The Jimplecute. (Jefferson, Tex.) 18??-1907, 1905-02-04
FROM JEFFERSON.
Disposition Of the Cotton Crop oues.
ton From Southern Point
of View.

Jefferson (TeI). January Ia. Texas
Trade Review. Dallas: The most i'm
portant question which confronts the
Southern cotton raisers today is the
stability of price. This being q fact,
then the question is, How can this be
done2 To my mind, the only solution
is manufacture the entire crop in the
South. This proposition brings the
question of ability to accomplish such
gigantic undertaking. The following
communication, written in 1897, 10 APP
plicable to the present time, and out
lines plan for those interested in cot
ton in the State Of Texas to follow.
Other States could do the same. The
letter was written to the Dallas (Tex.)
Commercial Club, which was ordered
filed after being read:
Jefferson TEX, February 10 Paul Gil
raud, Sec. Dallas Commercial Club,
Dear Sir-I am of the opinion that, to
give the Texas farmers permanent re-
lief it must done by manufacturing the
raw material. especially the cotton
crop. The idea of manufacturing g. OOO.-
0OO bales of cotton with Texas capital,
would, at first, blush, seem to be un-
reasonable, absurd and visionary in the
extreme, but if it is investigated it will
be found not only to be found not only
to be very practicable, but can be done
within five years. l would suggest
company be organized to be known 40
the Texas Cotton Mill Co., capital $780,
0OO, 600, shares 500 each, payments to
be made in installments of So per month.
In this way, in four years and two
months the entire capital can be paid
in. Object of the company to buy cot
ton in lint or in bales. gin and manu-.
ture the same. The head Office of the
company to be at Dallas with board
Of directors in every town in the State
that handles, by wagon, 5000 bales of
cotton, and which would subscribe for
not less than $50, 900 Of the capital stock
of the company. The under board of
directors to have the management of
and report to executive board semi-an-
nually. The treasurer of the company
should have the power, and it should
be his duty, to visit each mill semi-Rn.
nually and thoroughly examine tho
books Of the various mills, In this way
keeping close check on the expendi-
lures Of the company. The president,
vice president, secretary and treasurer
should be elected by the stockholders,
and should be assisted in their duties
by an executive board composed Of the
various chairmen Of the local boards.
When as much as 81, 100000 of the cap
ital stock is subscribed for, then the
company should be organized, and as
soon as enough idstallments have been
paid in to justify the commencing Of
work, it should be done, obtaining loca-
ton either by purchase or donation,
commencing the construction of every
plant 30 that the manufacturing Of
goods can be commenced before the
completion Of the entire properties. I
would suggest that it should be the
purpose of the company to manufac-
ture all grades Of goods. In that Sec
ton OF the State where the cotton WAS
very fine, man ufacture the best grade
OF goods. To manufacture the 100000
bale crop Of Texas would require the
expenditure for pay rolls annually
something over $68,O00. 900, nearly as
much as the present crop brings. 1t
would possibly require $50, 900 employees.
The demands then for the truck farm
would be immense. This would give q
lasting Investigation of the crops.
Why should Texas send her cotton to
Japan, Manchester, England, or Fall
River (Mass) to be manufactured when
she has the ability to manufacture ev-
cry bale of her cotton at home? With
her magnificent gulf frontage, and y
State commission looking to the State 8
interest, every yard of cloth manufac-
tured within the State can find its way
to the markets of the world through her
own seaports. If mills away from the
cotton patches pay, what will the mills
do where they can manufacture the
cotton without spelling the staple by
either pressing or COMPRISING? l have
gone into the matter sufficiently far en-
able you to grasp my idea. If this mat
ter is taken up by the various CONNER
cia organizations throughout the State
and thoroughly discussed and explain
ed, something good will come to the
State and planter. Everybody should
be invited to become stockholders in
the Texas Cotton Mill Co.
Yours truly. w. T. ATKINS.
Investigation will show that possibly
all of the mills at Charlotte (N.C.) were
built on the plans suggested, Should
movement of the kind be started in
Texas, having many of the leading
tinanciers of the State at its head, it
will be found that many foreign mills
will be anxious to become stockholders
in such q company. / doubt if anyone
will question but that such PROPOSE
ton will give to the planter steady
and fixed price for his cotton. 1t will
also bring about reduction in the
crop by enabling many to discontinue
planting cotton to supply the opera
tives from their farms. Should the
South reduce the production below the