The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1911-08-18
The w. A. Merryday Company Is a
Corporation of Which the Citizens
of the River City Are Justly Proud.

'i~io SohlS anu CO. Dul TIC DcSl
all-year-round test of city's moral
integrity is to be made by an inquiry
Into its business interests. Judged by
this standard, Palatka rates very high
Business here is all done on the high
est general average that obtains any
where throughout the country. There
may be some "penury," so-called, but
real poverty is unknown.
The population is well-fed content
ed and cheerful The people take time
to smile when they greet each other
There is no growl Of discomfort about
the greed and selhshness of employ
crs. The heads of large concerns
have the goodwill of their employees
and the confidence of the general pub
lie to a marked degree. The princi-
Piles of the square deal are in force
generally. Among the men of affairs
whose names are always sure to
arouse a touch of enthusiasm when
business ethics are mentioned in local
circles, are the members of the firm
of w. a. Merryday Company.
This concern was organized on an
exceedingly modest scale in 1880 by
Mr.. William A. Mcrryday, who had
immigrated from England not long
before with but little capital besides
his talent for intelligent work. He
first found employment as a painter
and grainer, and out Of the money he
saved at this calling set himself up in
the grain and feed business in the one
building on the water frOnt, long since
outgrown, which has in years past,
when Paatka was the leading cotton
market of Florida, served the buyers
and shippers Of that time
Hay, grain, flour, meal, grits. etc,
were the first supplies to be sold, but
as time went along, fruit and vegc-
table crates of all kinds were added to
the stock, as well as cement. hair and
lime for the local trade. AT one time
a large business was worked up i'll
fertilizers, and the company acted as
State selling agent for one of the
| largest fertilizer concerns in the
United States But with the increase
Of the orangc-boX and vegetable-cratc
trade this was largely discontinued,
and fertilizers are at present handled
in small consignments only for the
convenience of growers i'll the sur
rounding country
During the year Of the big freeze
and for some time following, the bust
ness of this company suffered i'll COM
mon with every other industry i'll the
State that happened to be connected
in the rcmotcst way with the fruit
trade. But with the advent of new
capital and enterprise in the field, and
the rciuvcnat.on of the citrus groves.
the Mcrryday Company forged stead
ly ahead again, and has maintained
that position ever since.
On December l, 1902, the company
was Incorporated under the laws OF
Florida, with the following officers:
MIR. w. A. Merryday, president; MIR.
II. O. Hamm, vice president and gen
cral manager; Mr. S. J. Barstow,
secretary and treasurer. OF these
three Mr.. ITamm is the only native of
the United States. Mr.. Barstow was
for a number of years book-keeper
for the original company, and IS a
brother-in-law Of Mr.. Merryday. Mr..
IIamm is known throughout the State
as 4 directing manager Of marked
ability and energy. An office force OF
six, and a large number of laborers
are employed the year round.
The trade in fruit and vegetable
crates, birch hoops. wraps, ladders
and all kinds of appliances for grow
ers and truckers broke all records last
season. In fact, so great has become
the demand for these supplies that the
w. A. Mcrryday Company now take
the entire output of two large wood
working mills-thc A. T. Kelley Com
oany. of Gainesville, and the Mellow
81 Crate and Lumber Company, OF
Oak.
Considerably over an acre OF Hoor
space is occupied in the main build
ing. besides the former freight store
houses of the old Florida Southern
railroad. which conveniently adjoin or
the north,
SPLENDID transportation facilities are
at the disposal OF the Collpd'y' d.
they front directly upon the river
and railroad tracks connecting then
with both the Florida East Coast anC
the Atlantic Coast Line reach then
doors. They are somewhat crampeo
for working space at the present ant
with the coming year will likely be
forced to enlarge their quarters, ship
ments OF orange crates have beer
made to points as far distant as SoutI
4frka Pineapple boxes, tomato. let
tuce. bean and peach baskets anc
lightweight crates for berries, etc.
are shipped daily to every imaginable
ooint where produce is grown Many