Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-10-06
MEETING AT LAKE CITY.

On Saturday. September e0th. a large
and enthusiastic meeting OF the farmers.
merchants and bankers OF Columbia cOun-
~. Florida. was held in the courthouse
az Lake City. The purpose OF the meet
ing was 10 organize branch OF the Flor
ida state Long Staple Cotton Growers
Protective association. Many OF these
local organizations have been perfected
in the long staple counties within the past
few months. Il VIII be remembered that
the state association was made permanent
last February at large and well attended
convention OF long staple cotton growers
at Alachua, Fla At that time Hon John
b. Dell a prominent and successful plant
er Of Gainesville. was unanimously chOs-
En- president; Dir. James Chestnut. vice
president. and Mr.. ]. @. Kellum. OF Ala
chua. secretary.
Colonel Dell and the other officers OF the
state association have been earnest and
active in their efforts TO make success
OF the movement. A splendid work has
already been accomplished along the lines
OF organization which viii greatly benefit
the long staple growers OF Florida in the
future.
The meeting at Lake City was called
and engineered principally BY Mr.. S.
Boteler Thompson. who has considerable
farming and other interests in Columbia
county. The object OF the recent meeting
was two-f0ld. the first being to bring the
farmers Of Columbia into a compact or
ganization for the purpose OF protection
and the advancement OF each others in
tereSts in the handling and marketing OF
their farm products and also the building
OF a cooperative warehouse.
The meeting at Lake City was vel at
- F-an4
with President Dell and Secretary Kellum.
OF the state association. also present
Our correspondent informs me that a
splendid address was delivered BY Pres
ideut Dell. who in the course OF his re-
marks covered the ground fully. and
urged the necessity for prompt co-Opera-
tive action among the cotton growers of
his state
short talks were also made by Secretary
Kelium. OF Alachua. Bfr. S. Boteler Thomp-
son and others Mr.. Thompson was
unanimously chosen chairman Of the
meeting with Mr.. T. ]. Appleyard. editor
OF The Index. secretary. II was deemed
essential that an organization be per
fected at once. and a large number OF
names were enrolled as members after the
speaking had closed
After further discussion il was decided
to adjourn until Saturday. September
18th. at which time permanent organiza-
ton would be effected and the. election
OF permanent officers take place. After
permanent organization the members or
the Columbia county association will en-
d0rse \ movement. already started by Mr.
Thompson. TO secure the speedy erection
% a large. comm0dious warehouse into
which the farmers can store and hold
their long staple cotton. adopting thereby
the proposition OF marketing the crop
slowly. The merchants OF Lake City have
already given hearty Assurances OF n
uancial aid 20 the scheme. but an effort
viii be made 10 have a majority OF the
stock. az leasts taken by the local farmer
members of the organization. All the
stock which the farmers fail 10 take I'm the
enterprise viii be promptly subscribed
By the local merchants
Warehouses the Plan.
The plan or constructing a frst-cIass
commodious warehouse. the stock OF the
enterprise largely owned and controlled BY
the producers. Is a long step in the right
direction for enabling planters 20 hold
their cotton properly and market IL slow
Is. There are a number OF points IN Flor
ida where the farmers have already taken
action this sumner. similar 10 that pro-
posed by the Columbia county orgauiZa-
ton. The old method OF picking out their
long staple cotton. and either selling it in
the seed at public Rinneries. or having IL
haled and rushing the staple on the mar
ket. has az last been found 70 be an IN
wise system which gave the buyers abso-
lute control % the market and resulting
IN keeping prices down considerably be-