The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1899-04-05
MISSISSIPPI MATTERS.
Notes of Past and Current Events
By J. L. POWER.
Illiteracy In tho Southern States.

Iliiteracy In tho Southern States.
Here is an inquiry: What proportion
of the people of the State of Missis.
! sippi are able to read and write-I mean
by population, every inhabitant of the
State, regardless of color or politics?r
The census of 1890 answers this query
very fully and very satisfactorily, when
Mississippi is compared with other
States of like conditions. According to
the census of 1890 the per cent of il.
literate white population-lO years OF
age and over-was 11.9; colored, 900.
The census of 1880 showed: White pop
ulation, 1885, colored, 75.2.
OF the south central division of States
Mississippi makes better showing
than Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama,
Louisiana and Arkansas. Texas is just
per cent. ahead of her; but the white
was 1.22s,6Ol; Mississippi, 3s5, O99. Mis-
sissippi had 1S0,775 more colored than
Texas; and has much larger colored
population than either of the States
named
At the session of the legislature of
1896 Senator Hardy introduced a con-
current resolution to amend section 2O6
of the constitution so that it should
read "There shall be common school
fund of 100000, payable out of the
general fund in the State treasury, to
be distributed among the counties and
separate school districts in proportion
to the number of educa BILE children in
each, to be determined from the data
collected from the Office of State super
lntendent of education, in the manner
prescribed by law, and also the poll
tax, to be retained in the counties But
any county or separate school district
may levy an additional tax sufficient to
maintain the schools for four months or
longer He will re-offer this at the
next session, and hopes to see some ac-
tion thereon more than being ire
ferred." The present inequitable dis
tribution of the fund, under the opera
ton of section 2O6, is one of the live
topics now under discussion in the
press and by the people.
The Delta section of Mississippi is
steadily coming to be recognized as the
garden spot of the universe; but when
Col Lamar Fontaine opens to the pub
lie view the ruins of that city of twelve
million inhabitants that he claims to
have recently discovered, we may ex-
pect that lands in that particular To-
cality may jump up to ten thousand
dollars an acre. The gallant Colonel
don't have to go to the Philippines, or
elsewhere outside of Mississippi, to
make discoveries. The State is fertile
in that, as in many other respects.
The Masonic grand lecturer and dis
trict deputy grand masters will meet
for rehearsal of the work and lectures
on the nth inst, and will continue in
session all the week. 1t is in this way
that the secret ritualism of the ancient
craft is preserved and communicated
from age to age.
Congressman A. +. Fox gives notice
that competitive examination for his
district will be held at West Point on
the 14th for applicants to enter the
naval academy-his district being enti-
tied to one. Applicants must be over
Is and under 20 years of age at time of
admission to the academy. Goth of
May next.
jackson is rejoicing in the prospect of
a five-acre park, part of the Echols
tract recently purchased by several
progressive citizens and donated to the
city. 1t is at the head of State street,
near the Institute for the Blind, and on
the electric car route to Lunatic asylum.
The location is beautiful.
Hon. w. V. Sullivan has announced
for the long and short terms in the
United States senate, to be filled by the
next legislature. Ex-Governor Lowry
is also mentioned as probable candi-
date for one of the terms. And there
may be others. So that the prospect Of
a protracted deadlock is first-class.
Heavy frost and thick ice on the
morning of March 20, 1899, is the record
that weather chroniclers were able to
make last Wednesday morning. Fruit
and vegetables were greatly damaged
throughout the State.
The governor has received from the
general land Office patents for State
university lands in Harrison county,
granted under the naval reserve act.
The two patents cover 16, 1885 acres.
Mrs. jefferson Davis and her daugh-
ter, Mrs. Hayes. of Colorado Springs,
are at the old homestead at Beauvoir,
where they will remain several weeks.
The number of female convicts in the
penitentiary is steadily increasing.
There is now surplus for tailoring
and other light work.
The Irwin Russell memorial move
ment continues to grow in public favor.
There is to be a grand rally. for maxi
ing up the funds required, on April IL