The Grenada sentinel., 1898-10-29

ATTRIBUTE OUR STATE
.msrcially In Most Interesting Ana
Comprehensive Manner.
'sThe Empire Of the South" II the
title of q volume just published BY the
Southern railway. Every State and
every, particular interest of the coun.
try east of the Mississippi and south Of
the Potomac and Ohio rivers Is treated
in . broad. vigorous and interesting
manner. The author, Frank Presbrey,
has been for months engaged in the
preparation Of the book. It is q volume
which is sure to do the South an IN
cslculsble amount Of good. From ad-
vanced sheets we take pleasure in quot
ing from the chapter devoted to Missis-
sippi as follows:
1t ID not possible to better express general
idea Of the resources Of Mississippi than In the
language Of Mr.. Carlisle: This noble common
wealth is essentially and -eminsntly m
agricultural State. Nature designed and fash
i0ned 1t to bless and reward the labors Of the
husbandmen. Its geological formations appear
to exclude 1t from the profits OF the mine and
quarry, but what the State lacks In mineral rs-
sources, sometimes tFansitory and always in the
end exhaustive. Is more than c0unterbalanced
by generous, responsive soil, an almost ideal
climate, and productions the value Of which 10
not excelled in any part Of the Union. The nrst
Europeans who trod ito soll-ths adventurous
and romantic expedition Of Hernaudo DeSot0-
found It's surface richly carpeted with tho ma
tive grasses. and maize or Indian corn, one Of
the chief foods Of mankind. of such luxurtaRt
growth as to produce three or four ears to the
stalk No State In the Union has been moro
literally endowed BY Nature with all the condi-
tions favorable to agriculture. In ono sense Of
the word Mississippi 10 still new state with ito
immense natural advantages Is yet mainly un-
appropriated. Its great forests OF valuable
woods have been comparatively little depleted;
many Of Its numerous fine mill and manulactur-
Ing sites await the power Of skill and capital;
more than half its area remains untouched by
the husbandman, while the part already in culti-
walton may be made to double it, productive
power by improved methods Of agriculture.
But despite tho fact that general geological
appearances seem to be against 1t, there are
many who hold firmly to the belief that portions
Of the State contain extensive coal beds. There
are distinct traces Of coal along the edge Of the
hills bordering the Yazoo Valley on tho east,
especially In Holmes county near Tchuia. where
tests on an extensive scale are contemplated.
lnt has hoo NJ
Ill pretentiOns to mineral wealth and still take
terial advantages.
The area Of the State is $3.50 square miles, or
x. .s5s. 400 acres, being 1883 miles wide and $50
miles long, and with river frontage along the |
Of 357 miles. The number OF acres
used a. farm lands, as shown by tho most au-
horitative statistics 10 l,5725A7, $50 $50 acres
II which are In actual cultivation. These lands /
sre divided into A. ,3l8 FARMS the average size
II which Is Ia acres. The population Of the |
state is estimated to be 1,5oo.Ooo, having in
'reased from 7si, ,aa5 in 1860.
The surface Of the State generally Is undulat-
ne, with gradual slope from north to south. |
The YazoO Delta Is not included In this general |
description, being composed Of level bottom
ands and alluvial soil. The highest elevations
o be found in the State are in Tippah and Union
ounties in the northeast where some Of the
ills reach an altitude Of 1000 feet; the greatest
levation 10 the central portion OF the State IL
rom 3OO to 500 feet, while the surface near the
ulf coast is only from 20 to 30 feet above the
ea level. All this part Of the State 10 we'll
rained by creeks and rivers.
The Yazoo Delta or bottom lands lie in the
orthwestern part Of the State and occupy one
ixth OF the area OF the State. This section has
navigable streams, such as the Yazoo,
.alobusha, Tallahatchie and Sunfower rivers,
nd Is dotted with lively and prosperous towns.
he lands Of this section are among the richest
. the whole world, and the region is rich In
mber, among which are twelve varieties Of oak,
, addition to ASH, locust, gum, cypress, maple,
tckory, wormwo0d and others.
This remarkable section deserves more than
passing notice. 1t Is very near = v-shaped
iece Of land. the point Of the V beginning at
10 mouth OF the Yazoo river, about mile north
Vicksburg, and run5ing nearly to the north
ne Of the Stale, the Yaz0o river being its east.
rn boundary. The Delta contains $500 900
cres. 1t has good drainage, rs Horn Lake,
the head Of the Delta, is l14 feet above the
louth Of the Yazoo. and there Is not single
wamp In its entire area. Lar, navigabie
;reams flow through the Delta, rflking q per.
'ct network Of waterways, aud there are
,irty y-0ne Of these that are travcrsed by steam
pats Of from nifty to one Thousand tons burden.
. addition to these, there are many large bay.
Us, which are used 10 floating out timber, and
,ese are available for two or three months ip
10 year. The soil Is wholly alluvial, having
zen deposited by the overnows Of the Missis.
mi river dnrino thA auAa m NJ and nouv that |