New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1906-12-01
SUGAR REEINERIES TO COMBINE

nation of a huge sugar rehners
combine masqueradlng under
the name of "Planters com
bination. Each of the names
mentioned herein represents a
refinery as well as plantation
but the profits to be derived are
those drawn from the mechani-
cal part of the business and not
from the profit of the soil as
gained by themselves. The
following is taken from the
Picayune of Yesterday:
4 committee composed of four
of the leading sugar planters and
manufactures in Louisiana has
been formed as a result of a
meeting of prominent Louisiana
sugar men, and circular letters
and copies of prospectus have
been sent out proposing to
merge the large sugar planta
tions and sugar factories into
one big combine under one cen
tral management, with centrally
located sugar houses, and ulti-
mately to erect a refinery in New
Orleans to handle the raw pro
duct, the concern to be capitaliz-
ed, if present plans carry, at
$28,OOO,O00
This fact became generally
known yesterday on the Sugar
Exchange, and was the principal
subject of comment during the
day. No efforts were made to
keep the plans of the promoters
of the combine secret.
The Committee which is pro
noting the deal consists of
Henry Mccall, Chairman; Leu
ben G. Bush, B. A. Oxnard, of
New Orleans, and Charles Moore,
of John T. Moore & Sons, of
Schriever, La.
This Committee was appointed
several weeks ago as the result
of meeting of some the wealth
lest planters of the State, said to
be headed by the interests con
trolled by the Leon Godchaux
Company, Ltd, Frank B. Viii
liams and others. A prospectus
was prepared setting forth what
it was hoped could be accom-
plished by the combine, and a
copy of it, accompanied by the
circular letter, was sent to the
larger sugar planters in Louis
lana.
Henry Mccall, Chairman of
the Committee, said last night
that the letters had been sent
out only a few days ago, and con
sequently only a few replies had
been received. These, be said,
favored the project. Jules God
chaux interests, said that he be-
lieved representatives of fully
so per cent of the acreage would
favor the combine.
We do not propose to fight
the sugar trust or anybody else, )"
said Mr.. Godchaux. We be
lieved we can work to advantage
by bining, and | believe we
will succeed in bringing the com
bine about
B. A. Oxnard, of the Commit
tee, said that there were no
secrets about the plans of the
Committee.
1t is believed by the sugar
men who are interesting them
selves in the deal that the com
bination will result in great saw
ing in the purchasing of supplies
and in the manufacture of sugar,
and will place the planters in
position to demand better price
for the output, particularly
when a refinery is established.
The proposed plans looking to
a combination of the sugar plant
ing and manufacturing interests
in Louisiana were first formed
last spring. At that time sew
eral planters met and discussed
the matter. Many of the leading
planters were approached re-
garding the proposed combine,
but, according to statements of
the committeeman yesterday,
the efforts looking to the combi'
nation were suspended because
many of the planters were either
away from their homes or were
not prepared for other reasons
to consider the project.
The plans of the promoters, it
was said yesterday, were revived
a few days ago and the circular
letter and prospectus was pre-
pared.
The letters were only sent
out few days ago." said Mr..
Mccall last night. However, we
have received three or four re