The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-04-26
THE NEWS PROyIDENCE II. T., WEDNESDAY APRIL &C. 1899

trunk systems. which 10 a-guarantee OF
competition, and consequently reasons
able freight rates. The league repre-
sentatiyes have Travelled many thou
sand miles during their tour or Dixie
over Southern railroads and have found
them as progressive IN management
and as well equipped as any In the
country. Travelling in this section has
been made as comfortable as IL Is any
where i'm the East or West.
Meridian Is located in the center OF
great timber country.
1t is the shipping point for forest
tract OF the so-called long leaf Georgia
pine. $50 miles by 100 miles In. area. The
timber marketed from this region In
one year has amounted To 100000 or
nearly three times the aggregate value
OF the cotton grown In the same region,
As regards cotton, the yearly sale OF
cotton in this city is about 10000 bales.
The land about Meridian Is light and
sandy, but is made very productive by
the judicious use of fertilizers. IL is
described as an exceptionally good sec
tion for grazing. The grasses are nour-
ishing and luxuriant, and the cattle
bred here are fat and wholesome klle.
The city of Meridian is green walled
by hills, while points or considerable
elevation are included within Its COR
porate limits. Since a system OF sewer
been remarkably free from fever in any
form. The annual death rate is about
IA I'm 1000. The inhabitants say that the
climate is remarkably good, and that
the temperature is seldom high enough
i'm summer 10 entail serious discomfort.
and that blanket IL needed at night In
the height OF the vcrnal season.
The people OF Meridian are a progress
sive set of citizens. Most of the indus
trial, and other progress OF the commu-
nifty is due TO local thrift, enterprise
and capital. They had made enough
out OF the city already to carry convic-
tion that its location, and resources are
more than ordinary. 1t has water works
artesian wells, gas works, and an cleo
trio street ear system, and number
Of manufacturing plants that are
worthy of attention. IT has three cot
ton seed oil mills. ten cotton compress
es big fertilizer works, a cotton min.
founderies and machine shops. lumber
plants. furniture factories knitting
mill and other industrial establish
lishments. The future prosperity or
East Mississippi OF necessity means the
growth OF Meridian, and the city Is get
ting along very fast Just now.
The representatives of the New Eng
land Newspaper league were favorably
impressed with the appearance or the.
mill and factory employees in Meridian.
The Mississippi operatives are hardy
and healthy in appearance. and are
said To be intelligent and industrious.
Considerable OF the success achieved III
manufacturing In this district Is due TO
these qualities. The employees IN the
shops and factories here are mostly
Mississippi born and bred and there is
no trouble i'm obtaining desirable class
of artisans and operatives even In the
purely industrial regions.
The league representatives were the
center of public attention while IN Me-
ridiian. \ delegation OF young ladies'
and their escorts visited the league car
during the sojourn here, and one charm
ing manifestation Of attention was the
nrenaration OF a special autograph book
for the signatures of the visiotrs.