Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1902-08-06

$IA\ j. +. Merry, OF the ILLINOIS Central
NRkZ w railroad, is authority for the state
~ ment that at the present time there
%k,A2 is the most active demand for farm
90 "a lands ever known in this country,
~ - says the Memphis Commercial
Appeal. "At no time in the his
tory of the United States, said he,
"has there been such a phenomenal advance In
prices as during the past three years.
"Unimproved hardwood timber lands Of the best
quality yet the market at points in Mississip
pi, between Memphis and Vicksburg, from 81 to $40
per acre. The cost OF clearing and fencing these
lands is not to exceed $40 per acre. and, when clear
ed, they will grow bale Of cotton worth from S4O
to $50 per bale or go bushels Of worth from 60
cents to 81 per bushel, to the acre. Every real
estate agent VINO has studied the agricultural condi
iOns Of this country understands how, with the
rapid increase in population, making constantly
increasing demand for everything eatable, it is ut
tery impossible for fertile lands to remain at pres
ent values u any section Of our country either north
or south.
Southern farm lands are too low, as compared
with the market value of uther farm products TC
illustrate: In Iowa lands selling in the market for
$50 to $40 per acre rented for only So per
In Mississippi, and especially in the great cotton
belt Mississippi valley, improved plantations car
be bought at from, $50 to S35 per acre, cash, or
what is better at the present high price Of cotton
for 100 pounds Of lint cotton per acre; and upon
which the taxes are not more than half what they
are in Illinois and Iowa.
GAN indications point to an increased demand
and increased local market for all kinds OF southern
farm products. The development OF southern oil
fields furnishing cheap fuel is attracting the atnen
tiOn of manufacturers.
'eThe construction Of an interoceanic canal
whether at Panama or Nicaragua, will make New
Orleans the gateway of important new markets thai
use largely the mining, manufacturing and agricul
tural products of the south. 1t will be the means
- 1rn - kanw
capitalists to the fertile lands of the Mississippi
valley 1t will result in large investments OF north
ern capital, which is invariably followed by immi
grafton and a rapid advance in the price of farm
lands.
tIn Illinois the advance has been from 800 tC
$3.50 per acre; In Iowa from $50 to $50 and ever
higher; in Minnesota from $15 to $780, and in SOutf
Dakota from S2.5Oto $50. Real estate prophets anC
others have each year predicted the top had beer
reached and that prices must decline. Such how
ever, has not been the case. On the contrary no
Only practical farmers, but bankers, mechanics
merchants and manufacturers, with idle money
have shown their confidence in the future OF cutiva
table lands by making liberal land investments anC
the prices have continued to go higher and higher
''The question now agitating the minds OF the Tea
estate agents. through whom 80 per cent OF all tht
farm lands are sold, is, where can we find Low
priced real estate and where viii be the next
advance in landsf I advise all real estate agents
cation now points to the south the center Of th
next great BOOM"
This succinct array of facts with many others /
being set fourth in real pamphlet form and circu
lated by Mr. Merry throughout the country, TO
which the south, and especially Mississippi, is un
der debt Of gratitude to him.
Relatively to officers and men in the navy, VI
shall soon have ships to burn. We have Iai'
down the keels Of many more battleships cruisers
gunboats, destrOyers and torpedo boats than VI
have OF the keels of future sailor men. We shal
build the ships-we are building a score of then
now. Shall we burn themf Scarcely. We shal
merely put some Of the best Of them out Of com
mission, and lay them up at the navy yards with
slender watch of men to paint them and grease th
guns now and then, and leave them there to b
forgotten It is always well, as even a ferrymal
could tell Us that a master and his mates shall b.
in touch with their boat, if they wish to get tn
best results out Of her. Known we'll to them, sh
acts as she will act for no stranger. In war, tn
strange sympathy that exists between men ant
ships may turn the tide of a battle. But we ar
planning to lay some OF our best and newest ship
on the shelf until we need them and then to pu
aboard them suddenly crews that are mixture 0
strangers to them and Of utter lubbers, and sent
them forth to instant victory. For practical peO
pie we are guilty of some acts Of the most imprac
ticable folly heard Of. This business Of build
ing ships and providing no men for them is one 0
these instances OF our folly And our continued
indifference to the necessity Of holding up, by help
ful legislation, merchant marine from which sail
ors for our navy can be recruited, is another.
It is proper that the United States should 2
about the task which it has toadminister in th
Philippine islands in q way Of its own. No on
else has attempted to do the liberal and cOnstTuctiV
thing that We are doing there. England has neve