The leader., 1899-05-24
FROM 1857 TO 1899.
Read by Col. j. l.. Power Before Mississippi
Press Association on Steamer
Natchez, May 10, 1899.

Read by Col. J. l.. Power Before Mississippi
Press Association on steamer
Natchez, May 16, 1899.
Mr.. President, Ladies ana Gentlemen:
When our secretary was arranging a
program he asked me if he might set
me down for a topic of my own selec-
ton, and | consented to try and fill
some gap not otherwise occupied. And
as had no time in which to prepare an
impromptu speech, or paper, have jot-
ted down few thoughts that come as
the result of a hurried review of the
space in time since | first saw and rode
on the steamer "Natchcz" in Decem ber
1857, when the genial and generous
Tom feathers was captain, and his
queenly craft skipped over the Father
of Waters like a thing of life. That
was specially memora BILE trip to me;
and my only regret of this trip, thus
far, is that the bride of forty-two years
ago is not along to renew the ac-
qua.ntancc of old friends, and to meet
so many of this genial company who
have received the imprint of nativity
during those two-score and two years.
Forty-two years ago the steamboat
was the favOrite mode of travel. Those
floating palaces were things of beauty
that can never be forgotten.
There We're only $1,000 miles of rail
road then in the United States: today
there are upward of $500. In 1857
Mississippi had 800 miles; today she has
2,G+S and 95 under construction.
In 1851 there were less than 1000
miles of telegraph wire in the United
States. In 1899 the total is up.5ard of
1000, 900. Mississippi has 300 miles,
with 800 commercial telegraph Offices.
In 1857 there were no telephones; up
ward of 500, 000 niles Of wire today,
and of this total 1000 arc in Mississippi.
In 1851 the population of the United
States was less than $4,000, 900; in 1890
G2, ga, 250. In 1899, including her colo
NAL possessions, 81, 900 900, and by the
end of the century will be easily in
creased to 100, 900.
In 1891 Mississippi had population
easily reaches l,500,000
In 1857 there were no public schools
in Mississippi. Today the State has
school system that it is the pride of our
people to maintain and perfect, with an
enrolment of $4,000, per centage of
attendance of children of educable age
exceeded By only one State in the
Union. Her university and colleges
and numerous high schools and acad-
emies are fully equal TO many that have
heretofore attracted orr youth to other
States; while her |. |. q c. is the pioneer
and pearl of all the colleges tablished
Tor the industrial training of women.
In this, as in other important directions,
1.-THE Mississippi plan" has furnished
the model for other commonwealth to
follow.
The agricultural development of the
State is indicated by the fact that in
1857 the entire acreage was divided into
~, $40 farms: in 1890, 144,3lS farms; in
1899, about 175, 900 farms.
Mississippi has the smallest debt of
any State in the Union-$19,66 per
capita; the average for all the States
being Sl4h13. She is among the lowest,
however, in per capita wealth, which
may help to explain the smallness of
her debt. So that poverty, with States
as with individuals, may be a blessing
in disguise. But the disguise is rather
thin.
do not know what the health of Mis-
sissippi was in 1857; but Uncle Sam says
it was excellent in 1S9O-12.s9 to 1000
States being 1900.
The United States has had twelve
presidents since 1s57-of whom 10 were
Republicans and two Democrats.
Mississippi has had 10 governors since
1857, of whom seven were Democrats
and three Republicans. And there are
at least six worthy citizens willing to
be numbered as eleventh in succession.
Since 1857 Mississippi has contributed
her full quota of great and good men to
all the professions and pursuits of life
to the church, the State, the pulpit and
press, tDc OdT anu oCuOOlS. III Tile
conflicts of war and the victories of
peace since then many of her sons have
inscribed their names high on the roll of
fame, including the illustrious and inn
mortal four fferson Davis, Lucius Q.
c. Lamar, James u. George and Edward
Carey Walthall.
Just three years after 1857 Mississippi
tried to secede from the Union; but
after four years of what is figuratively
styled the eiru war, and an gRcicH war
of reconstruction, she receded, and is
again in good shape in the column of
States-one of the brightest and fairest
answering to her name on the flag.
That civil war tested the patriotism and
established the valor of nearly 1900, 900
OF men, and now the heroism of the
''gray" is the glory of the blue" and
the pluck and prowess of both is recog-
nized and appreciated across the big
pond as. never before. Dixie and
Dewey, Yankee Doodle and the Bonnie