The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-02-27
MISSISSIPPI LANDS.
THEIR SAIABLE VALUE AND
PRODUCTIVRNESS.
A Contrast Worthy The Especial AZ.
tentiOn OF thu Interstate COnVen-
ton at Jackson, Tenn.

was expressed in this column a few
weeks since ut the statement that
river bottom lands in Mississippi that
rented for So to 10 an acre could be
bought for 20 TO so per acre. Since
then an examination has been made
of pamphlet issued in 1888 by the
United States Department of Agri-
culture, being special report by A. r.
Hurt, special agent, on "Mississippi-
Its Climate, Soil, Productions and
Agricultural Capabilities, y which fully
confirms the statement. In this report
a comparison OF land in Mississippi
with Illinois, Indiana and Iowa is
made, which shows that the average
of all kinds of land in Mississippi, in
Guiding upland and river bottom, per
acre is Sl7 40, while the average crop
value over the whole State is ;12 81
per acre. In Illinois the average land
value is S3S 65, the average crop value
per acre being 81 81. In Indiana the
average land value is S45 66, the aver
age crop value per acre being So %.
In Iowa the average land value is
S23 81, the average crop value per acre
being So So. These statistics are. for
improved land only in each State. 1t
appears from the above, says the re-
port, that the price OF lands, OF their
market value, in Mississippi bears
no Just proportion TO their real
intrinsic value. Lands that will
average a money product Of
$l2 2l per acre should average
market value OF at least $50 per acre,
especially in such a temperate, health
full climate. II Mississippi could
double or treble its population by
the addition of thrifty, industrious
immigrants, possessed of some capital,
the price of lands would no doubt in
crease to something like real value.
This is now being accomplished, and
it is given on the authority of the
State Commissioner of Emigration
that lands have advanced from so to
100 per cent. in the past two years.
The annual death rate in Mississippi
is 1899 in each 1000 OF population.
Since the date Of the report, in 1888,
the Mississippi Valley railroad has
been built, which runs from Memphis,
Tenn, to Vicksburg, Miss, and thence
to New Orleans, and forms the great
trunk line OF the Huntington system
between the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans. This railroad traverses the
rich bottom lands forming the Yazoo
delta. In shape the delta is ellipsoidal
and the soil is composed OF dark, rich
alluvium deposited by the overflow of
the Mississippi and Yazoo rivers. At
its northern limits, commencing at
the State line, the delta is about ten
miles wide; thence following the Mis-
sissippi river southwardly it ex-
tends eastwardly to the Yazoo
river and its tributaries; and
running south it varies in width
from thirty-six to sixty miles;
then narrows until it terminates near
Vicksburg, where the hills extend to
the bank OF the Mississippi river.
This delta is the most fertile plain in
the United States, and the annual
overflow is now avoided by a perfect
system of levees, built by taxing the
cotton grown within the protected
district. The plain comprises about
$3.50 square miles or 100000 acres,
of which only 100000 acres, or one
eighth, is improved, and the remain
der is covered with vast forests of
valuable timber. OF the total 5,2l6,-
937 acres improved land in Mississippi,
these 100000 acres river bottom, most
ly on the river, are credited with yield
ing ~ per cent. OF the total crop
value of S92,S44,9l5. That is, one
tenth OF the acreage yields more than
one-fourth of the annual crops in
value. The railroad runs from fifteen
TO thirty miles from the Mississippi
river, and has two branches leading
to the river. The report gives various
tables showing from the crop expense
accounts of planters in different por-
tons of the State the cost of cotton
production. The estimate Of aplanter
in a Mississippi river county is CON
densed as follows: Basis, one acre;
yield, $50 pounds lint.