
terest Manifested Believed That
the Needed Money Will BE
Forthcoming-Conim Named
10 Consider Sites-SeveraI offered
without Cost
The movement for the establishment
of a factory of the American Cigar
Company at Savannah started with a
rush at the City Exchange yesterday
afternoon, when a largely
mass meeting of business men sub
scribed $500 to the enterprise. This
was regarded generally as an excellent
beginning, and such was the interest
and enthusiasm that it was freely pre-
dicted that the active efforts of solic-
iting committees will result in the
early obtainment of the necessary and
desired amount-S30,0 600.
The weather possibly interfered with
the attendance, but nevertheless, there
were many present. All showed deep
interest, and it was evident from the
moment that Mayor Myers. on motion
of Mr.. Leopold Adler, called the meet
ing to order and expressed its object,
that something would be accomplished.
Among those present were Mayor
Myers, Messrs. b. H. Levy, ]. H. Es-
till, Joseph Ferst, Leopold Adler,
George ]. Baldwin. George w. Tiede-
man, j. F. Doyle, A. j Garfunkel,
Nicholas Lang, John Geil. ]. S. Col
Inns. w. T. Hopkins, A s. Quicken
heimer, Z. A. NJ. Schroeder. Jacob
Paulsen, Joseph Rosenheim. w. J.
Watson F. w. Garden, A. l.. Alexan-
der, A. S. Nichols. S. L. Lazaron, ].
N. Lang, NJ. Schaul S. Herman, d.
r. Thomas, Hugh Logan, Daniel Io-
gan and Charles F.. Fulton.
The Cigar Company's Proposftion
This meeting has been called" said
Mayor Myers, for the consideration
of the proposition of the American CT
gar Company through it's representa-
tive, Mr. Nathan Weiss, to establish a
cigar factory here of not less than 2. 900
employees upon the condition that the
city will provide a site and a building
rent Tree, LOT I'VE years. 10 my mind
the time has come when Savannah has
need for manufacturing enterprises. and
when entire dependence should not be
placed in the commerce. Largely
through the fundamentally of Mr.
Joseph Ferst and partly through my
own Mr.. Weiss was induced to come
to Savannah and to make the propo-
sition that has been published and that
has already been considered by some
of us.
Il am satisfied that this enterprise
would rebound more to the advantage
of Savannah than any other industry
that could be established here BY
inquiry Of a well-known contractor l
have ascertained that such a building
as is required could be erected for from
$4,000 to $4,000. Already there have
been four locations offered free for
the establishment of the factory. and,
If none of these should be approved
the city has several tracts, one of which
might be leased for ninety-nine years
at nominal rent. The cost of the
building, therefore. is the only point
you have to consider, and to offset it.
you have the great advantage to the
business of Savannah that would ac-
crue from the establishment of such
an enterprise"
TO Accept the Proposition.
Mr.. Adler moved that the propo-
sition Of the American Cigar Company
be accepted. provided the money could
be raised for the building a motion
that Mr.. Guckenheimer seconded.
Thereupon a number of those present
discussed the motion.
Mr.. Ferst said that for about two
years he had been in correspondence
with Mr.. Weiss, endeavoring to inter-
est him In the establishment of fac
tory here. feeling sure that it would
greatly aid the city and promote it's
industrial and commercial develop
ment. He and others testified to the
standing of the American Cigar Com
pany, which controls half the cigar
business of the country.
what would the weekly nav roll of
the factory be?" asked Mr.. Collins
who said he had understood it would
be between $1,000 and &c. 900 a week. To
that the Mayor answered that it would
be more and $4,000 a week was men,
toned by some who had talked with
Mr.. Weiss.
A reference was made by some one
TO the benefits that would result for
the retailers, whereupon Mr. Levy said
that it was too often the case that
such reference was made, the whole
salers and the real estate owners-in
fact, all other classes, being overlook
ed. 1t is clearly evident, he declared,
mat every citizen would reap a bene-
mt from the operation of such an en-
terprise.
Wouldn't Wait on Building
Col. Estill reminded the meeting that
Mr.. Weiss had stared that che COM
pany would not wait until the factory
building was in readiness to begin
operations, but that temp J~ary qulr-
tiers would be secured within q short
time and work started. This indicated
clearly that the company means bus
mess, and that all II wants is the as
surance that the large building wilt he
ready when hands have been trained in
temporary quarters for the labor that
will be done in the factory
Mayor Myers said that for some time
after its establishment the factory
would operate at a loss, for the rea-
son that the goods made by unframed
hands always sell for IA very low price,
being of inferior grade. From 800 000
TO $1500O0, he said. speaking from the
experience of one who had been inter-
ested in he manufacture of cigars,
would represent the loss to the COM
pany incident to the training of new
hands.
Col. Estill regretted the failure of
the attempt some two or three years
ago to form the proposed industrial as
sociation. An effort was then made to
raise a fund of $4,000 for the promo
ton of just such enterprises as the
cigar factory, but it had resulted in
subscriptions for but $27 900 so that the