The Columbus weekly dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 1902-1905, 1905-08-28

what The Progressive Union mas done for Colum
DLS, ana since most guarded rule is that moth
ing shall be divulged regarding prospective indus
ries, it is impossible for me to say anything touch
ing what we are reasonably will be accom-
plished before the close of the present year
While we could not, nor do We claim credit for
the bulk of improvements that have been going on
in our city for the past few years, we do claim and
believe the very fact of the existence OF an organ
izaton such as the Progressive Union does more
to hold the interest of the citizens to the one idea
Of Improvement and forward movement than all
,nings else, and if we able only to accomplish
the fact of keeping Columbus we'll before the out
side world, and at the time infuse into our
business men that public spiritedness, without
which a city cannot go forward, in my Judgment
our time and money have accomplished much
Now word to what Columbus has done in the
way of forward movement in the last three years.
Our population in 1902 C49G, today it is by
census of the city ,1S9 or nearly double what 1t
three years ago.
In 1902 we had in operation eight (S) manufac-
turing industries with total paid up capital OF
$39l 900, employing 432 hands and having weekly
pay roll OF $2,15; to-day we nave IN successful
operation 2S manufacturing plants with capital
fully paid up Of $l,560,O00, employing l,546 nands
and paying out weekly $l1,441
This shows increase from percentage stand
point follows
Increase in capital invested 295 per cent.
Increase in hands employed 2l5 per cent.
Increase in weekly pay roll, 2S5 per cent.
In the way of permanent improvements in the
last CD years there has been built by the city
handsome City Hall and quarters for our paid
Fire Department, at cost OF $4,000 new water
plant, and a sewerage system laid at cost of $7S-
600, brick school building for negro children
at cost of $4,000 and sundry and other items OF
Improvement too numerous to mention.
There has been laid by the city in the last two
years 27 miles of cement sidewalks and in addition
to what the city has done, the state has erected
two of the handsomest buildings at the |. |. & G.
(our State College for white grls) that are to be
found anywhere in the South, new Industrial Hall,
at cost of 5000, and the Temple OF Music at
cost of 100000 and with all of the above improve
ments while our assessed valuation is not over 90
per cent rate Of taxation in the city is but 10
mills.
] In addition to the above established improve
ments we now nave in the course of construction
a $l50000 Independent Oil Mill large fertilizer
factory to say nothing of the increase in the
New South PloW Company's capital from $4,000 to
100000 This last named plant Is now erecting
large buildings to accommodate their increased
business.
We too have just gained much additional citizen
ship from the state of Florida in the personnel OF
the parties who have moved to this city to engage
in the publication of a daily paper These gen
tlemen have installed modern newspaper plant
and if the future is to be Judged by the present
Columbus boast of one of the best daily papers
in the South.
The most important item confronting the
manufacturer is the labor question, and this am
pleased to say, Columbus Miss, has solved. With
all of manufacturing interests. employing as
they do more than 500 hands, there is not a sin.
gle labor organization in the city or county. Here
Capital and Labor work in perfect harmony. state
of affairs YOU will hardly find in any other
ufacturing center.
In speaking of the growth of Columbus / have
only touched the manufacturing interests since the
many handsome homes shown other pages of
your pictorial edition speak for the residence por-
tiuu Of our beautiful city
Yours truly.
l. n. Sykes.
Secretary Columbus Progressive Union.