The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1881-06-30
Bay Springs Factory Mississippi
Enterprise.
NoRrH-EAsr Miss, June %, 1881.

NORTHEAST Miss, June %, 1881.
EDITORS CLARION Some time ago | no
ticed an editorial in The CLARION refer
ring to the Bay Springs Cotton Mills, sit
uated in Tishomingo county, and was much
gratitted that your attention had been called
to that enterprise. do not live very near
those mills now, bat did live in the county
in which they are situated many years ago,
and am well acquainted with the natural
advantages which they possess, and the
country surrounding them. The mills are
situated Of nfJackey's Greek, one Of the two
streams which form tie Tombigbee river,
and about four miles west of the old stage
road that formerly led from Aberdeen to
Juka. It is matter Of wonder to me that
so many Of our own people, Misslsslpplans,
are ignorant of this magnificent water pow
err / say magnificent, for 10 other word can
in the ridge that divides the waters that
flow into the Tennessee river from those
that Cow into, and form the Tombigbee, and
is only few miles from Big Bear Greek, that
empties iuto the tennessee river at old
East Port. Mackey's Creek is boid. rapid
stream that rushes down through the fish
omingo hills with the greatest power. The
supply of water is iEexhaustible the entire
year. At Bay Springs II forces its way
throug a solid rock formation, which gives
a smooth, hard, rock bottom from bank to
bank. and is about $50 feet WISE the banks
are also solid rock about 30 feet high.
The water power is sufficient for the
largest mills for the manufacturing OF cot
ton and WOO, yarns, and cloth. There are
now in successful operation mil Tor
making cotton yarns and rope cotton GIN,
a saw and a grist mill, and the po,0eT Is not
nearly one-haf utilized. The rock IN
Mackev's creek Immediately at the mill Is
itself worth a million of dollars if there
were a solid road to Bay Springs, and there
will be in less than 10 years. 1t Is only 20
miles from Bonneville, the county seat o!
Prentiss county on the NJ. q o. X. Il. out
to the mills. 1t is about the same distance
from the mills to BurBsyille. on the Mem
phis & Charleston L. Il. The country
around Bay Springs Is high and rolling,
covered with the finest timber in the world,
almost of every kind-much of the land is
very fertile, and produces fine crops of corn,
cotton, wheat, oats and rye. The land Is
cheap. zGd can be bought for far less than its
real value. The aaills are now operated by
white labor of which tbeie - re scarcity IN
the immediate vicinity. The present oS ner
of the mills, Col. John NJ. Nelson, owns
about 900 acres of land upon which the
mills are situated. He is a man of untiring
energy, great l4YcL and skill IN business, and
is making the mills pay handsome divi-
dend upon the capital invested. lie has
/ probably not less than one hundred thous-
and dollars invested. 1t requires not less
I than two hundred thousand to utilize the
/ fat power, which he has. If Col. Ed.
+ Hiehafdsoa, or Col. Dick Clark, of Virginia,
I or some such met, gould unite with Col.
I Nelson, and enlarge Bay springs Factory to
its full capacity, they would soon fiVat zoe
I largest mills in Georgia, would enhance
/ their own interests, and be of inca. "uiabie
benefit to the State-for a factory at Bay
Springs can not be a failure owned and OPP
Grated by such men as Richardson, Clark
and Nelson. Col. Nelson Is a quiet unosten-
tatious gentleman, but in commercial circles
he stands A L. Governor Stone knows him
we'll, as doubtless do OTHER prominent gem
tlsmen about jackson. The South
must and will soon manufacture
its own cotton. Mississippi must not be less
enterprising than her sister States We
must awake to our interest and go to work
with a determination TO make the South the
richest, most prosperous and happlest part
/ of the American Union. We can do tiff we
will. and am gratified beyond measure at
the great interest taken by THE CLARION in
| the national interest Of the State-go on in
the good work, You will have your reward.
/ IL is Just to Col. Nelson to say that be knows
nothing of this communication, 1t Is not
written in his interest, but in the interest
/ ~ Nizsissippi's manufacturing Enterprises.
Pardon The length of this article, for | dis
cover that my zeal to place before the Peo-
/ ME of the State an enterprise which seems
J not to be known or thought OF, has made
| me, fear, to prolix.
Truly yours,