Evening journal., 1907-03-02

hiCiC dlC HOW ONCA <SOO lCdds 4HS SNpShoS VI
raising them is very small, as water and pas
turage are abundant, and the climate makes
shelter unnecessary.
Fruit-growing is, of course, highly profitable.
The United States is a vast and easily reached
market for tropical fruits The banana crop will
be the first fruit crop to market from this panta-
ton. Two hundred thousand plants are now
growing and will yield next year. The profits of
the banana business need no exploitation Seven
thousand orange-trees have been planted. Large
acreages will be devoted to oranges, lemons,
cocoanuts, grapefruit, and the other delicious
fruits of the tropics.
In the past, sugar-cane has been extensively
cultivated on the estate, and cetrain tracts pre-
sent ideal conditions for its success Other
tracts possess all the advantages of the South
United States for raising cotton and rice, and
these could no doubt be grown very prohitably.
Extensive work has been accomplished in
the improvements. Permanent buildings, many
camps, a sawmill on the plantation and another
in Mobile, Alabama, merchandising stores tan
merry, wood-th az plant two steamships
railroad and telephone line to provide quick COM
municaton-all these are completed and paid for
Labor is plentiful; about $50 men and their
families are now living the estate. AS the
population increases, the Companys stores will
become even more profitable
Every part of the estate is active in the work
of development. Thoroughly competent men are
in charge, as resident manager and as contrac-
tors, the latter having successfully developed two
other Mexican plantations.
The officers and directors of the Company are
men of the highest standing The President is
Hon. VIM. H. Armstrong, ex-U. S. Railroad
Commissioner the Vice-President, Col A. K
Mcclure, ex-Edtor of the Philadelphia Times
and the Secretary and Treasurer, c. M. Nc
Mahon.
Since the organization of the international
Lumber and Development Company, the devel-
opment of its plantation has been steady and
rapid. There has been no long period OF prepar-
ation-of expense without profit. Had it been
necessary to depend on the maturing Of the crops,
this might have been the case; but the enormous
natural resources-the large forests of cabinet
and dye woods, the tons of rubber and chicle-
gum to be had for the taking-these are fortunes
in themselves far more than necessary to bridge
over the period Of planting and maturing the
cultivated products For these reasons, the Com
pany has enjoyed the distinction Of being divi-
| dend-payer from the start. The first year. 10
per cent was paid per cent more than the
regular per cent dividend. In 1906 the divi-
dends reached II per cent, and 1907 has begun
with an extra per cent paid and the declaration
4 r. A. nor ,aHrab1a
April 1st So fsr these dividends have been real
lied from the l6mber already brought to this
country. and from the profits of the Company's
stores the sale of hides, and the earnings of the
sawmill on the plantation. Each year will add
new resources to the fand, and much larger
dividends are estimated on. full development of
the property.
The Company has 10000 shares of stock, and
7SS,ooo acres of land; hence each share repre-
sents IA rs acres and is the first and only
claim upon it, thus making share equivalent to
a first mortgage bond. The security of the in
vestment is unquestioned, the entire estate and
its improvements being free from debt and deed
ed to a Philadelphia Trust Company for the pro-
lection of stockholders. AN stockholders have
equal voting power, regardless Of the number
of shares held.
The easy payments of IS per month per share
make it an advantageous proposition for persons
of moderate means The insurance feature is
good--in case OF death, all payments are returned
to the heirs, if desired, not deducting dividends
previously received.
In 1906, the stockholders elected one of their
number Dr. Andrew S. Slayer, OF Altoona, Pa,
to 90 as their representative to the plantation
and make full report its development. Dr.
Stayers report should be in the hands Of
every investor. 1t is published as a large
handsome booklet, containing over 40 photo
graphs taken on the estate, and is sent free on
request, with other literature describing the
plantation and the proposition.