Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1893-06-03
A PLEA FOR MISSISSIPPI.
Gov. Stone on the Great Work the
State Has Done.
impoverished by War, Its Citizens Were
Undaunted-Now the State Offers Much
to Capital and Labor-A Spien-
did Field For Agricultural
Pursuits. r.


to Capital and Labor-A Splen-
did Field For Agricultural
Pursuits.
[ Written for The News World 5 .Fair Southern
Edition. II
JACKSON, MISS, May /, 1893.
Awaiting myself Of the opportunity
afforded by your generous offer to pub
lish, in the columns OF the Worlds Fair
Southern Edition of the News coha2
munication from each Of the Governors
OF the Southern States, setting forth the
resources, growth and promises Of his
State, together with the advantages
that may be presented for immigration
tosand investments In the sevssS States |,
Of the South, I beg to submit few
hasty remarks in behalf OF the State OF |
Mississippi.
There was perhaps no State in the
South that suffered more severely from
the results of the war than Mississippi.
Her wealth, prior to the war between
the States, consisted chiefly OF her
lands and her slaves. The accumula-
tion OF wealth in this State meant the
extension of the broad acres owned by
the planter, and the increased number
of his slaves. He sought to make money
only to be invested in slaves and land.
When the war was ended he found him
self in possession OF vast plantations OF
the most fertile lands on the globe, but
his slaves had been emancipated, his
labor was gone, his taxes accumulated,
and he was impoverished and oppressed
| ty his wealth. Thus it was that those
who had never known anything but
comfort and ease and luxury became
| the poorest and most dependent of all
our people. Their families had been
| pardonable assurance, which the sur
roundings seemed to give, that no effort
| would ever be necessary on their part
to perpetuato the at,luence in which
they had always lived. Many of them
were trained to nothing but ease and
idleness and when left to their own re-
sources they were as helpless as chill
dren. What means they had were soon
exhausted, then their lands went and
they we're left to struggle for existence
with the advantages all against them.
| When the war ended and reconstruc'
tion followed, we had to endure con
dition of things but little better thar
war. Aliens and strangers infested the
State, and they, with our former slaves
dominated tho government in every de
partment for ten years. But when thi'
state OF things was no longer endurable
: and forbearance ceased to be virtue
the people of Mississippi rose in thei
might, threw off the yoke of despotism
asserted their right to home rule, an'
since 1875 the government of Mississippi
has been in the hands of her own pee
pie; and it may be safely assertedthat i
, no State in the Union can there b
: found more wholesome code of laws
or one in which they are moro faithful
r executed.
a The lands OF Mississippi Are great
diversified. We have that vast area
d alluvial lands lying in the Mississippi
y Yazoo Delta, extending all along tn
west side OF the State, which is ira
), ersed by the Louisville, New Orleans
= Texas Railroad from north to soutl
and is the most fertile and productiN
Il land in the world. Much Of it is sti
!, in its primitive state and abounds
timbers of great value. These lan'
6. are worth from IS to $50 per acre, a
,. cording to improvements. Heretofo
Il the floods have been menace to Il
i. people of the great valley, but thu
have perfected a levee system in whit
}. they feel secure. The levees were p
N to a severer test last spring than ey
lie before. The water, nearly to the top
N the levees, with its immense weight al
IL strong current, stood against them
j. months without single break. T.
water was higher, perhaps, than ev
VI before, and stood much longer again
-, - tho levees, and the people now feel tn
" with proper diligence they are forov
free from overflow, and that they ha
the finest country on the globe.
The prairie lands in the eastern p;
a Of the State, traversed by the Mobile
NO Ohio Railroad, while not so producti
he as those in the Delta, are very valuab
and can be bought upon the most reast
cd able terms. While they are good colt
he lands, they are also adapted to
be growth of corn, small grain, clover
for the grasses Of all kinds; and, indeed,
everything that is grown in this Sou
ver ern climate. The price Of these lal
he varies from IS to SIS per acre, perh'
wn some little above that figure.
no FORESTS OF FINE TIMBER.
The southern portion OF the State
wn vast forest Of the finest pine timber
cl the world, and the lands sell from s.
IN. IS per acre, according to the facilit
for transportation. Much OF these la
pr are very productive, and the countr.
NV interspersed with small farms, but I'll
chief value is in the timber 1t is
=, that great deal of the timber has b
in taken away, especially that nearest
.e. streams and railroads, but there is
TO vast quantity easily accessible to bt
The climate is delightful, especiall.
old that portion lying along the sea sh
the and it is all exceedingly healthful
inc Throughout other portions OF
ooh State, lands will be found OF ain
every description, from rich valleys
has table lands to the poorest sandy h
San Much OF the land in Central and No
east Mississippi is uneven, rolling
tad hills and valleys; the hill lands
had generally thin, while the valleys
az level uplands are usually rich and
,a.d ductiye. The whole country is
, 20 timbered, we'll watered, healthy,
rom the price of the land is as varied as
quality, ranging from 50 cents to sic
tion acre.
.,.t The minerals Of Mississippi amc
ooo to but little, so far as any have
rast developed. Lead, iron and coal
.ns been discovered, but not in quant
.AA Atxvn