Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1904-03-31

all the States of the North and East,
as we'll as most of those in this Sec
tion. The list below, taken from gov
srnment reports, will show this state
ment to be true:
Av. for U. 8. 1909 Virginia 49,. 1882
Massachus'ts 1859 Texas ....... 10. .53
Maryland -. 1910 Kentucky ..14S9
New York. :. 1880 Alabama -. .14.20
Tennessee 1850 Georgia -. 1897
Mississippi. .12.So
Now who. in the face of such fig
ares as these, can truthfully say that
ours is not one of the heathiest
States in the Union? Then, too, in
considering these figures, it would be
we'll to bear in mind that our popu-
tation is over half colored, and the
mortality rate with theE Is greater
than with the whites.
The magic little city Of Laurel, way
down in Jones county, is at it again
Her people are made of the stuff that
won't quit Not satisfied with build
ing a town of six thousand people in
few years, they are now boring Tor
oil and want to make it great many
thousand more In few weeks. The
oil company has been chartered, paid
up the first assessment. contracted
for a well and gone to work. The
reason for this belief in the existence
Of oil in that territory is this: A
spring a few miles from town has car
ried oil on its surface for several
years. The land formation is identical
with that at Spindle Top, Tex, where
oil was found in such paying quanti-
ties. At one time the Standard Oil
Company took options on all the land
through that section, but let the mat
ter drop without investigation. They
consider this no sign that there was
no oil, for 1t is generally known that
this company is not after developing
new fields, but In controlling those al
ready developed. They have great
faith In striking something rich, and
every man in Mississippi who cares
for the advancement of his State will
rejoice with them should their efforts
prove successful. Pity 1t is that we
haven't more Laurels in the State.
Railroad activity is not in the least
diminished While the Mobile, jack
son & Kansas City is building from
Laurel to Pontotoc, almost the entire
length of the State, the Belzoni
branch of the Y. & NJ. V. Is almost
completed to Yazoo City, the Mem
phis & Gulf will soon be put under
contract from Grenada to Meridian. a
new roads being projected through the
central portion of the State from Bir.
mingham to Canton, the survey has
been made for a road from lndianola
to the Mississippi river and the South.
ern is contemplating the extension OF
its road from Greenwood to Memphis
So it would seem that our grand old
State is to be the scene of much rail
road activity in the near future Moth
ing tends to develop and build up the
country as railroads and with pleasure
we welcome them to the State.
That was a pretty serious matter
of getting half a dozen or more bills
lost just as the legislature was adj
journing. They did not arrive in the
governors Office until after both
houses had adjourned. One of the
most important was allowing poll
taxes to be retained in counties where
collected. AS the matter now stands
this cannot go into effect until the
legislature conyenes again two years
from now 1t might not be bad idea
for the people to exact from each can
didate for the legislature in the fu-
ture to make a pledge to remain IN
Jackson until the business had been
attended to and then make the sue
cessful candidate give a bond to carry
out the pledge.
The cut-over land in south Missis-
sippi is especially adapted to the cul-
ture of tobacco, rice, tomatoes,
peaches, peas, all berries, especially
Strawberries, sugar cane, melons,
evey kind of vegetable, pecans, figs
etc. Some of the railroads that run
through that part of the State are TAX
ing an interest, through their indus
trial departments, in placing these
facts before the people of the North
and WILL no doubt, be successful IN
settling it with thrifty residents
There is great future for this sec
ton of our State.
Next week the writer expects to
have something to say about the weed
ramie, which grows wild in several
portions of Mississippi. The fibre is
many times stronger than silk or cot
ton and is being practically used for
underwear and other purposes.
After April 20 the loafer and idler
will have TO go to work or leave Mis-.
sissippi. The Wells vagrant law goes
into effect on that day and it is to
be hoped that the officers of the law
will see that 1t is strictly enforced
The demand for labor is great.
What have you done for Mississippi
this week? If nothing is the answer
make up your mind to have better
report at the end of next week.
It is authoritiyely reported that
work will soon commence on an cleo.
trio road to run from Crystal Springs
to Wesson. One is also projected
from Summit to Magnolia via Nc.
Comb. Both will likely be built dur
ing the coming summer.
railway seems to be an assured fact
at last. 1t has been incorporated by
men with means and the announce
ment made that active work will be
gin shortly. The route proposed Is
from Pass Christian to Gulfport, alone
the water front, which is an almost
continuous town.
Houston, an old town in Chickasav
county. but a new railroad town, Ii
all right. A large handle factory wanted
to locate there. A meeting of the Busi
ness League was called and site witt
a we'll of water donated unanimous
ly. The factory acce,ted and viii
soon commence active operations il
the way of construction. That's th'
way to locate factories. The day ha'
gone by when manufacturing plant
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