The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-07-12
WEST POINT, MISS.
A Thriving Young City With q
Future Full or Promise.
HAS A FINE HEALTH RECORD
centre OF an Agricultural District
Which Produces Great
Crops.
(stan Correspondence New England
NeWBpap@r I,eagual

| Va the Dlack prairie belt OF
Northeastern Mississippi on tho spot
where thres railroad syst.m. meet ,s
situated the city OF West Point IL Is
ABOUT lVO miles south Of the Mississippi
ana iebnessee rivers and the Alabama
state ma Is only 20 miles east New
Oricdhs Is 20 miles away and 81. Louis
81 IL Is new city, with a population OF
oo" AT present. but growing rapidly,
uhrough immigration from the west and
northwest It's advantages of soil and
cnHnate nave already attracted great at
senuon and ths opportunities for manu-
iacturipg are being seized by men OF en-
terprise. Ihe People are social and hos
pitaDIe TO newcomers and intensely pub
lie spirited. The city has every advsnt-
sse IN the way OF municipal improve
nenls. Its sehoois-and- churches are
nsrous az n,bor and and the inducements for men
vance West Point are large.
| as tne chief dependence OF West Point
nr On tne products OF the soil II Is only
OF tne black prairie belt in which II is
| stuaded. This belt is 70 TO 100 miles long
nna ~ to miles wide and is well wa
products and In each OF these the yield
per acre can be made very large with
tns pest farming methods. Under the
| Iuoest methods one-half a bale OF cotton
Is produced. but the rich. black soil under
Ine past cultivation is good for two or
more more paies per acre. Corn yields 40 to 90
crops has greatly increased the prosper
ity or the farmers OF this district and all
lots sorts OF veeetables are grown and mar
remarkably successful and profitable to
those who have tried their cultivation for
had large orSbaFd re do%er w n,y wno , ,1rlginaily
planted $4,000 n ore. His success was such
that q others from northern states have
gone into general fruit raising Celery
growing may be made very profitable, but
Is engaged In only in a small way. Some
OF the lands In the vicinity OF West
muck or clay, the very best soil for the
culture OF celery. This celery grown is
tender OF the finest flavor and COM
msSnds nlsl the highest market price at time
~hen the supply from the northern bsds
Profits Of from $500 to $500 per acre are
The natural facilities for stock raising
OF LAY county and the prairie belt IN
which West Point is situated. are scarce
mSue renunerative and at the Same time
OF sreat velue In enriching the land. The
soI Forage "a nIs5I, nHIaI'ed to the growth Of every
halry vetch for winter pasture, and Ber-
muda grass and lespedeza FOR sumner
| the year round. In addition 70 th.sa ca.s
peas, alfalfa, red clover, meillotus iohn,
son grass and other good forage and graz graz
ing plants can be grown. Then there ss
the corn crop, which, fed In the shan
OF ensilage. is very cheap ana snSps stvpes
good results. The cottonseed. nearly ali
is known to be the best and cReapest
| grain foods and not excelled for fat-
tening. Cotton seed valued at "a cents per
hundred pound: can be fed to stock 30
| and the difference In value In nutritior,
ls small. The mid climate makes un-
necessary expensive bcrns for stock, and
the greater portion o. tho year. Cattle
are not subject TO many OF the diseases
hi whlch prevail In less favored states and
which are heavy charge on the stock
raiser. Tuberculosis is unknown. With
all these advantages II is not surpris-
ing ihat h rs;neap cheaper beef. pork and mutton
where else. Aside from the food value
OF these cattle are the hides and wool.
the markets OF the South are soon sure
and the West indies and Central Ameri, %
ca are export points which will consume
any surplus. Milk. butter and cheese are
fSSner fng aId pdsontao,e ma sdjuncts Of stock rails
| been introduced into Mississippi for the
for,tndation Of the business.
! PoInf Pee rhn rrha,iwway systems serve West
Mobile Ohio at right angles, the first
| running east and vest and the other
ncrtn ana I, south. The Aberdeen branch
Durant on the main line to the Tombig-
pee river and crosses the Mobile & Ohio
sb.,r west Point: These railroads with
West Point direct connection with St
Louis, Cincinnati. New Orleans. Mobile.
Atianta, Washington and other big Cit
rs; ana make II distributing point for
freight or large proportions.
MItn direct connection with tho coal
neids. fuel for steam can be laid down
tn naaI me on,S city & at $50 per ton and crate
Sa very strong recommendation for the
estaonshment OF manufactures in West
rPblns rba and a strong stimulus to them
year about 10000 to 50, 900 bales of cotton,
nhd- cotton cloth or knitting mill IN
ms, rne cry using part o. this product would
compared with mills in other cities not
so weu situated as to supply raw ma
snnsrh er,s The quality Of the cotton is
away from the city is demanded .by The
NILS NILS which make the finest fabrics.
lnere Is every argument In favor OF the
SWventaeIe Wes, P operation Of cotton mill in
20 show what they will do in the way
Sr ,encouragemsnt to capital that will
enlna, onlrd II 4. A 10000 mill TO operate 5000
press and warehouse which West Point
Is now installing. to take the place OF
ene one DESTROYED by IRE, viii be modern in
every particular, capable OF handling and
storing a production largely In excess OF
what has ever been offered, and is ex-
pected TO Increase the size OF the cotton
- 'N~sNh VI cCOuOuly
For an Woodworking establishments
west Point. with its cheap coal and
abundant supply OF lumber. should be a
centre. There Is an enormous quantity OF
hard woods and pine within a few miles
OF the city 10 which II can be easily and
chesply brought Furniture, wagon, stave,
oarrel' crate box and axe handle fac
tories are branches OF WOODWORKING for
whose product there Is an Immense de-
mand throughout Mississippi and ada
cent states. Iron and coal are cheaply
brought together in West Point. and
foundries and machine shops for the man
ufactura-ssf agricultural Implements now
all brought into the state offer an ex-
cellent field for the investment OF capital.
Brick and tile making is profitable in
West Point as is the Manufacture OF
building materials. broom factory, ci-
gar factory, vinegar factory and fertilizer
works are among the industries that
would hnd ready demand for their
products In West Point and the trfbn-
tary country.
Some OF the Industries operated in West
Point are brick and tile factory, foun-
dry and machine shop. lumber and plan-
ing mill. wagon works, ice factory and
botting works, canning factory, box and
berry crate factory. hardwood lumber