The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1917-04-20
MASS MEETING FRIDAY NIGHT
Quite a Number Meet at the Court
House to Discuss the Establish
ment of Meat Packing
Plant in This City

ment of Meat Packing
Plant in This City
The mass meeting held at the court
house Friday night to discuss the prop
osition Of establishing a meat packing
plant in Ocala, drew quite a large
crowd despite the rain and a great
deal of interest was manifested.
Mr. John H. Taylor presided, and
after calling the meeting to order he
said that a committee consisting of
Messrs Z. c. Chambliss, j. l.. Ed
wards and himself had been appoint
ed to inspect the meat packing plant
at Moultrie. Ca and the first thing in
order. would be to hear their report,
which was read by Mr. Trammell,
secretary Of the board of trade. who
acted as secretary at this feeting.
The report follows:
Report of Committee
We the undersigned committee ap-
pointed to go to Moultrie, Georgia,
and make investigations concerning
the packing plant at that place. the
conditions and effect brought about
by the said plant. ETC. beg leave to re
port that
l. We find that the farmers have
been greatly benefited for forty miles
around Moultrie
,. Small one-bank towns report
that it has greatly benefited farmers
banks and merchants.
3. Travelling men and others re-
port that many new farms are being
opened up and improvements have
greatly increased since the Moultrie
plant has been built.
With this information and from our
observation Of conditions in Moultrie
and surrounding country, we are
unanimously of the opinion that not
only Marion county but the far sur
rounding country would be greatly
advanced by plant at Ocala
Conditions To Be Considered in Build
ing and Operating a Successful
Packing Plant at OcaIa
l. \ supply Of at least $1,000 hogs
for the first year, and more thereafter
>. Sale OF products. We are as
sured by all packers that we will
have no trouble to sell all products
3. The only other two things need
ed are capital and brains 70 handle it.
We must have at least 100000 cant
tai We can then hire the brains
JNO II. TAYLOR, Chm.
JNO. l.. EDWARDS,
z. G. CHAMBLISS,
Committee
Ocala. April 12 1917.
Mr. Taylor stated that the commit
tee had induced Mr. Brooks. who built
the plant at Moultrie and who is its
manager. to visit Ocala and he was
present 1t this meeting.
Mr. Taylor said that Mr.. Brooks
would give a history of the establish
ment of the plant at Moultrie and
would answer any and al questions
that those present might wish to ask
him.
Mr. Brooks stated that when he was
invited 10 visit Noutrie that the con
ditiOns ala not seem promising 10
him That those interested in estab-
fishing the plant had fixed their fig
ures, some as low as $4,000 and none
higher than 10000 When he told
them that the building would cost
100000, and the operating expenses
$4,000 more, they were dumbfounl-
ed, but when he explained TO them its
great possibilities they made can
vass OF the county. and the stock was
subscribed. 100000 of the 100000
beign paid in,
Mr. Brooks said that the profits the
first year were very much larger than
had been anticipated, and for the
succeeding years have exceeded
their widest expectations. That the
land values have increased from So
per acre, to $50, SIS. and some more
than 500 per acre. That one farm
that was offered to him before the
plant was established for S39 per
acre. after the establishment of the
plant the owner refused 500 per acre
for it.
The plant the present season
bought 5000 hogs, all Of which
were raised in the vicinity of Moul-
trie
Mr.. Brooks said that a packing
plant is different from any other kind
OF industry. because all the money for
the raw material, as well as the finish
ed product is left in the town and
vr-[ora r,1ap+ Sc