St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1913-12-06

CENTRAL AMERICA AND MEXICO
LINE.
John B. Cefalu Father-in-law Of Con-
gresham Morgan, At Head Of
New Company, Claiming
Ample Capital.
New Orleans. Dec. with an au-
thofiEed capital Of $3.000,000 and
the election Of . set Of experienced
business men to look after details,
the Central American and Mexican
Steamship Company was successfully
launched yesterday. with a long list
Of stockholders appearing on the
charter. The new company will be-
gin operation, with New Orleans as
it, homo port, some time in Febru-
AIRY. when no less than four first
class steamships will be pressed into
service. The company will reach for
the fruit trade of = half dozen or
more ports of the Central American
countries and will extend its bust
mess into Mexico, where the officers
OF the new concern have already Sc
cured Q number Of valuable business
connections.
Local Capital Preferred.
John B. Cefalu. president of the
company and one Of the most prom
inent fruit importers Of the city, was
enthusiastic over the prospects of the
new enterprise. He believes that the
company will be q winner from the
start, and In . course of few months
will be able to hold It's own against
ill rival companies.
I'VE have all the money We need
Ut our command" said Mr.. Cefalu
yesterday. 1T 10 my intention. how
ever, to float the company with home
capital, as I believe that this is moth
Ing but right. am great advocate
Of home industry, and, believing, as
I do, in the possibilities of New Or
leans, ] felt justified in turning down
n no less than four ports in Central
America. What capital that has al
ready been invested in the new en-
tefprise sprung from our home peo-
pie, and am convinced that the bal
ance will be easily secured here. The
company started as home concern,
and our intention is to use all the
influence at our command to have it
continued as SUCH"
Continuing, Mr.. Cefalu said that
they expected to do large business
Is the field was an extensive one,
and the men at the head Of the en-
terprise possessed the necessary ex-
perience to conduct the thing in an
up-to-date businesslike manner.
The company will be in full oper-
alton By next February" said Mr..
Cefalu. and We propose to start with
2 chain Of four steamships, adding
to this from time to time, as the
business will justify IT,
The company was duly chartered
yesterday with the following officers:
John B. Cefalu, president; Ed. ].
Roiss, vice president; /. z. Mason,
treasurer: A. ]. DeWolf, secretary.
The ofllcers are now busily engag-:
ID IN the selection Of an Office corps
composed OF men we'll versed in the
fruit importing business, and within
the next few days steps will be. tax
On for the securing of : f1rst-class
ships.
John B. Cefalu, president and gem
eral manager of the company. is one
OF the best posted men In the city
concerning conditions In Central
America and Mexico. A native of
Italy. he arrived in this country with
his parents when barely 3 years. of
age. and outside of the Years spent
in the Latin countries. he has .resid-
cd In the city practically all -lof !. his.
life. At IN early age he started In
the importation business with his
father. and for several years he was
the active head Of the firm .dkR CIR
ain Z Son, pioneers in the fruit trd6e
OF the South. For several years he
was . director and the active head Of
the New Orleans, Belize ah618 byaL|
Mall and Steamship Company. and
was later president Of the Central
American Steamship .GouQrn III
remained with the lattnr c6mpany M
TO about two years ago, when he re-
moved to Honduras to develop q sys-
tenn Of waterworks in that country.
HIS actual possessions there amount
to over 100000, and on account Of
recent ntigations over certain con-
cessions the entire matter SnaskbNh
turned over to the United States Gov
eminent Tor settlement. He was. one
OF the soreanisers of the Board Of |
Commissioners Of the City Park I'm
Drovement Association; popular
member Of the Y. M. G. c., and prom
lnent in other social and business
enterprises OF the city and state. Mr..
G0talu 10 the father-in-law OF Con-
Eastman Lewis L. Morgan, OF st.
emmany parish; Of JEFF Hardy and
q 2. W. Grove. the St. Louis mil
STRAY MARE-Bay, 10 hands high
unite spot in forehead. Left in my
charge. Owner please call at