The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-09-27
Metz Wfatehohkg.

Captaih John Lyon is an enthusiastic ware.
houseman, and no half dozen men in town
have done more for developing the disposi-
tion to store cotton for better prices. Some
five pears ago. he organized the Abbeville
Warehouse Campany. with Hon. j. r. Blake
ss president. These gentlemen under very
disoouraging conditions built small ware
house. The business at first was little but 1t
increased with the passing years. A new
house was built every year. and to ansWer
the greatly increasing demands the company
had already commenced q still further en-
largement OF the facilities for sccommoda'
ting the public. But before the work had
gotten fairly started. farmers In the county
determined upon owning a warehouse OF
their own. They would either buy the houses
which Mr.. Lyon and Mr.. Blake had built. or
else they would build new house 10 be con-
trolled by them. They, knowing the great
SUCCESS which had attended the efforts OF
Messrs. Blake and Lyon preferred to buy the
old and we'll established business.
Some idea Of the esteem In which the stock
OF the warehouse company was held may be
inferred from the faot that the owners de-
manded and received a premium OF fifty per
cent.
They are now completing the new addi ition
which Mr.. Blake and Capt. Lyon had COM
nenced. and when finished the company
will have something like 80,UO0 feet Of floor
space.
Captain Lyon and Mr.. Blake are now OH.
cially connected with the warehouse. but
Captain Lyon has made arrangements 10
build new warehouse OF which he will have
exclusive control, and 10 which he will In.
vite his friends as soon a. the house is ready
for him. A strong man possessing his good
judgm ent on cotton matters prefers TO do bus
ness on his own account, and in his own way
For this reason, and because OF the uncer.
tainty as to how long stockholders In col
poration may remain, he does not care to or.
ganize another company.
His house is 10 be bhilt on the east side oil
the road. very near TO The track, and oppo.
site 10 the present location OF the Southern
freight depot.
1t ia understood, ifthe business should de-
mand, Captain Lyon will secure larger and
still ter means OF accommodating the
public. Five years ago hs had very small
beginning Of business, but he developed IT In
wonderful degree. Last year he stored
about tiily per cent more cotton than the
estlm aied legitimate capacity OF the building
and in consequence, the stock OF the compa-
ny went up 10 $3.50 per share. at which figures
II was told. Ii he has The tame success II
this, his latest venture as he bad In the first.
he will have done wonders indeed. No other
man In Abbeville ever brought the stock on
any corporation to $50. II, therefore, he can
break the record in working for a corporation
along new and unlried lines. he certainly
can do something for himself, after exper.
fence.
In the meantime the Abbeville warehouse
company are not idle They are building
new and splendid two story addition. and
between the two warehouses the farmers
will get all the storage room they want The
existing company has floor space Of about
81, 900 square feet. Captain Lyon will have
betwee 5000 and 1000 square feet. The stories
of both are high and an Indefinite number OF
bales could be stored In either.
In seeking to benefit himself Captain Ly-
on deserves the thanks Of tho public for his
en- terprrse in building warehouses, which
have served such good purposes.
Mr.. Magill, the manager OF the Farmers
Warehouse and Capt. Lyon, the manager Of
the Planters Warehouse. will no doubt be
able 10 satisfy the most exacting customer
But whether they do or not. all may be glad
10 see competition, and generous rivalry In
business which is so closely connected with
the prosperity of the county.