The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-03-15
MERIDIAN.

90 the rounds and greet all our friend
there-and we are happy in the BELIEF tina
under this term are embraced the entir
population, with few insignificant excep
tions--but the man who undertakes to g
through Meridian in one day will tind a
NIGHT. no matter how active he has been
that his task is not half accomplished.
There is great deal more in Meridian
than the superficial observer is likely t(
notice, and perhaps, great deal less thar
builder of air-castles is able to see
Meridian has had its day of airrcastles, sky
rockets and blatherskiteism. There was &
time, not far back, when the owner OF LOT
in Meridian thought himself on the road tc
oppulence. Eight or ten years ago, the
elated and hopeful Meridianite regarded
Atlanta as q secondary hamlet, and Mobile
as respectable village but he recognized
formidable rival in the City New York
He was willing to admit that New YORK
had the bulge on Meridian, and might pos
sibly, be able to hold it.
But Meridian has got off of her stills, and
her foot now rests on solid ground. She
has quit botheripg her head about the pre-
ponderance of New York, and concluded
to look at the things which are in sight.
There are great many substantial mer-
chants and other business men in Meridian.
The house of Jos. Baum d Bros, probably
does as large commercial business as any
house in the State. There is an activity,
an industry and push about the populaN
ton. which guarantees success IN the end.
Manufactures flourish, and the schools and
colleges are well patronized. The Method
| list Female College, under Prof. Atkinson,
is constantly enlarging its buildings and
faculty to meet the increasing demand OF
its patronage. There is also Batist Col>
lege, which stands high, and is, we are told,
in fourishing condition.
The Peoples Bank is in thriving status,
and does large business.
The cotton seed oil mill, With. A. Lewis
as President OF the incorporating Cons
pany, is a prominent institution Of Meri-
dian, represents capital of 100000, and
does an immense business. 1t is a curios-
ity in that section, but it gives employment
to considerable number of workmen, and
brings large amount of money into the
town.
There are two cotton compress Com
panies, and we are informed that about
$4,000 kales of cotton were compressed
there and shipped directly to the factories
in the east. Here is another great saving
to the town.
But the most notable new industry in
Meridian is the furniture manufactury of
A. B. Wagner. Mr. Wagner has whole>
sale and retail furniture store, and is a man
of extraordinary energy and activity. We
visited his factory, and found it filled with
skilled workmen and abundantly supplied
with all the approved modern machinery.
1t is, in fact, the most complete establish
ment of the kind we ever saw. The dis
patch and perfection of the work of this |
factory is a marvel; and the price at which |
Mr.. Wagner can and does furnish finish
ed bed-stead at wholesale is still greater
marvel. Think of a neat, complete and
comedy bed-stead, well and durably made,
at 81 %, less than you could formerly buy
common chair for, and for which retail
stores in the country few years ago charg-
ed SIS and $40 But he does it, and the
mystery is partially explained when you
see his splendid machinery in operation.
Every mortice, every slat, every bevel, every
augur hole, everything, in short, is turned |
of by machinery. He has saw for rum
ming through an inch plank and thus |
making two half inch planks, machine |
for planning, a machine for polishing, ma
chine for brackets, and machine for every
other style or work required. We observed
several bales of shavings neatly pressed
and bandaged and we asked we asked him
what on earth he meant to do with them.
They are to make mattresses out of, and
re worth so much" Nothing is lost
Although Southern man, he displays the
,enuine ''git up and git" of the Yankee,
ayes all the pieces, and keeps fully posted
IS to the smallest details of his establishment, |
Wagner is equal to dozen average men in
my community. Last year he made and
old ten thousand bed-steads, and unless a
freak Of lightning overtakes him, there is
lardly any telling what he will do this year.
We found few men in Meridian who
of "hard times" as is natural
or men to do, but for the most part, the
'eople are cheerful, hopeful and readily
ubscribed for The COMET There is a
prospect of soon having the city lighted
With gas, manufactured by the new patent
f Mr.. Mas. Capt. W. Fl. Hardy, who is
&C principal business manipulation, and the
hief owner of this new patent for the
of gas from pine rosin, has
demonstrated its excellent and cheap char {
cter at his residence, and the business
len are disposed to encourage the project !
Or lighting up the city with it.
The next time we visit Meridian we shall |
0 to stay two or three days
A SPORTING SUGGESTION.
When dog is punished in the field, it {
4Ia4 h. Il. l..