The comet., 1880-04-24
wEssoN AND ITS PEOPLE.

On Wednesday morning the writer
ran down to Wesson, and spent rev
agreeable hours in that thriving man.
ufacturing town. 1t is an intultlve
instinct of THE COMET to look into
institutions which have made and are
still making big strides in the rebuild
ing of the country--to see how they
are managed, and to help them along
in their recuperative. career.
We found the people of Wesson full
of energy and enterprise. OF course the
MISSISSIPPI MILLS
are the leading feature. Here III ii
dense pine forest, upon soil heretofore
regarded as worth 124 cents an acre,
and no brisk demand for it at that
price, has sprung up an interest which
brings into the State about S7oo,ooo a
wear, for its cotton and woolen fabrics,
gives employment to $40 hands upon
its looms and other machinery, ana
stimulated all other industries within
a radius of 20 miles around it.
The Mills are a big thing for this
section of the State. Capt. VIM.
Oliver the Secretary and Treasurer,
and Chief Manager of the great en-
terprise, was on hand, as he always Is,
looking after the complicated interests
of the mandatory. BY his kindness
and courtesy, we were conducted
through the various parts of the es-
tablishment, and We're surprised at the
thorough cleanliness and perfect eX-
actness of every department. The
attendants upon the .spindles, looms,
etc., are mostly women and young
girls from the country. They look
healthy and contented, and by little
training become expert and competent
for the work in hand.
The town of Wesson is situated on
in every direction. Its drainage, there
fore, is nearly perfect through natural
outlets, but what nature failed to do in
this direction, the hand of the engineer
has done. So there is no accumula-
tions of filth or rubbish-nothing to
contaminate the health-giving rosln
atmosphere which permeates its sur
surroundings. The town, therefore,
is one of the most healthy localities in
the world. There is no local cause for
sickness, but many for enduring and
continued health.
The Mills make 1870 different styles
of cotton and woolen goods, keep 400
looms running IL hours day, and
manufacture 6,700 bolts, 100000 yards
of cloth a month. They have now
orders ahead for the full capacity of
the Mills for the next three months.
Their shipments go to every part of
the North and West, and wherever
introduced become popular and serve
to increase the demand. We are as
sured that the goods manufactured in
these Mills are cheaper and more last
ing than the productions of Northern
Or European goods. And there is a
good reason why this should be so. In
the first place a heavy item in trans
portation is overcome. Secondly,
labor is as cheap in the South now as
IN any other part of the United States.
the location in a mild and
salubrious and healthy climate, with
an abundance of cheap land, which
With little attention and alitt'e labor
will reward the prudent husbandman
With rich results in every article need
I'd for food, makes living cheaper
lere than almost anywhere else.
A sufficient number of cheap but
,legant double cottages have been
,uilt by the Company for tene-
nent houses, and rented to employees
It So month. Ample grounds for
purposes are appOrtiOned to
ach house, and, generally they are
used in the production of
vegetables for the occupants.
On the occasion of our visit we ell
Dyed good dinner at the Richardson
louise, a beautiful new hotel, kept
nd kept well-by Mr.. J. n. Cook. ,
here are several stores in Wesson,
ut owing to time sonsumed in ex- ,
loring the factory we were denied the ,
of visiting many OF them.