The leader., 1904-06-11
BY H. E. BLAKEsr.EE, Jackson.

Last week this department made
mention of the fact that where occa,
sional crates of truck were shipped
from Mississippi a few years since,
that solid cars went now with the
same frequency. Last week Crystal
Springs capped the climax by sending
out solid train of forty cars in one
day. The. train was made I'D there
and went through to Chicago on pas.
senger time. There were twelve cars
OF tomatoes, five cars of beans and
twenty-three cars of cabbage. Crys.
tai Springs Is in what has long been
termed the poor. sandy land of the
State, but her people have. long since
realized that theirs is the most valua.
BILE land to be had. There can be
found an example of what can be done
II the effort is made in the proper
manner. Instead of sitting down to
wait for something to turn up,
or moving to the rich alluvial
lands to raise cotton, the people
of that section have built up a trade
not rivaled by the finest cotton lands
in the State. There are millions Of
acres of just such land to be had at
from 81 to Sc per acre, and we need
people who know how to make this
land produce valuable crops and
bring from $40 to $40 per acre. Not
many years in the future will see the
hill lands worth more money than the
delta lands. as well as the entire bot
tom section producing cotton and
corn.
Mississippi is State Of wonder
full resources that are in a very crude
state of development. Cotton is
raised here, and the manufactured
goods worn, but too many of our peo-
pie are content to send the crude ma
terial to the New England States to
be manufactured. and then pay freight
on the finished article back here for
consumption. The finest oak, ash,
hickory and other timbers are here
in abundance. but we send the lum.
Der North and have it manufactured
into vehicles and pay freight to bring
them back here for use These are
only two of many instances of this
kind. What is needed hare, more
than anything else, Is to get men who
will put in factories and work this
material into the finished article right
here. 1t can be done cheaper than
at any other point in the Union, and
there would be money in it from sew
eral standpoints. This field offers
work for the industrial workers of the
State to do.
The delta of Mississippi is the prac-
tical cotton producing section of the
State, and will continue to be so.
There are millions of acres of land yet
to be brought into cultivation down
there, and it is coming in fast When
all is opened that section will raise
more cotton than all the State COM
bined at present There is a brighter
future still for the hill section of the
State. Experience has proven that it
is especially adapted to the cultiva-
ton of vegetables and fruits, and ex-
ports of these products are assuming
gigantic proportions. Where a few
years ago occasional crates of yegeta-
bles and fruits were shipped to North
ern markets, now car after car is sent.
No people are more prosperous than
the truckers of Mississippi. They
have good houses, barns, stock, We
hfcles and the best of everything that
goes to make life worth living. The
railroads have proven leading factors
in this development and will continue
to encourage such Industries. They
have the power to make or break the
trucker, but realize that what is good
for the country is also good for them.
It was kind indeed for the Yazoo &
Mississippi Valley Railroad to grant
specially low rates to Yazoo City on
building material to replace the
burned homes and business houses.
This is the only road reaching that
town, and the act of kindness will be
appreciated by the citizens of the
place. Railroads do a great deal Of
such work which is forgotten by peo-
pie at times when a campaign is be-
ing made against them for some cause
or other The State of Mississippi
owes the Illinois Central Railroad for
large portion of her development
and present prosperity. 1t is an undis-
puted fact that there Is nothing to
develop a country like unto a few
railroad lines Then, too, the indus.
trial department OF this system has
done great deal for the State in the
way of locating industries and bring
ing down people to open up the wild
lands. as well as engage in trucking,
which has been great boon in many
sections. Give the roads credit for
the good they do.
To the railroads is largely due the
trucking interests of the State. and
they also have, the power to crush all
such enterprises If they see fit. For
instance, the building up of such by
the Illinois Central and the North
eastern and the action of the Louis
vile & Nashville in asking prohibit
DRY rates along the coast division.
|
mississippi needs hustlers and
workers. We don't want people who
stand upon the reputation Of ances-
tors aud expect the State to furnish
them living.
The beautiful moss that covers the
trees in the southern portion of the
State is used for packing mattresses.
holsters, upholstery, etc. It is there
in unlimited quantities, and would
Justify the establishment of large
factory for its use.
| Yazoo City will emerge from her re.
cent disastrous bath of fire brighter
and better than ever. Her people will
mi a3f s7am,4 Aia x.rnns1nf of rnisfnr-