Then again, why are our hides sent abroad to be tanned and then returned to us at our expense while our forests in this vicinity at least, abound, in red oak bark? Can any one assign one good and valid reason why this is done? Have we not room for tanyards? If so, let us construct them and exhibit our good sense in tanning our hides at home, and then instead of paying Massachusetts and other States for manufacturing our boots and shoes let us do this ourselves. When we learn to act instead of employing others to act for us, then, and not till then will we become independent.
Here, too, we should without delay erect Cotton and Woolen Mills, Cotton Seed oil mills, Cotton gin and Cotton press manufactories, where nothing is required but capital, labor and enterprise.
There is no reason why a broom, or a harness, or saddle, or a horse-collar, or a carriage of any description, or a pump or a chair, or a barrel, or a single article of furniture should be imported into Texas. We, therefore, invite capitalists at home and abroad to unite their means with ours and assist us in manufacturing what we have enumerated and other necessities of life. We have the locality for doing this in a preeminent degree, & hence the invitation is here extended.
In this connection we should invite the special attention of boat-builders to the fact that at Potter’s Point on Fairy Lake—or “Ferry Lake,” as it is sometimes called—15 miles from this city is one of the most desirable places in the South for a Dock-yard. In that vicinity there is an abundance of white oak and other suitable timber for the construction of Steamboats, and right here all the necessary machinery could be manufactured, and forwarded by water navigation to that point. In the construction of boats on the shore of that lake there would be no loss of time by reason of the severity of the weather not even during the winter time, as in yards further North. Our climate would greatly favor such an enterprise in that locality.
The above suggestions are offered for the consideration of capitalists everywhere; and we would add that there is a disposition among our people to extend a hearty welcome to all who assist us in developing our natural resources. Lands for manufacturing purposes can here be had in healthy localities for a reasonable consideration, and the privilege of mining can here be had for nothing by way of encouragement to capitalists. Our section is as healthy as any in the wide world,—no epidemic ever prevailed here—and those who desire to make their home in our midst will find this section as pleasant as any in the State, and the society one in which strangers would soon feel at home.
Before closing we would remark that the Legislature of this State during the winter of 1871, passed an act exempting from taxation of all kinds, for a period of five years, all machinery introduced into the State for the manufacture of cotton and wool, and that act is still in force; also that during the same session—see General Laws of Texas, of 12th Legislature, 2nd Session, Chapter lxxx,—a general incorporation act was passed. During this session a special act was also passed and approved Dec. 2nd, 1871, incorporating the “Texas Manufacturing Company.” Four of the incorporators were and three still are inhabitants of this city. Here also is the headquarters of this company.
Any further information Capitalists or Manufacturers may desire respecting this locality will be cheerfully furnished by the undersigned.
Respectfully Yours,
