The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1897-01-16
GRENADA, MISS SATURDAY, JANUARY 16, 1897.

wealth. The most beautiful yellow
pine Ia the world, which is being
shipped over the United States and tc
all foreign ports by the millions of feet
every month, is found in Mississippi.
Our cypress forests are also q mine of
wealth5 and our fsc-fbered oak is be-
ginning to attract the attention of the
finishing and furniture manufacturers
OF AnleFica. Now that the Gulf and
Ship TAand Railroad is in operation
and furnishes easy and inexpensive
access to our splerdid Ship Island
harbo1 the lumber industry of the
state hhs been given fresh impetus.
All the mills are running on full time,
and fp eager demand for their output.
The oyster industry Of our gulf-coast
is increasingly remunerative. All the
conditions are favorable to the prowth
Of this luscious bivalve, and we can
challenge the world on the rich yield
of our oyster beds. One Of the many
canning factories on the coast has an
annual sale OF nearly S5OO,O
The central section of the State has
been devoted considerably to truck
growing and fruit raising and to large
profit. One town alone. Crystal
Springs, has increased its shipment Of
vegetables and strawberries from few
car loads ten years ago to $40 car loads
in 1895. The tomato is the leading
article OF production, and is unsur-
passed in the world. Strawberry cul-
ture has also been quite profitable, and
So perfectly is our soil and climate
adapted to its growth that the Missis-
sippi strawberry ranks first in the
great city markets of the country.
One OF the hopeful evidences of II
larger industrial prosperity in our
State is in the increasing number Of
small farmers. The average size OF
farms has decreased from 80 acres in
1850 to 1888 in 1870, to 156 in 1880, and
to l22 in 1890. So it is seen they are
now less than one.third the size of
thirty years ago. The old tenent sys-
TEN and immense plantations are Civ
ing way to the advancing number OF
Industrious, economical -freeholders.
Aad another gratifying fact is that
Mississippi farmers have q less mort
gage Indebtedness than those of any
other part of the whole country.
And that fact suggests an additional
statement about our States financial
condition. The Indebtedness of Mis-
sissippi is about the smallest in the
Union, being only $40 66 per capita,
while the average in the United States
Is Sl14 Is. The recent sale of 100000 |
per cent state bonds commanded a
premium of s! per cent. and the entire
ssue was taken by the citizens OF the
State. Indeed, there has been marked
progress in our financial matters The
'torm Of 1898, which swept over the
country and wrecked so many of the
strongest banking institutions of the
only affected one in this State.
And through the intervening years OF
train and unrest our financial institu-
ions have prospered and multiplied.
)ur interest laws are liberal, and
'mple protection is given the creditor.
Taxes are low. The state tax for
S9G-97 is mills. and county taxes are
United by law to 16 mills. Few of the
ounties approach this limit.
The outlook is most encouraging.
)ur people are contented and happ>,
'eing an agricultural pcople-havin@
10 city in our State of 10000 nhabi-
ants-they are conservative and moral.
he very class on which the nation can
rely in every time, whether
+ danger or prosperity.
A.. J. MCLAURIN.