The Chronicle-star combined with the Moss Point advertiser., 1948-11-26
By w. ED HIGGINS

1OtAAAAAR1k 1s
BY w. ED C C
During the war, for several
months after its close, the prob
lens of this community differ
ed from those of the ordinary
city. We had a labor and hous-
shortage that remained acute.
The efforts to obtain for the
residents of what was termed
in Washington "the nations
No. | congested producted
area" much needed services
and supplies was a full time
job. We had grown too fast
to assimilate the population
or provide its needs. Constant
contact with state and federal
agencies relieved many hard
ships and aided in securing
street improvements tpaving
and l%ighting), recreational fla
cilities, canned milk for infants,
screen wire, additional fuel
allotments, improved telephone
service, highway improve
ments, health department per-
sonnet, and transportation fla
cilities.
Now we have a different
kind of a problem. The short
age of steel and other causes
have prevented the ingalls,
Shipbuilding Corporation from
maintaining the projected en-
ployment of $500 to 1000. In
creased payrolls in other in
dustries helped, but could not
take up the slack. A housing
and manpower surplus has de-
veloped.
Plant development by firms
that have shown interest in
The Singing River Industrial
District has been retarded by
international chaos. and poll
teal uncertainty. The i n
stability of the financial situa-
ton, plus excessive building
costs have brought about the
shelving Temporarily, we hope)
of some projects that logically
fit into the economy of this
community.
Still Working On Hotel
Our own hotel situation is
an example. Sites have been
optioned and funds have been
raised to commence such a
project in Pascagoula. Esti-
mates appearing too high, the
plans have been repeatedly
laid aside for this improvement
that everyone knows we need.
AS soon as a building program
can be developed land we have
been working on threel, that
looks like it had chance of sur-
viving without serious loss to
the original investors, the pro-
position will be submitted to
the public.
In spite of these difficulties,
the districts industrial family
increased by more than twenty
members during the past four
years.
New plants were. built by the
Standard Fishmeal Company,
and The Fish Meal Company,
Growth Products Company,
Marpro, and the Arnold V.
Walker Shipyard. The Wallace
M. Quinn Fisheries constructed
a IA building plant and moved
to the West river. The Animal
Trap Company began opera
tons in the hangar and addi-
tional building at the old air.
port. Conway Woodworking
moved to larger quarters. Serv-
air set up in the new hangar
at the Jackson County Airport.
Zimmerman Laboratories, Tay-
lor Furniture, Frederic's Foun-
dry and Machine Shop, Pasca-
goula Veneer, Tanner Lumber
& Supply, and Scholtes Marine
x Machine Works are new and
widely diversified projects.
Suthoff, Crane, and Allen &
Smith Concrete Block Plants
were put in operation and the
Jackson County Brick Com
pany has constructed two
buildings and procured ma
chinery to start operation as
soon as reorganization is COM
pleted. Dunlap Manufacturing.
Dixie Electric, Moss Point Man
ufaeturing, Brown Wire Prod
uets. and Frugal Heater are
postwar projects no longer OPP
Grating here.
LongfelloW House Products
on Telephone Road is the COM
munities' newest factory, and
brings the net total of postwar
going concerns to fourteen.
Firms whose representatives
have visited this area are fav-
orably inclined to it. They
still have a friendly interest
in these communities. We be-
lieve that l949 will see the
closing of more than one or
two deals for plant locations
in Gautier, Escatawpa, Kreole,