L. T. GRAY, Mayor of Jefferson City. A. G. CLOPTON, M. D., President Chamber of Commerce. CAPT. J. M. DeWARE, Chief of Police, Jefferson. MASON & CAMPBELL, Lawyers. MOSELEY & SPARKS, Attorneys and Land Agents. CRAWFORD & CRAWFORD, Attorneys at Law. EPPERSON & MAXEY, Attorneys at Law. PENN & TODD, Lawyers. M. F. MOORE, Attorney at Law. REEVES & WORD, Attorneys at Law. THOMAS J. HUDSON, Attorney at Law. R. DeJERNETT, Physician and Surgeon. L. S. RAYFIELD, Physician and Surgeon. G. H. WOOTTEN, Physician. S. EASON, Physician and Surgeon. A. P. BROWN, Physician and Surgeon. A. A. TERHUNE, Physician and Surgeon. NATIONAL BANK, W. M. Harrison, President. CITIZENS SAVINGS BANK, W. Q. Bateman, President Jno. M. Lewis, Cashier. JAMES ARBUCKLE & CO., Bankers. J. A. NORSWORTHY & COX, Bankers. ERASTUS JONES, Banker. GRAHAM & TAYLOR, Receiving, Forwarding and Commission Merchants. GOYNE, HARPER & MURPHY, Receiving, Forwarding and Commission Merchants. A. GILHAM, Receiving, Forwarding and Commission Merchants. MIDDLEBROOKS & WALL, Receiving, Forwarding and Commission Merchants. A. C. ALLEN, Receiving, Forwarding and Commission Merchant. RUSSELL, RAINEY and CO., Wholesale Grocers and Commission Merchants. ELLIS BAGBY and CO., Wholesale Grocers and Commission Merchants. BATEMAN & BRO., Wholesale Grocers and Commission Merchants. BOGEL & RIDDLE, Wholesale Grocers and Commission Merchants. NORWOOD & SCOTT, Commission Merchants. S. FRANKLE, Commission Merchant. BELL & ROBINSON, Commission Merchants, and Real Estate Agents. TORRANS & RIVES, Commission Merchants and Cotton Buyers. B. J. TERRY, Cotton Factor. WAYLAND & WHATLEY, Wholesale Grocers. JG FELLNER, JR., Wholesale Grocer. COLLINS, EPPERSON & EZELL, Wholesale Grocers. T. J. ROGERS, Wholesale Grocer. BARNS & ELLINGTON, Wholesale Grocers. F. ROBINSON, Wholesale Grocer. F. C. BAKER, Wholesale Grocer. JNO. A. FIELDER, Grocer and Importer of Fancy Goods. J. M. MURPHY, Grocer and General Merchandise. O. C. HERRENKIND, Retail Grocer. NANCE & MODRALL, Retail Grocers. E. MARX, General Merchandise, Wholesale. P. ELDRIDGE & BRO., General Merchandise. MOORING & LYON, General Merchandise. K. MEYER, General Merchandise. BIRGE, NICKOLS & CO., Dry Goods, Wholesale. JAMES HOBAN, Dry Goods. F. A. SCHLUTER & SON, Dry Goods, Staple and Fancy. SIMS & NORRIS, Dry Goods. S. W. STONE, Hardware Merchant. JOHN C. KOLTER & CO., Hardware Merchants. R. BALLAUF & CO., Hardware Merchants. BONEY & BROOKS, Druggist, Wholesale and Retail. E. W. TAYLOR, Druggist and Bookseller. W. J. SEDBERRY, Druggist and Bookseller. BRADFORD, BRIDGE & CO., Furniture and Carriages. J. BRUCKMULLER, Furniture Dealer. W. H. WYMAN, Furniture Manufacturer and Dealer. RUFUS MUSE & CO., Wholesale Dealer in Liquors, Tobacco and Cigars. TAYLOR & PINSON, Agricultural Implements and Machinery. R. MAN WARING, Real Estate Owner. DOPPLEMAYER & EBERSTADT, Real Estate Owners. NEY & BRO., Real Estate Owners. V. H. CLAIRBORNE, Real Estate Owner. WARD TAYLOR, Real Estate Owner. W. C. BAKER, Real Estate Owner. L. MOODY, Real Estate Owner. R. TOWERS, Property Owner. T. G. ANDERSON, General Insurance Agent. COTTON BROS., General Insurance Agents. FRANK O. SETH, General Agent, Universal Life Insurance Company. GILBERT & CO., Agents for Capitalists and Manufacturers. J. A. H. HOSACK, Auctioneer and Real Estate Broker. W. H. JOHNSON, District Clerk and Notary Public. W. E. KNEELAND, Notary Public. EDWARD GUTHERIDGE, Deputy District Clerk and Notary Public. J. OPPENHEIMER, Recorder and Collector of City of Jefferson. S. A. THOMPSON, Boot and Shoe Manufacturer and Dealer. LAWRENCE & REATON, Crockery, China and Glassware. J. H. CARLIN, Merchant Tailor. HUGO FOX, Manufacturer of Candies. J. B. TULLIS, Surgeon Dentist. ADAM STOLL, Butcher. G. A. KELLY, Proprietor Kelly’s Foundry. MORRIS, McKEOWN & CO., Proprietors of Foundry and Machine Manufactory. E. W. MORTEN, Proprietor “National Cotton Compress.” TRICE STEWART & CO., Proprietors Jefferson Planing Mill. J. B. LIGON, Building Contractor. CRUMP & HUNSUCKER, Builders. C. F. L. SMITY, Civil and Mechanical Engineer. J. M. TUCKER, Alderman. GEO. W. ROBERTS, Supt. Jefferson Chamber of Commerce. CAPT. W. H. COIT, Principal Coit’s Military and Commercial Academy. ROOTS & HYNSON, Railroad Contractors. JEFFERSON DEMOCRAT, Miller, McEachern and Alexander Proprietors, J. B. McEachern Editor. “JEFFERSON TIMES,” R. W. Loughery, Editor and Proprietor. J. C. ROGERS & CO., Printers, Lithographers, Wholesale and Retail Books, Stationery, Blank Books, etc.