The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1874-09-10

/ friend, r. O.. Latting, Esq, did me the
kindness to goover to Browns Wells lasl
Sunday evening, and [ came with hin
to this place this morning. distance Of
eleven miles. We proceeded at once tc
visit
LATTINGs SOAP FACTORY,
which is located near the railroad track,
about halfway between Beauregard and
Wesson. [ was surprised at the extent
of Mr.. Latting's operations. 1t happened
to be day for cutting and boxing and
consequently [ did not see the factory
under a full head of steam. In one
/ boiler there was sixteen thousand pounds
of the liquid cooling, and here and there
were great blocks of the soap ready for
cutting and boxing. The demand fer
Latting's soap has so steadily increased
that the present facilities for its manufac-
ture are not equal to the number of orders
received. The factory is under the SUI
pervision of Mr.. r. G. Latting, Jr., who
seems to thorougly understand the
| business. Mr.. Latting was induced to
commence the manufacture of soap a
few years since, from having discovered,
after various experiments for the benefit
of his own family, asoap that would effect
| ually wash clothes, whether warm or cold
water was used, and with little or no rub
bing. There are many families in jackson
| who, since they gave this soap trial, will
not consent to use any other. 1t Is
about as cheap as the common soaps
purchased in the East. Orders addressed
to the Mississippi Mills, or to Mr. Latting,
will be promptly filled.
THE MISSISSIPPI MILLS.
In company with Mr. Latting, and
Capt. VIM. Oliver, Secretary and
Treasurer of Mississippi Mills, / made
a thorough inspection of the great factory
which is, by immense odds, the most
extensive manufacturing establishment
Of Mississippi, and one of the most
complete the kind, though not, ofcourse,
the most extensive in the United States.
It would require columns of space to
comment upon one-half that can be seen
here within few hours visit. [ will
only attempt few facts and figures |
The first factory, which was erected by
Col. Jas. NJ. Wesson, was destroyed by
fire on the 8th of April, 1873. The
factory was then owned by John T. |
Ii.
Oliver. E. Richardson, Esq, soon |
after purchased Mr.. Hardie's interest,
and throwing into the enterprise his |
rreat energy and unlimited capital the |
factory was rebuilt and its capacity
doubled within the space of nine months
The main building is $50 feet long, by 80
feet wide, and for the length of 185 feet
is three stories high, the balance, or rear,
being two-and -a-half stories. There is
also three-story picker building, 40x50
feet. All the buildings are completely
protected against fire by means Of water
tanks, for each story, and by pipes and
hose for Instantly throwing steam and
water upon any portion of the building
that might get on fire.
There are now 168 looms on the first
floor, about twenty of these having
arrived within the last few days, and are
now being placed in position. There are
225 operatives, mostly girls, in the facto
ry, and other employees, numbering in all
about 250 persons, and aggregating pay
.oll of about five thousand dollars per
month The weaving capacity of the
'actory Is from $500 to Z 1000 yards of !
cotton and wooden cloths per day, '
a consumption of about seven
,ales of cotton, and one thousand pounds !
If wool. There are fully one thousand J
women and children I
Who receive support from this factory. $
Quite town has grown up around the c
factory, including two churches, a school |
louse, hotel and store houses. Another c
hurch building will be erected next win I
er. e
THE CAPITAL STOCK
f the company is fixed at $3.50, 600, but
he company is now working capital
f nearly half million-the excess being a
dvanced by the stockholders. The 4
stockholders are E. Richardson, Q
esq, Capt. VIM. Oliver, Col. FL. S.
IcComb, and Messrs, Robinson q Stevens h
f jackson. e
MOST GRATIFYING FEATURE {
f the operations of this factory, is that =
he sales, which, for the last three years
ave amounted to about two hundred :
thousand dollars per year, have been ;
lade chiefly to Mississippi consumers. :.
'hus the raw materials converted into :.
10th, and worn by those who raise the :
otton and wool before it passes through :
he hands of innumerable jobbers. all :
lax ing their profits.
In the management of the first factory, q
IS necessities were sometimes so urgent 9
rat its goods were thrown on the Eastern y
larkets, at prices often dictated by the E
,bbers; and it not unfrequently happened fl
nat a Mississippi merchant could n
urchase in New York the goods of the '
Vesson Mills at lower figure than they
rere offered to him at the factory. The f
mple capital of the present stockholders a.
as corrected this, and the only way in
hitch the goods can now be purchased is
Y direct dealing with the factory, or
it'll its agent, Mr.. Latting. The goods
re not only superior, but are marked
own in price, from time to time, as
to defy competition
THE SALES ARE MADE D
liehy through R. g. Latting, ESQ, a b,
sntleman qualified by long experience al
merchant, and by an energy indomi- j,
BILE, for the position. He Is already m
ell known to most of bur Mississippi a
erchants, and always receives that
elcome which the great industry that he
presents, as well as his personal worth.
title him. He carries with him a full
ne of samples, and forwards orders to T,
. factory to be filed He tells me f.
d to the infnite credit oil our Mississip- n
merchants, be it made known--that OUT Il
upwards Of six hundred thousand b
liars sales, which he has made in the %
It three years, the factory viii not vi
stain loss, in bad accounts, Of more trl
an q thousand dollars Mr.. Latting T