The Pascagoula democrat-star., 1885-03-27
MISSISSIPPI.
Her History and Progress.
o. Picayune, March Il.

OF the United StactS passed an act
enabling the people of the western
part of the Territory OF Mississippi,
formed by act OF Congress April
Z, 1898, to form u State Gov
ernment, On August 10, 1917, a
convention assembled at Washing
ton, in Adams county, Mississippi
Territory. This convention framed
the first constitution of the State
and gave it the name of Mississip.
pi. Under this constitution the
State Of Mississippi was organized
aud admitted into the Union. The
population of the State at that
time was about $4,000, and David
Holmes was at the first election 10y
the people elected Governor OF the
State.
According to the census of 1880
the population of the State was
l,13l ,597-an increase OF 303,676,
or 36.6 per cent Tor the ten years
from 1870. Only four of the South
ern States show greater per cent.
IN Increase Of population for the
same time - Arkansas, Florida,
South Carolina aud Texas-and
two OF these are west of the Mis-
SisSippi river. With the same rel
ative Increase since 1880, the pres
ent population of Mississippi may
be placed at 1,335,000.
The population OF the United
States from 1870 to 1880 Increased
81 per cent, thus showing that
MisSissippi's increase was above the
general average. This pleasing fact
is not alone confined 10 population.
bnt can also be applied to manu-.
featuring aud to some Of the lead
ing agricultural products. For the
ten years named the capital in,
vested in manufacturing in the
United States increased 81 per
cent, and the increase OF manufac.
tured products was 81 per cent
The increase of capital invested in
manufacturing in Mississippi was
30 per cent, and the increase in
products OIL per cent. The value
of Mississippi farms increas.
ed IS per cent. against 10 per cent.
for the whole country; corn pro-
ducti0n increased 10 per cent.
against 13I per cent. for tho whole
country oats increase 800 per cent.
against 4J for the whole country /;
molasSes increased 252 per cent /;
rice increased 800 per ceut. against
80 per cent. for the whole country /;
tobacco increased 4S0 per cent.
againt so per cent. for the whole
country; tue production OF wool
increased loo per cent. for the
whole country; the production OF
butter iucre used 1S0 per cent.
against 81 per cent tor the whole
country. The figures for products
other than cotton show a ilattering
increase in diversified farming,
aud it is claimed that the farming
interests in this direction are TAX
ing rapid bounds, aud that he fig
ures, it taken now, would surprise
all who look upon Mississippi as Il
cotton Stale only.
The territory of Mississippi ex-
tends north tIom the Gnlt OF Mex
leo about five degrees of latitude
to the Tennessee line. The sum
mers are long and warm, but rarely
reach the extreme heat felt i'm the
Northern aud Northwestern States !;
the thermometer seldom exceeds
$50 tF.) during the warmest months
in summer, or falls below 2jo (F.)
in winter. During the summer the
evenings and nights are pleasantly
cool, in consequence of the never
failing breeze from the Gull.
The winters are short and mild, ice
seldom forms more than an inch in
thickness IN the northern portion
of the State, and IN the southern
part killing frosts rarely occur.
The climate is happy medium,
where the products OF the North
aud South meet, grow aud mature
ia harmony, and no country is more
regularly. aud better irrigated by
rain-falls
1t seems to bo the impression at
the North and in Europe, that the
surface of the State Of.Mississippi is
level, aud that it is almost a con-
tinuOus swamp from the banks of
the Mississippi river to the Ala
bama line. How true this impress
ion is, the elevation of the different
stations on the Mobile and Ohio
railroad, above tide water in Mo-
bile bay, aud also the elevation of
tue stations on the Illinois Central
railroad, above tue tide water at
New Orleans, La, will clearly show.
The roads run from North to South
through the length of the State,
aud on the former the elevations
range from 191 feet at.Waynesboro,
on the south, to 443 feetat COrinth,
on the north, aud on the latter road
the elevations range from $50 feet
at Osyka, on the south, 70 705 feet
at Grand Junction, on the north.
The United States Government
still holds for sale, or to homestead.
about 5000, 600 acres Of land in lhe
State of Mississippi. This land lies
mostly in the Long Leaf Pine Re-
gioB, extending from the Vicks
burg and Meridian railroad. sonfh