Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1904-04-06
Mississippi.
AN ARTICLE IN APRIL FRISCO MAGAZINE
BY JOSEPH W. POWERS.

1HGhYsf and rapid progressive movement
along all lines of industrial advance
~ ment the State OF Mississippi is de-
veOping and enjoying prosperous awakening be-
yoDd any other State Of the Union to-day.
With of thirty million acres of fertile and
most productive lands, Mississippi offers variety
Of soils and resources unsurpassed by any Of her
sister commemorative. Primarily an agricultural
state, because hitherto she has lacked the necessary
capital for developing her other resources the state
has numberless other resources, Of wealth awaiting
development.
Mississippi is altogether an undevelOped state
an unwOFked mine, to express it, that only needs
the money and the muscle to make her one OF the
weathest Of the Union. The population of the
state is in the main rural the cities and towns being
small and the population scattered. BY the census
OF 1900 the total population Of the State was slightly
more than one million aud halt, aud yet the ldrg-
est city in the state had only about % 000 and only
three towns were above 10 OO0 A vast portion Of
her thirty million acres is yet virgin SOIL covered
with forests of magnificent pine and hard woods.
There is much widespread and general ignorance
regarding the true conditions in Mississippi, and
the extent and value OF her splendid resources is
known only to q limited few Of her own people and
to a small number Of wide awake investors who are
reapng rich harvests from investments in lands
timber and manufacturing enterprises.
By the census Of 1900 Mississippi was rated among
the states Of the Union being second cotton gin
ming, fourth in cotton oil products fourth in turpen
tine and rOsin products, thirteenth in lumber and
timber products, seventeenth in cotton goods output
eighteenth In gross agricultural products and twenty
eighth in planning mill products. In -four and grist
mill products she occupied forty second place. In
population she stood in twentieth place.
These figures give very inadequate idea of the
industries to-day, as the real revival and
ening Of industrial energies OF Mississippi was
beginning in 1900. During the three years since
nsus 3 regular food Of capital has been pour
to the State. As is shown by the records in the
of Secretary Of State, some highly interesting
having been compiled on the industrial
Of the State since the census. According to
figures there have been, for example,
JnIfty-fve oil mills established in the state
since January, 1901 with an aggregate capital ia
vested Of over two and one half millions. Previous
to that period the industry represented aggregate
capital Of something less than four million with
fOrty-one mills, showing an increase OF over sixty
per cent, In three years.
More marvellous still has been the growth Of the
lumber business since the census figures we're com.
piled According to the figures compiled in this ei
fee there have been eightY-fve lumber mills estab
lished in the State since January, 1901 with ag
gregate capital investment Of four millions Of dol
lars The total capital invested up TO that date was
only seventeen and quarter millions Of dollars for
all the previous years Of the development Of the IN
dustry In addition to this remarkable showing it
is estimated that there has been half million
capital invested since compilation was made and
the rapldty Of the development Of the development
Of the lumber industry is progressing like magic.
When the next census is compiled Mississippi viii
show increase Of at least hundred per cent n
oil mill business
While on the subject Of manufacturing statistics
the manufacture Of cotton goods should not be over
looked. Up to about the year 1900 attempts along
this line had not proven very successful, with the
exception Of the magnificent plant at WessOn, known
as the Mississippi Mills, their was not much capital
invested IL cotton manufacturing The Mississippi
Mills, however, do tremendous business IN this
line aud have done SO for the past ten or fifteen
years. Since the year 19O0 OF beginning about that
period, the cotton manufacturing business in Mis-
sssippi has shared in the general awakening and re-
viva which has characterized ell the business Of the
State. BY the census figures Of 1900 Mississippi
was credited with only Fix cotton mills in operation
whereas she had nine in 1890 But the six
mills operating / 1900 represented q much
larger investment than the total nine Of 1890 and
the annual output Of the six vas largely in excess
over the others, SO that the gross value Of cotton
goods output showed large and healthy increase in
1900 notwithstanding the fact that the actual num-
Der Of mills had decreased.
But to-day Mississippi boasts Of fourteen cotton
mills in active operation, an increase Of seven mills
since the census figures we're compiled and the rec
0rds show that every one Of the older mills which
we're IN operation ct the time Of the census have,
since the census, made extensive enlargements end
have greatly increased their capacity ana capital
stock.