The Banner-Democrat., 1900-10-13
AN INTERESTING LETTER.

/ The New Orleans Picayuue OF Sep
tembsg 28th. contains the following
interesting letter about the progress o
our little city. 1t is written by it
Especial correspondent of this place
who is known by many of our citizens
and who is always to be found in tht
front ranks in everything that tend:
to the advancement and upbuildins
of our town:
Lake Providence is the only town oi
any importance in this state on the
Mississippi river north of Red river. |,
Is situated in the vertex of an angle
formed by the Mississippi river and the
lake Providence. about seventy.five
miles north of Vicksburg, Miss, and
seventy-five miles south of Greenville,
Miss.
1t is the seat of East Carroll parish.
which has always been regarded as
THE BANNER COTTON PARISH
of the state because producing more
cotton to the acre than any other par
ish in the state, and growing long
staple cotton. known in the New Or
leans market as the '.bender" staple.
Lake Providence was Incorporated as
town as early as 1874, and. though
favorably situated and surrounded by
the richest and most fertile country, it
did not increase rs rapidly as was ex-
pected, the census of 1880 giving the
population of the town as only 642
habitants a .s-.fsk
In 1892 the Lake Providence Build.
ing and Loan Association was organ
lied and chartered under the laws of
the state. and Immediately began for
Lake Providence
A PERIOD OF GROWTH
which still continues. Thanks to this
local building association the popula-
tion of the town has nearly doubled in
eight years, lt.has now over 1900 in
habitauts. and the assessed value of the
town is $22S.0o0. This building asso-
citation continues to do good work in
securing home for every deserving
citizen and in taking care of the saw
ings of the poor. One remarkable fact
about this organization is that the
stockholders of it in tins town are
equally numbered in the two races,
just one-half of the stockholders being
white and the other half negroes 1t
is ofticere6 as follows: President, E. j.
Hamley; vice president, c. S. Wyly;
secretary, C.f. Davis; treasurer. j. S.
Guenard; attorney, j. +. Ransdell.
The leading religious denominations
are well represented in Lake Provi-
dence, The Methodists haye large
congregation, with the Rev. II. O.
White pastor; the Episcopalians have
fine church and rectory, with the Rev.
F. .. b. Boberg pastor; the Catholics
have nice church and priests house,
with the Rev. c. Maize rector.
The Lake Providence High School
for boys and girls, c. T. Egelly, super
intent, has nice and commodious
building on the banks of the beautiful
lake, with an average attendance of
l25 pupils and the following corpse of
teachers: Prof. Robert Roberts. prin-
cipal; S. B. Kennedy, assistant priu-
cipal, and Misses Eddie Bass, Mary
Beard and Carrie jackson, teachers.
The eolored school has principal.
Prot. F. H. Mitchell, and two assist
ants.
Lake Providence has weekly news
paper, the Banner-Democrat edited by
MIR. S. B. Kennedy, and published by
Mr.. j. N. Turner, proprietor.
Although Lake Providence has never
enjoyed the doubtful distinction of
modern boom, it's growth and develop
mont in the past five years haye been
steady and remarkable. Over 125
houses were built during that time:
nine brick stores. with iron and pressed
brick fronts and plate glass windows.
were built in the past two years. and
four more brick stores are nearing
On the 4th of September last year
began operation with capital stock |
Of $50, 900. and. though for nearly two
on account of quarantine |
the bank did business |
without glass IN its windows and no
,ther Office fixtures but its safe, on the |
th of September of this year it de-
Jared dividend of 10 per cent and |
laced 3 l-2 per cent to its snrplus
and. Its officers are: S. w. Smith. !