Smyrna times., 1873-07-23
MiSc eIIU IL e D IL S.
The Remarkable Undertaking Of Col.
Henry S. McComb.
MCCOMB CITY, Miss, n O.,J & G. r. r.

June 80, 1873.
Editor Phila. City Item:
1t is an exhilarating sight, this young and
vigorous place! You may ride from the Mis-
sissippi, SOUTH FIVE hundred miles or more,
and see nothing that promises so much for
the South. 1t is sign of new life and bet
ter times. 1t is worth very much as a incen-
tive. 1t kindles the pride Of Southern men
and they catch the cOntagion of Northern
enterprise. 1t is worth a great deal for the
money disburscd here. For miles and miles in
every direction the golden stream flows, and
greenbacks are very plentiful and-very
popular What does it all mean? | cant
tell ycu all Il know of this place in one
letter, but since may write to you again of
this Interesting city, had better begin at the
| beginning.
About two years ago, the protector of this
city" Col. H. 5. McComb, of Wilmington,
Delaware, made up his mind to build place
where his employees could be induced to stay
during the summer. Owning or controlling
all the rail road from Jackson, Tenn, to New
Orleans, nearly five hundred miIes-com-
prising the Mississippi Central and the New
Orleans, Jackson and Great Northern Rail
roadside was very much interested to stop
the exodus of employees that occurred every
summer from New Orleans, one of the former
sites OF the company's ''shops." Having
next thing was gu eligible situation. Of course,
the paramount consideration must be the
healthtulness of the location. The Col said
nothing to any one Of his purposes, but having
| his private car attached to the several trains
he prospected up and down the line of the
road some fourteen times. Switching his car
| off, he examined, now this point and then
that, until finally, after careful consideration,
he Sc lected his site. lie went to work and
purchased, through one person and another,
three thousand FIVE hundred acres of as choice
pine lands as exists perhaps on this great pine
belt 1t took no little management to do it.
The natives didn't know what it all meant :;
but there must be something in the wind, "
they thought. Finally, after much higgng
and dlckering, and backing and filing" this
large tract was secured. A VermOnter by the
name of Billings former superintendent OF the
car shops of the P, w. & b. r. r. at Will
mington, who is as keen as a lynx, with very
modest, unassumiDg way, had played the role
OF ''saw-miIl man" very effectually in buying
up the several tracts. 10 him was entrusted
the big job" Of eliminating the city out of
this vast pine forest. A little one story
''shanty,' about twelve by sixteen feet, was
quickly built, and was headquarters for
awhile. Soon large force of axmen began TO
fell the trees right and left" One Raw-nill
was bought, not very remote, and another one
of large capacity brought from distance, and
BY processes it would weary you te relate, the
present town grew. A little over u year ago a
primitive forest, now 4 place of twelve to
fifteen hundred inhabitants And no mush.
room growth of "shsnties" and frail or tenn.
porary structures Ten or dozen large car
shops, larger than you will End almost any
where, and so complete that pig iron may 20
in one place, and complete locomotive come
oct at another; q mammoth hotel that nothing
in the State can excel, if equal, and that fairly
overwhelms you from its most happily chosen
and commanding attitude; a store, that ia con
sideTeG to be the best in the State, fifty by one
hundred feet, and two stories in height; many
residences, with large force constantly build.
ing more. send you copy Of the Jackson
IFtOt, that gives, with considerable eircum-
stantiality, much of what the town contains
But this description was written two months
ago, and a description Of this "lively" towr
after that lapse of time is very lame
No census of this town has ever been taken,
and it is no exaggeration to say that it is nc
easy task. There are three families in the half
part-InOst of the houses are 6Ouble-cf many
Of the houses The superintendent told me
that there was q demand for twenty more
houses from the operatives.
L said that the description of the Pilot wa.
lame. II should be said in justice to the Dapel
that any description would be that would NOT
be wesrisome to most readers. Additions are
being constantly made to the already large
stock of costly labor-ssving machines. can
not p&rticularlze, but l understand that no new
good thing" that could ftly have place in
any part Of this mammoth concern, in any OF it,
branches, is left unpurchased. The jackson
I'ttot is most notably in error where the house.
are stated TO be Of Uniform architecture. FIX
actly the reverse is the fact ard the plan. Vi
to the tine OF the report iE the Pilot all the
houses we're built in groups, and somewha
lsolated-that is, the groups. But each group
, was different in the design Of its buildings.
The I3tdn is to have every house different il
it's front elevation, rs it is technically called
1t takes considerable faith 10 the resources Of
the company and in the character of the
, people whom it expects 10 secure as citizens
to believe the ambition can be realized Yel
after what L shall relate i2 another letter you
can see that it is very possible and probable
that it will be. The Secretary OF the company
was sent to assist both the localities eontaininI
: the handsomest residences and select the gems
of architecture found in these several localities
with the view of building similar structures
here. Some are in process Of construction
now, and more are ordered. This idea Of
{ laying wealth, the happiest triumphs of archi
lecture, and the best results Of taste, elegance
and culture under contribution 20 give all thei
graces to this place, is happy one, we think
J. 1t grows upon you as you contemplate it. Gas
your eye forward ten years hence, or, rather
in fancy plant your magnoias and your cap,
/ jessamines around some of your residences
fancy the roses never defoliating and some O
them blooming the Winter through think O
e some of your hot house flowers, sickly and
: spindling, here glorious in vigor and strength
), in open air; fancy-but how can you2 Wal
ten years, and come here and see facts.
Wherever the idea was broached to the oc
r cupants Of those elegant palaces, visited by th
Secretary, it met with the most enthusiastic
:. appreciation. Many were so captivated tha
he expects quite number will come here auC
: build. 1t is more accessible than Florida, ant
: parallel with its northern part and is parable
n with Central Texas. Here you can have lux
uriant grasses, which you can't in Florida