The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1911-08-18

MAY following ground was broken for
the new buildings. By September
everything was completed, and the
new factory opened up with an ex-
hilarating rush, which has been main
tanned eyer since.
The new site covers an entire city
block, and such an excellent system
OF order and cleanliness is maintained
throughout the works that none OF
the ordinarily disagreeable features
incident TO factory operation are IN
evidence. The main building is OF
xI54 feet. A wing in connection
with this measures 42X5o feet, and
there is in addition building for the
manufacture OF metal hoops and bands
for the tanks. Ventilation and light
ing arrangements throughout are ade-
uuately managed. A spacious office
building equipped with every modern
devise for the expedition OF the daily
business. fronts the street. The COM
pany's books and current finances are
kept in a large hreproof bank-vault.
built into one side of the main room.
Only native Florida cypress is used
il the construction Of Davis tanks,
frequently the entire output of large
lumber camps being contracted for.
A full stock of the best grade of tim
Der is kept on hand constantly, as
much as one million feet frequently
being found in the drying yards. The
proximity of the factory to the
cypress forests guarantees the COM
pany never diminishing supply of
material, and the buyer OF their finish
ed products naturally gets the bene-
fit of this in low prices, First-class
facilities for receiving lumber and
shipping orders are maintained, a rail
road spur having been run from the
factory yards to the main line near
by. Since the year 1905, when the
Key West Extension was begun, Da-
Wis & Son have furnished the Florida
East Coast Railroad with upwards OF
fifteen hundred cypress tanks. Ere
quently they would receive orders for
fifty OF these at time by wire. All
water used for boiler purposes, cook
ing. drinking. etc, by the railroad con-
structors has to be carried from the
mainland and stored on the keys in
these tanks.
1t is figured that the facilities Of
the company at this time provide for
daily output OF tanks aggregating
one hundred thousand gallons capa-
city. About twenty-five workers are
employed in carrying on the business.
Most OF these are the very best Of
their class. They put into effect every
the firms motto:
"A Davis-made Tank Can't Leak
and Won't Warp
Mr.. G. NJ Davis, the founder OF
the concern died in 1890, From that
time until the present year Mr.. How
ell A. Davis was alone in the oper-
alton OF the plant. On the Goth Oh
June, however. the business was In
corporated under the laws of Florida,
with a capital stock of S4o,ooo.oo.
The officers of the new corporation
are:
II. A. Davis, president; F. S. Milne,
vice-president; R. H. Copper, sec
rotary and treasurer. These three
gentlemen make up the directorate.
Mr.. Milne is native of England,
but came to Palatka from Batavia,
Illinois, where he had for several
years been engaged in the manufac-
ture OF wind mills, tanks and tank
towers. He is a man OF fine business
endowments and will prove an ex-
ceedingly able assistant in the fur
Their enlargement and improvement OF
the corporation. Mr.. Cooper, the sec
rotary and treasurer has long been
known to Palatkans for his faithful
ness and efficiency.
A mention of the firm OF Davis &
Son would not be complete with
out reference to the political and
civic activities OF the head of the
firm.
Mr.. Davis is now serving his third
term as Mayor OF Palatka, and his
occupancy OF that office has been
marked by the same thorough going
business judgment, square dealing and
progressveness that has characterized
the dictatorship OF his private affairs.
Every since he has been OF age he has
taken an active interest in local gov
eminent, and is one OF those business
men who believe that up-to-date
communities are to be found only
where up-to-date methods are en-
ployed in governing them, and where