Part 1
As part of our continuing series about the history of Rock Hill Coca-Cola Bottling Company, we now begin a look at some of the important documents that created and shaped the company over the years. In the next few months, we’ll show you some of these documents and will provide a transcription of some of the more interesting material.
The documents will describe the beginnings of Rock Hill Coca-Cola in 1906 and the subsequent sale from Luther Snyder to William Mark Mauldin. The last document to be featured will be the first formal contract issued to Mark Mauldin by the Coca-Cola Company. This was not done until 1916 even though the sale took place in 1908. Note that date in the document. The contract is marked “Inactive” because new identical contracts were issued in subsequent years if there were any changes in the organization of the company – i.e. Mayme became a stockholder and later Billy Mauldin. The current contract dates to 1946 when Rock Hill Coca-Cola was incorporated as a South Carolina corporation.
Contract Page 1
Contract Page 2
Contract Page 3
Transcript of the Contract
This contract made this the first day of January 1902, by and between The Coca-Cola Bottling Company, a corporation organized under the laws of the state of Tennessee, party of the first part, and the Charlotte Coca-Cola Bottling Company, party of the second part, Witnesseth:
Whereas, said party of the first part has obtained from The Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Atlanta, Ga., the sole and exclusive right to bottle and sell bottled Coca-Cola in certain territory of the United States, including the state of North Carolina: and,
Whereas, said party of the second part is desirous of securing from said party of the first part the aforesaid sole and exclusive right in and for the following territory, To-Wit- The city of Charlotte N.C., and all the territory from Charlotte on the Southern Road north to Statesville and Barber Junction, on the Southern Road towards Greensboro as far as Salisbury, along the Seaboard Air Line Road to Monree, thence East to Polkton, on the Southern Road South to Catawba and Loweryville, S.C., and on the Southern Road Southwest to Blacksburg, S.C. on the S.A.L. west to Lincolnton, N.C., and thence on the S.A.L. to Shelby, N.C.:-Now therefore it is agreed by and between the said parties as follows:
1.The said party of the first part agrees to lease and set over to and hereby does lease and set over to, the party of the second part, the sole and exclusive right to bottle and sell bottled Coca-Cola in the aforesaid territory: the sole and exclusive right to use the name Coca-Cola and all the Trade-Marks and designs for labels, now owned or controlled by said party of the first part in said territory, upon any bottles or other receptacles containing the bottled mixture, as hereinafter described.
- The said party of the second part expressly agrees to bottle the said Coca-Cola in the following manner:-To prepare and put in bottles, using a crown stopper thereon, a mixture of Coca-Cola syrup and of water charged with carbonic acid gas under pressure of not less than one Atmosphere, said Coca-Cola syrup and said water in said mixture to be used in proportions of not less than one ounce of Coca-Cola syrup to eight ounces of water, making thereof a carbonated drink of the strength stated. And said second party also agrees not to use for said Coca-Cola syrup any substitute whatever in the preparation of the aforesaid carbonated drink, and not to bottle any drink whatever, which may be regarded by the party of the first part as an imitation or substitute for Coca-Cola. And the said second party also agrees not to sell or offer for sale any of the Coca-Cola syrup bought of the party of the first part, as herein provided, except in carbonated goods.
- It is further expressly agreed that said second party shall buy of said first party all the Coca-Cola syrup required or used by said second party in the preparation for market of his bottled goods aforesaid, at a price of One Dollar and Twenty Cents, ($1.20) per gallon, delivered. It is further agreed that whenever said second party shall order of said first party the Coca-Cola syrup as herein provided, cash covering the purchase price shall accompany the order: or, if cash is not sent, said first party shall have the right upon filling the order to draw on said second party for the amount of such purchase price, and attach to the Draft the Bill of Lading under which the goods are shipped. It is further agreed that the minimum amount of business to be done by the second party in said territory under this contract shall be 20 000 [sic] cases, (24 bottles to the case0of [sic] bottled goods per year.
- It is further agreed that said second party shall invest in the plant and equip for prosecution of the business of bottling and selling the aforesaid bottled goods in the territory hereby leased, a sum sufficient to meet the demands of the business and to increase such investment in said business as the demands for aforesaid bottled goods in said territory may justify.
- It is further agreed that said party of the first part shall have the right, if it sees fit, to employ at the place of business of the said second party, an agent to look after the interest of the said first party in said business: to see that the goods are bottled as herein provided: to check up the sales of said second party: and to do whatever else may be necessary to inform said first party that this contract is being carried out in good faith: and, if the employment of such an agent is deemed at any time to be necessary, by said first party, said second party agrees to pay the salary of such agent, provided the sum does not exceed Fifty Dollars ($50.00) per month. In the event of such employment of such agent said second party shall have the benefit of his services when not at work for said first party.
- It is further agreed that if said second party shall fail at any time to pay the purchase price hereinbefore provided, or shall fail at any time to purchase of said first party as aforesaid, all of the Coca-Cola syrup required or used by him in the conduct of said bottling business, or shall fail to bottle such goods in the manner hereinbefore provided, or shall fail to comply with any other of the requirements or provisions of this contract, the said first party shall have the right to declare this contract forfeited, and to resume possession of the aforesaid territory in as full and complete manner as if such contract had never been made.
- It is further agreed that said first party will furnish to said second party with every ten gallons of Coca-Cola syrup purchased, as aforesaid, One Dollar’s worth of advertising matter, such as said first party may have on hand or be able to procure from the Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, the said second party to have the right to specify the kind of advertising matter wanted, subject to the ability of the said first party to obtain the particular kind described from the Coca-Cola C mpany [sic].
- It is further agreed that so long as said second party shall comply with the terms of this contract, the rights, privileges and immunities hereby granted, to said second party, shall remain in full force and effect.
Witness our hands this first day of January 1902.
(Signed) THE COCA COLA BOTTLING COMPANY,
By J.B. Whitehead.
(Signed) CHARLOTTE COCA COLA BOTTLING COMPANY
By Luther Snyder,
Secy & Treas.