Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1897-01-14
MiSSISSlP?is
INDUSTRIAL
OUTLOOK.
The Wealth ofOur Spleen
did wealth is
in Her ~oil.Climate and
Forests

did Commonwealth is
in Her ~oil.CIimate and
Forests.
IL gives me pleasure IL e0m-
ply with your request for a brief
account of the resources and IN
dustrial outlook of Mississippi
Ny only embarrassment Is in
having to compress within 50
small space a statement which
should command a volume.
Mississippi i an agricultural
State. without mineral resour-
ces. and as Yet very few manu-
Gicturing industries The wealth
of our splendid Commonwealth
j. IN her soil, climate. forests
and citizenship In variety and
fertility of soil. IN her healthful
and genial SEASONS. IN the mar
I fse1-6us prFidetS-T her pine.
oak and cypress forests and the
lefty character and hospitality
of her citizens, Mississippi has
scarcely an equal in our great
sistcrhood of States
There are four grand dlvIS-
ions of Mississippi distinctly
marked by differences IN soil
and forest-the YaZoc- Nisslssip-
pi delta. the Northeast Prairie
region. the Central hill section
and the Gnlf coast, including
He vast pIue lands of the State
the alluyial land of tie far
tm.d delta. ply characterize
~ the eloquent PrentlSS 1.-THE
eornueopIa of the world, Is the
teal cotton region of the plane
With indifferent culture Il eas
yields Il bale To the acre, an
pectuse of its strength of fibf,
n length of stlD'e commands
a premium in the markets of
the world. y report of the
United States Department of
Ngriculture thus compares tie
annual crop vatues of improved
lands in Mississippi and other
States;
Per acre.
In Mississippi -------- sl2 II
- Illinois IT Il
- Indiana -----.--- ----------s p
=. Iowa ----- -------.---- . -
Now. when we consider that
much of the hill and sandy lands
of the State are FAR less produe-
tive than this Nile valley of
America and idea may be given
of its marvellous fertility. The
delta also produces an average
of thirty bushels of Indian corn
per acre. hay of the finest quail
IL. Irish and sweet potatoes at
a net profit of so Der acre, .
all fruits that grow in SENT
cal count les
The Prairie region r.
every crop knOwTx Ae
Southern soil and ca " *
eept the orange
1t Was once eharae'
corn and meat sur ~ a
of the State. In a IA To Its
numerous crops more diversified,
perhaps. than 0theer sections. II
has become the great center Of
MIssissippI's stock industry.
The immense cotton fields of
other years have been Lard off
into meadows and pastures for
horses. mules. cattle and hogs
of the finest blood and breed.
NississippIs lumber region
since the great forests of the
Northwestern States have been
deuuded. Is now unequa!led in
/ America. Ii y estimated that
our standing timber amounts to
over 15,Oou,Oca,000 feet An
authority ON this subject af
firms that If q system of fOresty
was in force that provided for
the replanting and care of a tree
for every one cut down. Mi>sis-
sippi eOgld manufacture upward
of 30o. 600. Oo0 feet ut lumber
every year and still possess a
perpetuIty in her lumber wealth
The most beautiful pine IN the
woIIi. which l. being shipped
over the United States and To
all foreign ports by the millions
of feet every month. l. found IN
Mississippi Our cypress for
ests are also u mine of wealth.
and our fine tibred oak Is begin
ming TO attract the attention of
the finishing and furniture
manufacturers of America New
that the Gulf x Ship Island
Railroad l. IN operation and
furnished easy and inexpensive
access to our splendid Ship
Island haTbor. the lumber indus
try of the State has been given
2 fresh impetus. All the mills
are running on full time, and
iiud eager demand for their out I
put.
The oyster industry of our
Gulf coasts Is increasingly re-
munerative. All the conditions
are favorable TO the growth of
the luscious bivalve, and we can
challenge the world on the rich
yield of our oyster beds. One
of the mary canning factories
on the coast has an annual sale
of nearly $500 O00.
The central section of the
State has been devoted eonsid-