The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1897-04-16
THE GULF COAST COUNTRY.
Editor Democrat Star.

| have received a letter from a
doubling Thomas Of Cave Springs,
Ala, saying, 'if you have such a par
adise, why is it that it has not been
settled long ago." He seems to think
that the blanket Of ycraCity has been
strained The man who lives in Il
cave should never doubt there being
a better country than the one he lives
in. While | will answer him in de-
tail, the purpose Of this letter is to
still farther describe the Gulf Coast
country. The home-sepker may find
climate and soil to his taste and pur
pose. He can find corn lands, cotton
and cane lands, fruit and vegetable
lands. But farmers who have been
raising staple crops like wheat and
cotton have learned that the ruling
prices Of these products are not Suf-
ticiently rcmuneratiyc, and this, with
other causes, make people in that sec
lion Of country long fox brighter pros
poets elsewhere. And they are look
ing for it ON the Gulf Coast Of MisSiS-
Sippi, where the profits in fruit and
vegetables, rice and cane are so much
more satisfactory. The conditions
herein set forth are principally appll-
cable to Jackson county, and the rca-
son that this country has not been
settled is explained in the fact that
until few years ago the lands here
were given over almost wholly to
vast herds Of cattle. The abundant
growth OF grass and plentiful rainfall,
together with the mild climate, in
Surcd better results to cattle men than
could be obtained in the Northern
and Western States. 1t was free
range and large herds roamcd at will
The greatest portion Of the land be-
longed to the public domain and was
subject to homestead entry. The
fruit-growcrs and truck. farmers soon
saw the advantages OF the climate
and commenced making encroach-
mcnts on the range, ana finally forced
the cattle men to abandon stock
raising And the vast acres Of pas
turage are fast disappearing and Civ
my place to orchards, uck-farmS,
cane and rice plantations. AS in all
new countries, lands are cheap and
there is yet some lands that can be
pre-empted, and in this way fine
home can be had for a few dollars.
Strawberries exceed all other fruit
in profits, while it has for the new
settler or beginner the additional ad
vantage Of bringing in fair return
the first season after planting, The
following estimates taken from a re-
liable source is considered conserva-
tive, and is for one acre Of wild land:
One acre of land ...............,...S $40 90
Breaking the first time &C.. ...,,....,. 90
Narrowing and rebreaklng .......... 3 90
Thirteen thousand strawberry plants. 26 90
Planting and fertllizing ...... ........ 10 90
Cultlvation .......,,..,..,.. .'., .., w
T0tal......... ......, .......... S59 10
This one acre set ont in October
will, If properly cared for, net the
owner the following spring $500 to
500; and the second year $500 to
$500. Sugar cane is one OF the most
profitable. as well as the most reliable
crops that can be grown anywhere.
1t yields a profit of $40 to 800 per
acrc-one acre Of land turning off
twenty tons Of cane where it is well
fcrtilzed and cultivated. After plant
ing the expense Of cultivation is about
the same as corn. The drawback to
the extension and popularity of cane
growing heretofore has been the large
amount Of capital required to erect
and equip the necessary sugar.houses
and plants for converting the cane
into sugar and syrups. Only the
wealthy were able to engage in the
business. But with the inauguration
OF the central factory SYSTEM so well
and successfully operated in Cuba
an1 now beng introduced with equal
success in Louisiana, by which the
growing OF cane and its manufacture
into sugar is separated, the cultiva.
tion Of sugar cane in this section is
destined to become one Of the most
profitable and popular branches of
farming, For the past few years tho