The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1904-03-05
FOR GREATER MISSISSIPPI
Items Of Industrial Interest GeaneJ From All Ovs the State.
Notes and Comments
BY n. E. BLAKEsLEE.
BY n. E. BLAKEsLEE.

animal adapted to the hill section OF
Mississippi. The raising of these ami
mails for profit has gotten far beyond
the experimental stage in many sec
lions of the country. and the writer
believes that the hills of our State
would prove especially well adapted
to their propagation.
They were first introduced into the
United States in 1849. The sultan of
Turkey presented DIR. James B. Davis,
of Columbia, S. c., with nine of these
animals. They were shown at fairs
and other public places and every
where attracted much attention. In
1853 the herd was purchased by Col.
Richard Peters, of Georgia, who is gen.
orally looked upon as the pioneer of
the industry in the States. In 1881
the importation was prohibited by the
sultan and none have been brought
over since. Those in the country now
came from the importations Of very
few years.
For many years but little interest
was paid them, but later on the peo
pie of the West became interested
and now in some States the angora is
the principal industry Texas, New
Mexico, Arizona, California, Missouri,
Iowa and other States have numbers
of them and interest is increasing to
such an extent that it is believed that
1t will result in establishing an indus
try that will extend to every part Of
the country.
The angora Is hardy animal aud
only suffers by very cold rains. The
heavy fleece tends to exclude cold, but
when full of water becomes a menace
instead. The greatest expense of
goat ranch in most of tn States men,
toned Is protecting them during the
long and severe winters. This IL one
strong point in favor of our State,
with its short and mild winters. The
cost of raising goat here would be
much less than in the colder coun-
tries. They are browsers, not graz
ers, and could almost go through with
out feed, getting nourishment from
tender twigs and small branches of
trees. For this reason alone they are
lAuCn pIILCu WACE6 IL Is uSSlEdUIG "
get rid of underbrush preparatory to,
clearing land. A small herd of an
goras will in an incredibly short time
clear out all underbrush. The lower
grades are used for this purpose and
are commonly called brush clearers.
They are raised for their fleece, flesh
and hide. The pure angoras produce
a fine quality of mohair that COM
mands large price on the market.
This mohair brings from fifty cents
to two dollars per pound, according to
the length, fibre and handling. The
flesh is especially priced where known
and in some Of the larger cities there
are markets that make a speciality of
their meat. The hide with fleece on
is used for rugs, trimming, etc., and
commands good price.
The staid old city of Aberdeen has
awakened to the necessity of indus
trial development and Is now forging
to the front as a manufacturing city
of the latest type. A new light and
power company has been chartered,
| pants factory put in successful oper-
alton, factory for the manufacture
of buttons from mussle shells Is build
ing and there are many evidences of
prosperity in all lines. Who would
have taken seriously. the proposition
to make buttons from shells of the
despised mussle few years ago? But
| it Is being done, and at a profit. This
factory opens UP field for using these
shells and will afford employment to
great number of persons in gather
| ing them. Several towns in Arkansas
have such factories and they are do
ing well. What is good for Arkansas
is also good for Mississippi. We need
more industries that will use material
heretofore considered worthless.
The Home Steamboat Company, of
Yazoo City, has just purchased an
other fine new boat to put in their
trade to the South. This company al
! ready owns number of boats and
has had great success in handling
them. The business is increasing, as
is evidenced by the desire for better
facilities and more boats. The mat
ter of water transportation is attract
ing more attention yearly and some
rivers that have been considered I'M
nayigable will be made to carry the
white mans burden of commerce. The
upper Pearl Tallahatchie, Yazoo and
others will likely be piled by small
craft in the near future.
Mississippi will show at the fair this
year as fine oranges as any State in
the Union. Also pecans that can't be
beaten anywhere. Not only these, but
hundreds of other prize winners in the
way of products. 1t would be good
idea for the progressive people of the
State to make UP purse and compel
all sore-heads and chronic grumblers
to attend the fair and see just what We
have. If that did not stop their
knocking, then make arrangements to
deport them.
Jackson is building two skyscrapers
and innumerable smaller buildings.
The capitol city is fast becoming
| credit to the State.
A decided improvement is noticed in
the newspapers of the State in both
the mechanical and editorial depart
ments. Papers that formerly looked
as if they were made up with scoop
and printed on hay press, as the say
ing goes, begin to show signs of typo
graphical excellence and increased en-.
ergy in the editorial and repertorial
departments. Take it as whole, Mis-
sissippi has cause to be proud of her
| country press.
Meridian will soon begin the con-
struction of another skyscraper. 1t
will be used for business houses below
and offices above.
push Mississippi and your reward
will be great in many ways. The man
who has genuine desire for the bet
terment of all the people. as well as
for himself, has many points in his
favor in the hereafter
Only few years since it was
thought that a town must have FIVE
thousand inhabitants before it could
support an electric and water plant.
| Charters have been granted for quite
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