The leader., 1900-04-25

In the cotton mills at Stonewall. when
not At school. lie has thus had rare adj
vantageS in the way of practical train
tng IN the cotton mill business.
THE WESSON MILLS
II there is a famous industrial point IN
the south it Is certainly NcsSon, Tor It's
product has been sold throughout the
world, and its jeans was specially popular
for many years as favorite Tor gentle
mems sditings.
It's products have often been sold IN
Massachusetts. the center of the cotton
mill industry In America.
The Wcsson NH Company is the senior
in point of date of charter organizations,
as it was founded by Colonel J. NJ. Yves
son and his partners as the Mississippi
Mills in 1866, but their first mill was de
strOycd by fire in 1873 and rebuilt in 1874,
and thus the present mills, now number
ing six different constructions, Is out
ranked in point of priority of erection by
he StoneWalI Cotton Mills, whose origi-
nal buildings was erected prior to 1870
and is still in splendid service. When
NeSsOn was selected in 1866 by Colonel
Wesson and his company, as me future
site of their plant, II was practically a
pine wilderness, and 1t is said that 1900
acres were purchased at 81 per acre.
The location IS on the Illinois Central
Railroad, 1875 miles north of New Or
leans, and forty five miles south of Jack
son.
Its growth is one of the highest tests
which can be applied of the value of the
cotton mill industry TO the country as
local wealth creator. 1t was thirty years
to-day 1t Is a little city of about 1000
popula ton, and with an assessed yalu-
alton but little short Of 100000
Inc mill property, pays a large share
OF the towns wealth, as 1t owns the
greater part of the real estate, besides
the mill properly.
There is also substantial bank and
business houses adequate TO do the local
commerce of the thriving little industrial
city.
The mill plant sets back from the rail-
road about 300 feet, but faces the track
for the distance of about $40 feet. 1t is
sidetracks and spurs in the receiving and
shipping quarters
An official historical statement of Wes-
son was furnished as follows:
THE town of Wesson was founded by
Colonel J. NJ. Wesson. who formed a
company under the name of Mississippi
Manufacturing Company in 1866. In
1871, the property passed into the hands
OF John Il. Hardie & Co, of New Orleans,
partner. In 1873 the mill was burned
down. when the company was recognized
under the name OF Mississippi Mills
with Colonel f. Richardson. president,
and Captain VIM. Oliver. secretary and
treasurer. This company rebuilt No.
mill. machinery consisting of four sets
wool cards and 1000 cotton spindles.
In 1ST576. No. mill was built, putting
in 1900 cotton spindles and all necessary
machinery for a check mill. also adding
three sets of wool cards to wooden mill.
In 1888 the machinery in both mills was
reorganized, and 1000 cotton spindles and
six sets of wool cards added.
In about 1890. mill No. was COM
pleted, consisting of a hye-story brick
building 1876 feet long and "a feet wide,
and weave room 32T feet long by lS2 feet
wide. Underneath the weave room IS an
immense basement, arranged conveniently
for the storage of wool. Five thousand
cotton spindles and eight sets of wool
cards Were added. making total Of l5,.
1SS cotton spindles. Twenty one sets of
wool cards as of them 49, and 1901 s404
wool spindles; sS3 wooden looms, of
which 81 are broad looms.
THE mills are fitted up with all the
necessary machinery for dyeing and nm
derstood from the above list of machinery
that these mills manufacture WOODEN
goods as we'll as cotton goods. The an
nual capacity of the wooden departments
amounts TO as much as l, 500, 900 pounds of
wool. The annual capacity of the cotton
department is about 100000 pounds of
cotton.
fitted up with the latest improved ma
chinery for preparing wool for the wool
en- department.
Mill No. l, In which the woolcarding
and spinning IS done, IS q three-story
brick building. S3s feet long by IS feet
wide.
mill No 2, where the cotton cardIng
and spinning is done, has four stories
and an attic, 2l2 feet long by "a feet
wide. and attached TO this building is
the cotton lapper department. with three
stories and attic 115 by "a feet.
MIL No. 3 is u story building. 1876
feet by 81 feet. and IN this building the
wooden finishing, cotton finishing and the
dressing and beamlng Of warps Is done.
The weave room Is one of the finest IN
the United States. and has been erected
with special attention TO light. This
room Is heated by hot air In winter and
ventilated with cool air In summer, by
means of rotary fans. The motor power
for diving the machinery In this room is a
Corliss engine Of 600-horse power, This
department contains 500 looms. The
electrlct light for the entire mills Is
generated by twelve dynamos The out
put of the mills consists principally OF
fancy cassimeres, cheviots, fne doesk!ns,