New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-08-21
OFFICIAL JOURNAL or 1nE srAvE o. I Lov.esAsA. +
A Southern Improvement.

| McCOMB CITY.
| A Southern Improvement.
ED1roR REPUBLICAN:
An excursion trip to McComb City, Of
the jackson railroad, is . recreation tina
all can and all should enjoy. Tho country al
is refreshing, the scenery along the rout'
varied and interesting, the sojourn at Nc
Comb City long enough to afford a surve,
OF all it's sights, the improvements to b'
witnessed in the young settlement wonder
fnl, the dinners at the hotel exceedingly
good, and the expense of the whole con
veniently small. The only drawback is in
the return-the long travel after dark, and
the ]a.eness of the hour at which we reach
our homes.
McComb City is wonder. 1t hss grown
suddenly into existence, almost as the work
Of magic. Two years ago, We are informed:
there was not a building on the ground
Now the widespread area Of the village il
dotted all over with beautiful dwelling
houses, workshops. fOundries and depots,
with other public buildings for various pur-
poses, and constructed with q view to
beauty snd solidity that would be worthy
of an old and wealthy city.
The manufacturing and repairing works
of the jackson railroad are here, and, with
their immense buildings and complete
| equipments, form, NO doubt. the most per-
feet establishment of the kind in the South
ern country. The first object of. peculiar
interest that strikes the observer on ap-
preaching from the south is the imposing
array of locomotive engines, about thirty
in number, ranged in an open semi-circular
building. all facing to the centre of the arc
on which they are spread out, and each
standing on . track of its own. leading to
the huge turn table in the centre. The
engines are kept in shining condition and
present most imposing and even pic
turesque appearance. Near to this is the
machine shop for the repair Of the work
worn engines. This, however, is much like
other buildings for the same purpose, but
Of larger dimensions. and fitted up internal
ly with working machinery ON . grander
scsl0. The carpenters shop is near at hand
for the repair and manufacture of passenger
coaches and freight cars; also the forging
shop and the casting foundry, all large and
admirably equipped. This assemblage Of
mechanical buildings far surpasses their
old predecessors on Celliope and Magnolia
streets, and evinces q disposition on the
part of the present owners and managers of
this road to do things on magnificent scale
Distinguished among this cluster of build
ings is one entirely of brick, of more at
tractive appearance than others. This is
the Office building Of the establishment. It
has many apartments in the upper and
lower stories. appropriated to the use OF the
officers of the road and the masters of the
workshops. The general superiptende urs
Office, the telegraph Office and many others
are here, and what one would little expect
to find, Masonic hall in the upper story,
for the use of the employees and the future
residents of tho town.
Handsome dwelling houses are scattered
in various directions, built by the proprie-
tors Of the town and the railroad for the
residences of their officers and employees.
These are not ordinary houses, as would
be expected Of houses built for
workmen. They are really 60 remarkable
in appearance as to have called forth ex-
Of admiration and surprise on
first seeing them. They are mostly double
tenement houses, two stories high, each
tenement containing not less than six
rooms, all we'll painted white or STRAW color,
and having every appearance Of oeatness
and comfort. They are rented at from $l2
10 $l5 per month, and are better than could
be obtained in the eutskirts of the city for |
twice that amount. A few dwellings are
of . better style. The house Of the general
manager of tho failtoad 10 9 beautiful |
worth, we are told, $600o to $4,000.
It stands on commanding little sminence
n the southern part Of the town, as the
Of the public hotel. the De /
Soto House, which towers up from another
Knoll in the north end Of the settlement. !
This is the enviable residence Of the present |
,ficient manager, Mr.. E. d. Frost.
The DeSoto Ho use is worthy Of special
mention. It is an immense structure, per-
laps hundred feet OF more in length,
hree stories high. composed of spacious
,alls; rooms and galleries, all we'll designed
or the promotion of comfort. 1t stands |
lpon q hill, at the side Of the railroad,
bout thirty feet above the level of the
rack, and this elevation, together with its
wn height, gives it veritable castle-like
spect. Facing the east, as it does. We
now of nothing of the kind more sgreea-
lie in the heat of afternoon than the front
ooms of the ond story. The furnishing
f the house and the style OF entertainment
re such - are more characteristic of
aatured oity than new country village.
Among other public houses there is .
or academy, large and taste
ally constructed building, where . good
shool is kept. Albo fine enginehouse,
rovided with steam fire engine, and for
be effective use of it there are scattered
ireugh the town fire wells of from fifty to
xty thousand gallons capacity. |,
The wonder of ali these fine improve.
lents is that they have arisen in day, or,
terally, in about two years. They are the
roduct of the enterprise and the large
leas of the gentlemen composing the rail
,ad company and the Mississippi Valley
ompany. In both of these companies
ock is largely owned by the same indi'
iduals. MIR. McComb ii the president of
10 railroad company, ,rand is ewner of most
I its stock. General West, of Holly I