Mr.March said that by raising the whole dam a few feet the water-power would be greatly increased, and would be sufficient to run a saw in addition to the machinery already on hand.

He also said that he knew of an abandoned saw-mill a few miles up the river, the machinery of which was still in a fair condition and could be bought for a trifle.
The result of what he saw and heard was that Mr.Elmer decided the investment to be a good one, and at once took the necessary steps towards purchasing the property.

This decision pleased Mark and Jan greatly, and they began to think that they were men of fine business ability, or, as Mark said, were "possessed of long heads." That same evening a meeting of the "dusty millers," as Ruth called them, was held in the "Go Bang" sitting-room.

Mr.Elmer addressed the meeting and proposed that they form a mill company with a capital of one thousand dollars, and that the stock be valued at one hundred dollars a share.
This proposition met with general approval, though Mark whispered to Ruth that he didn't see how father was going to make a thousand dollars' worth of capital out of five hundred unless he watered the stock.
"Now," said Mr.Elmer, after it was agreed that they should form a company, "what shall the association be called ?" Many names were suggested, among them that of "The Great Southern Mill Company," by Mark, who also proposed "The Florida and Wakulla Milling Association." Finally Mr.March proposed "The Elmer Mill Company," and after some discussion this name was adopted.
Meantime Mr.Elmer had prepared a sheet of paper which he handed round for signatures, and when it was returned to him it read as follows: THE ELMER MILL COMPANY.
WAKULLA, FLORIDA, January 10, 188-.
The undersigned do hereby promise to pay into the capital stock of The Elmer Mill Company, upon demand of its Treasurer, the sums placed opposite their respective names: Mark Elmer $200 Ellen R.Elmer 200 Mark Elmer, Jun 100 Ruth Elmer 100 Harold March 100 Jan Jansen 100 After these signatures had been obtained, Mr.March said that he had a proposition to lay before the company.

It was that he should superintend the setting up of the mill machinery and its running for one year, for which service he should receive a salary of one hundred dollars.