Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-12-20
BRIGHTER PROSPECTS
 FOR SORGHUM
 PLANT COMING HERE
Committees Out Yesterday More En- couraged Than Ever; Additional Acreage Pledged.

Secretary Bloom of the Chamber of Commerce said last night "that the prospects of securing the Ft Scott Sorghum Plant looked brighter than ever. l have been greatly discour-
 aged, for I realized the importance of securing this valuable addition to Pine Bluffs industrial enterprises I could realize that the people have failed to see the matter as most of us saw it.
 But there was that determination of never say die deeply rooted in every
 booster of Pine Bluff, and the con,
 mittees which went out were loaded
 with the arguments to see the pro- ject through. But the success we met
 was surprising. We found that very
 little argument was necessary. Very few people turned us down. Many pledges were secured from the small colored farmers, who informed us that they now realized what the plant
 meant to them, as they have been reading the Pine Bluff newspapers. Right here I want to say that the day was practically saved by Dr. Niven, one of the prominent planters OA CAO NOuACy, 0AO 4CcuIlS llCIC of Tucker. By his intelligent enthu- siasm in explaining the financial ad- vantages of the proposition many were induced to pledge considerable acre. age.
 "The committee which went to Tamo was headed by T. l.. Brummitt, and the others were Tom L.. Gadberry and
 Joe Cook. This committee secured pledges for 275 acres from 25 signers. They met with no refusals. One hum dred acres were taken by Andrew J. Clemmons at this place, while J. D. Long pledged %. The remainder were pledged in small tracts of and 10 acres, and mostly fro msmall col Ored farmers.
 "The committee which went to Trucker had splendid luck, This com
 mittee was composed of T. M. Brum- melt and myself. Dr. Niven rendered valuable assistance to us. He pledged HOO acres, and while signing for this lamount of acreage colored farmers (present came in and pledged acres, !after hearing his plain explanation of the advantages of the plant to the small farmer. We secured 230 acres here, and only one man refused to |sign up for acreage.
 From Tucker this committee went
 on to Sherrill and splnedid success was obtained. John w. Gibson pledg- ed 100 acres, which he will appor- tion among his tenants; w. l. Payne 25 acres; Rush Barrett, 25 acres;
 Jim Ford 25 acres; Helig Store Co.,, 15 acres; P. T. Mitchell, 10 acres. The remainder was pledged in small tracts. Here we secured 240 acres,
 with possibility of making it 4OC Only one refused to sign at Sherrili. J. Frank Quattlebaum promised If
 necessary to plant from 50 to 100 acres.
 "J. A. Richardson left last night for Ft. Scott, but he was more en- couraged than ever, and stated that
 he would prevail upon his company
 to hold the proposition upon until the 3rd or 4th of January, if possible. "The total acreage pledged now is 2,60O aches, but it is desired that | more hill acreage be pledged'' r Mr. T. l.. Brummitt of the Hammett Grocery company stated: ''I suggest to the Chamber of Commerce that d committee be sent to Fort Scott im- | mediately after Christmas and visit the management of the Ft. Scott Sorghum Company, explain to them
 the splendid showing we have made.
 to induce them to extend the time a
 few days longer, as l am positive we can secure the required pledges.
 l am more hopeful than have been.
 as the people are just beginning to