The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1881-04-07
EDMUND RICHARDSON.
The Enterprises Conducted by Mr..
Richardson, of Mississippi-Th
Largest Cotton Planter in the World.
New York Correspondence Atlanta Constitu-

New York Correspondence Atlanta Constitr
toni
| The other day was sitting in the ofic
of the banking house of Latham, Alexande
& Co., when a remarkable, looking man en-
tered the door. He was fairly $50 pound
er-with his flesh we'll packed on, however
rather than hanging about loose. His fac
was smooth and clean-frank and pleasan
in expression, but full of power and deter
mination. There was certain brusque de
cision in his manner that bespoke the MAJ
of affairs who had won success with his owl
hands, and wore the consequence and i'm
portance with which the people among whom
he lived had clothed him. He stopped a mo
ment in the ante-room, spoke pleasantly t.
an acquaintance or two, and then passed in
to the private Office, where he was soon en-
gagged in consultation with Mr.. Latham
the head of the firm.
'fWho is that?' | asked of gentleman
sitting by me.
THAT is Richardson, of Mississippi-the
largest cotton planter in the word"
I'm the world?''
eyes, sir The ex-khedive of Egypt, it is
said had a larger crop than Richardson
but he has since then gathered the largest
crop of cotton ever planted by one man."
''What does his crop amount to ?"
at reached one year over II 800 bales.
He operates large number of plantations
and has small army of laborers under his
control. He works State conVicts largely,
and finds their labor, of course profitable
1 have heard though that his planting was
really the smallest part of his business"
'This is a pretty rough thing to say, when
his cotton crop alone brings nearly mill
ion year, and yet suppose it is true. He
owns cotton factory that is the largest in
the South, except the Eagle and Phoenix.
He told me that the gross business of this
factory alone was $l,600,000 in one year,
and was very profitable. If am not mis-
taken he said that he once cleared thirty
seven per cent. per annum on the money in
vested in his cotton factory. Besides this,
he has three or four cotton-seed oil mills
that do an immense and profitable business.
He sold a short time ago 1000 barrels of
cotton-seed oil through the Thurbers, of this
city, to Antwerp. | suppose it will come
back to US as olive oil"
Besides being the largest planter and
manufacturer, he is the largest merchant in
the South. He is the head of the house of
Richardson & May, which | understand has
handled more cotton in one year than any
house in the world. In one year 164 900 bales
of cotton passed through its hands. l do not
think the businessha ever been surpassed.
In addition to this house, Mr.. Richardson
owns and runs great many country stores.
He makes the purchases for these stores in
person in New York, and will spend a day
going among the wholesale houses selecting
notions, dry goods, ETC., for his country
stock"
Beyond all these things he takes lively
interest in general investment, and in rail-
roads especially. He is controlling owner
of a road from Shreveport to Vicksburg, and
has several other interests present and pros
pective in railroads.
"What is his fortune estimated at 2"
Cali the way from five to twenty millions.
I suppose he is the richest man in the South
beyond doubt; but whether he is worth
more or less than $40, 600, 900 cannot say"
''He is now about sixty-two years of age,
and is hale, hearty old gentleman, good for
many years yet. He gives his personal at
tention to his vast business, and is systemat-
ic to the last degree One of his peculiar
habits is that of rising every morning at 2
o'clock, waking his secretary and despatch
ing all of his business by o'clock, when
breakfast is served. He then has the whole
day for outside business, and retires early at
night He has little education, but is a Wig
orous thinker, a practical man, and conse-
quently most interesting talker. He is a
firm believer in the future of the South, and
its possibilities as a planting, mining and
manufacturing section-and as a member
of the Centennial and Worlds Fair COM
missions talks up his section and its re-
sources. His vast fortune and complex in
terests will fall into capable hands at his
death, as his sons are fine business men and
all in active commercial life. A few men
such as he do more for the South than a
hundred politicians"