The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1911-08-18
A MODEL FACTORY
A Brief History of the Davis Cypress
Tank Mandatory, Which is Run
on Unique Lines.

on Unique Lines.
The practical romance OF industry is
as full OF stirring episode and full
blooded interest as the romance OF
fiction. In fact, the very best stories
are those realistic productions COM
pounded of the warp and wool of
actual life in which real men move
and carry on the worlds work. The
story, therefore, of the growth of any
important enterprise which serves the
needs of civilization should furnish
an Illuminating side-light on the for
ward movement of life in general.
Palatka, as all well-informed people
should know, is situated in the very
heart of the cypress timber belt of
the United States 1t would not be
an exaggeration to describe the town
as the capital of the cypress country.
More timber of that kind is handled
here than i'll any other city of the
same size in the world. Also some
of the most important industries us
ing cypress timber are located in Pa
latka. Perhaps the best-known of
these is the firm of G. NJ. Davis and
Son, which has for years been noted
far and wide for the production of
the best quality of cypress water
tanks and similar supplies that are
being put on the markets of the
world
Nearly quarter of century ago,
when Mr.. G. NJ. Davis laid the foun-
dation OF the present thriving bust
ness, he started with but slight per-
sonal encouragement and less capital
He did have, however, certain pos
sessions more valuable than either Of
these-indomtable pluck and absolute
| genius for the work. For some years
previous to his embarkation in bust
ness for himself, he had been in :he
employ Of the Florida Southern Rail
road, now a branch of the Atlantic
| Coast Line. In 1882, during that
time, he was called upon to construct
cypress wateringtank for the COM
pany, and performed the work so well
that the wooden tank is still serving
daily usage. and is almost as good as
when originally built This old tank
has become landmark on the road
to Brooksville, and has been great
business-getter for the company Of
late years.
AT first all of the Davis tanks were
constructed entirely by hand under
the direct personal supervision of Mr.
DAYS. Every detail of the work pass
ed beneath his eye, and no work was
allowed to leave the little shop I'M
less it had received his OK The re-
suit was that the finished products
advertised themselves 50 effectively
that MIR. Davis was called upon to
enlarge his facilities year By year.
From the local railroads and fruit
growers his patronage finally spread
until it covered the entire country and
beyond. During the past months the
company has made shipments TO
many foreign points, including Cana
da. Mexico, Central America, Ecua-
dor. Brazil and other South Ameri
can countries. The wiscacres who in
1882 told MIR. Davis that he was max
ing a mistake to give up his job with
the railroad and go to work for him
self would rub their eyes in amaze
ment if they could come back today
and see the phenomenal growth OF tie
business.
On the first OF July, 1902. the found
er OF the company took his son, Mr..
Howell A. Davis, into co-parnership,
and the name of the concern was
changed to G. NJ. Davis & Son, which
it has remained. although Mr.. Davis,
senior, has since passed away. Mr..
Howell Davis proved a splendid &C.
QUESTION as a systematizer and gen.
eral manager of the working force,
and under his aggressive and capa-
Bile direction the business continued
10 enlarge as never before. Within a
short time, his father gave him full
control to carry out his ideas, with
the result that many striking limo.
vations were made along the line cf
twenteth-century business principles.
Several important advertising cam
paigns were carried out in the trade
journals, the most up-to-date of;lce
equipment was installed, and the latest
machinery put into place as fast as
it could be contracted for. Ever
loop-hole allowing waste was sought
cut and remedied For instance, each
machine used in the factory is run by
an electric motor, which is in turn
fed by two large engines. \
blow-pipc system covers the entire
plant for the collection OF shavings,
sawdust and other refuse, and This is
carried back to the power plant anil