The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1919-02-27

every barrel and bottle of this and we
are turning down orders every day
not case orders, but carload lots. We
had three large jobbing houses clam
oring for our last car of condensed
cider, which, mind you, was placed
on the market for the first time this
year. Our first car of grape juice this
year was shipped to Seattle firm on
January Is. They almost Immediately
placed an order for second car which
went out early this month and we now
have their order for third car. This
is one of the iobbing firms which two
or three yesrs ago would not look at
our goods. Some idea as to the
growth of our business may be gained
from the fact that since January OF
this year our sales, that IS shipments
actually made, amount 10 more tharl
cur sales for any one year since we
havc been in business. That is, IN
less than two months this year, we
nave done more business than in any
ether twelve months. There is no
question about selling the goods. tt.
soft drink business is just beginning
in the United States. The drink of the
future is the soft drin.s made from
fruit juices. We have demonstrated
that we can put out a Grink thss is
second to none and tina. will hold its
own in competition with the world.
The fruit is here, the process is here,
the market is here. Ali we need Is
the equipment. This we q, e going to
hsve."
Mr.. Church started in business here
in 1908 in partnership with Howard
Stringer. The combined capital of the
firm was $4,000. About,a year later
the partnership was dissolved and the
Twin City Ice & Cold Storage COM
pany was incorporated with a-capital-
ization of $4,000. A few years ago
the company's capital stock was in
creased to 100000 and the name
changed to the Church Mfg. company.
The first. of this year the compaEy's
plant and stocks inventoried at $685.
900. Since organization there has
been but $4,000 new capital put into
the business. In other words the bust
ness has grown from q $500 to a
100000 largely from net earnings.
For the last few years the company
has put all its earnings into better
ments, but there have been years
when it has paid as high as 25 per cent
cash dividends to it's stockholders.
The company's holdings include not
only the plant here, but the ice plant
in Pasco and 15-acre vineyard on
the Highlands which is just coming
into bearing. The company's plans for
enlargement include increasing this
acreage to 100 and the production each
year of at least 600 tons Of grapes
from its own vineyard.
Altho seriously handicapped during
the last two years by the lack of adj
ditional capital Mr.. Church has turned
down repeated offers from outside
sources. Within the last few months
he has been summoned to two North
west cities where the business men
have volunteered to furnish him all
the capital needed provided he will
move his business from Kennewick.
This Mr.. Church is unwilling to do
and his answer to these offers is the
present stock-selling campaign. Mr..
Church feels that the business belongs
to Kennewick and the people of Ken
newick and surrounding country are
to be given the first chance to become
interested in it. IF sufficient capital
cannot be obtained here the campaign
will be extended to other parts of the.
state and the Northwest.