The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1923-04-12
A PARTICAL SURVEY OF
THE INDUSTRIAL SITOAI-
ION IN MISSISSIPPI
LAS Seen by the State Chamber OF
-Commerce)

State, ]. B. Lusk and R. Fl. Pate,
representing the State Chamber OF
Commerce. have been agreeably i'm
pressed with the Cotton Min Indus
try as at present conducted in our
midst.
They find that industry, where
ever they have visited and gone
through Cotton Mills, in a most
flourishing condition and every
where the mills behind in filling
their orders.
Moreover, they find that quite
large portion of their output goes
to foreign countries. bringing back
in return money to enrich this state.
Not long since they were con-
Quoted through the Laurel Cotton
Mills by Mr.. C. NJ. Geer, Nce-Presi-
dent and General Manager, only re-
Gently from Anderson, South Caro-
lima.
He was brought up in the Cotton
Mill industry, and is identified with
what is known as the "Geer Sys-
ten."-with mills at Greenville, 5.
C.-Roswell, Ga.-Douglasvile, Ga,
and Laurel, Miss.
Mr.. Geer says this State should
have more Cotton Mills, just as the
Carolinas and Georgia, as the field
here is ideal for economic operation.
The mill at Laurel concentrates
on Brown Cotton Domestics and Bag
Cloths-and cannot begin 10 supply
all orders.
Mr.. Geer says Cotton Mill wages
are now far better than they used
to be. as compared also with other
lines Of labor. and that it is the
policy now to discard child labor
and employ maturer help.
Moreover, the mills everywhere
are now providing the best possible
conditions for their labor in both
social and educational requirements.
Mr.. Lusk and Mr.. Pate were more
recently conducted through the Lau-
6erdale Cotton Mills, at Meridian,
by the Secretary and Manager, Mr..
James Bozenlan.
This mill manufacturers about SIX
million yards Of cloth annually
which : confined 70 five classes OF
fabrics IN Chevoits and Suitings,
ana embraces four hundred patterns.
Is product goes TO Cuba, the Phil
Ep;nes. Mexico, the Argentine Re
public, as well as all over this eoun-
try-and they cannot begin 10 sup
ply all their orders.
Il has 1920 spindles and was
launched in 1911 under the present
managemen-.
TIE scale OF wages now ranges
from $500 70 $500 per week for
common labo-,-and from the latter
figure up 10 s3.6o0.0o per year for
the higher class labor.
Therefore, no apprehension need
be felt as 70 cotton mill labor be-
ing in the pauper class.
On the contrary, many OF the OPP
eratives have nice autos, pianos,
vic-rolas, and all enjoy the best Of
school and church advantages.
Ample provision has been made
for Community and Settlement
houses and play grounds for not
only social and educational enter
tainment and advantage, but also
proper care and nursing of the sick
as occasion requires.
At the Stonewall Cotton Mills, at
Stonewall, Miss, these gentlemen
found an ideal industrial communi-
ty with everything so nicely laid
out and arranged as to appeal to
ones sense of art.
1t is, indeed, a beautiful little in
dustrial city, and the houses are al
so bright, coy and well kept as to
attract immediate attention.
This Mil is under the manage
ment OF Mr.. / Berman, Secretary
and Treasurer, late Of Cincinnati
ohio-who enjoys joint ownership
with his brother o. that city, and a
brainy and progressive type Of man.
Mr. Berman has the able assis-
lance Of Mr.. S. l. Adler. in the
capacity Of Manager, and Mr.. a.
F. Zachry, as confidential office man.
This Mill employs. SIS people, and
the wages range from $3.50 10 $3.50
$3.50 to $500 per day for the nigh
er class OF labor.
Out OF the SIS people employed
there are only 4 under 16 years of
age and they are above IA years,
and the younger people earn as
much wages as the adults.
Mr.. zachry said it was the policy
of the mana cement TO maintain q
L ,a1