The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1904-04-02

There is an impression abroad that
mississippi is an unhealthy State and
In it abounds malaria and other dead
ly poisons. This is not a fact, how
ever. The death rate here is less than
the average for the whole United
States, and is also lower than nearly
oil the States of the North and East,
rs well as most of those in this sec
lion. The list below, taken from gov
ernment reports, will show this state
ment to be true:
Az. for U. S. 1909 Virginia -. 1852
Massachusetts, 1859 Texas ....... SO
Maryland -. 1910 Kentucky 14.39
New York. 1870 Alabama 80. 1920
Tennessee 1880 Georgia 80, 1897
Mississippi. 1890
| Now who, in the face of such fig
ares as these, can truthfully say that
ours is not one of the healthiest
States in the Union? Then, too, in
considering these figures, it would be
we'll to bear in mind that our popu-
lation is over half colored, and the
mortality rate with them 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 town of six thousand people in
p few years, they are now boring for
oil and want to make it great many
thousand more in few weeks. The
oil company has been chartered, paid
lpp the first assessment contracted
tor well and gone to work. The
reason for this belief In the existence
of oil in that territory is this: A
IBpring few miles from town has car
Tried oil on it's surface for several
years. The land formation is identical
with that at Spindle Top, Tex, where
oil was found in such paying quaint
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 it 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 it 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. & M. 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 Indianola
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
as railroads and with pleasure
we welcome them to the State.
That was pretty serious matter
Of getting half a dozen or more bills |
lost just as the legislature was ad- |
iourning. They did not arrive in the |
governors Office until after both |
houses had adjourned. One of the |
most important was allowing poll |
axes to be retained in counties where |
collected. As the matter now stands |
his cannot go into effect until the
legislature convenes again two years
rom now. 1t might not be a bad idea |
or the people to exact from each can
lidate for the legislature in the fu-
ure to make a pledge to remain In
Jackson until the business had been
attended to and then make the sue
.essful candidate give bond to carry
,ut the pledge.