The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1904-02-20
FOR GREATER MISSISSIPPI
Items OF Industrial Interest GeancJ From All Over the State
Notes and Comments.
BY H. E. BLAKEsLEE.

The proposition to establish a bu.
reau of industrial development and an
aid to immigration is attracting some
attention at the hands of thinking PEG,
pie throughout the State. The sue.
cess attending efforts of individuals
and corporations along this line has
stirred up some interests among the
people of the State who realize that
what would be good for corporations
and individuals would be good for the
State. Other States have tried the
experiment with the greatest success
and there is no reason why Mississip.
pi should not be equally fortunate.
More than one bill looking toward
this end has been introduced, but as
yet not one of them have been report
Ell favorably by the committee. 1t
IS the purpose of several gentlemen
in the body to push the matter to a
termination. A large number of pro
eressive and we'll informed members
have taken an interest in the subject
and there is little doubt expressed as
to the final outcome. There are in tbs
State millions sleeping in undevelopet
sources unknown entirely to the out
side world and only partially known to
the local inhabitants. Not until re-
Gently has any movement been made
looking to the development of very
small portion of these resources and
the success following the effort has
emboldened many to take the matter
ur and push general movement in
that direction.
Such a department could be of in.
estimable value to the farmers in sec.
lions where labor was scarce in sup.
plying this deficiency There are thou.
sands of thrifty farmers who could be
attracted to our section of the country
by the use of reliable data and gen,
eral information as to the productive
ness of our lands, mildness of our eli
mate and the general healthfulness
of the country There is a mistaken
idea prevalent to the effect that moth.
ing but negroes can live il the delta
Of Mississippi. Statistics can be
shown to prove that this idea is en-.
tirely erroneous and that general
health conditions compare favorably
there are large quantities of crude
material now going to waste that
offer remunerative field to manu-.
facturers with machinery and seeking
locations. Data with regard to these
could be furnished and factories found
to work up this material BY a sys.
tenn of securing these statistics from
reliable sources, the commissioner
could at a moments notice furnish
the information desired to parties
seeking the same. Pamphlets listing
counties and giving much information
of like nature could be prepared
and when an inquiry was received,
furnished at once. The secretaries
of experiment stations, boards of
health, railroad commissioners, audi.
tor, etc., could furnish reliable data
as to the matters handled by them and
all this could be tabulated and put
in presentable shape by the indus
trial commissioner for distribution on
request for same.
Mississippi is making rapid advance
ment along many lines at present and
there is no reason why she should not
take front rank in the way of indus
trial and agricultural development. If
the people would only realize the i'm
portance of an organized and aggres-
sive movement in this direction, then
results would come doubly fast and
sure.
Several high officials of the Illinois
Central railroad were in tho State last
week looking after their lines and
prospecting for the further develops
ment of the country adjacent thereto
This system has done much through
it's industrial department toward the
betterment of our State and it de-
serves the hearty cooperation of our
people il the work undertaken. A
State department of like nature would
be the very best investment that could
be made. While the railroads have
been and are doing much along that
line, their efforts are directed mainly
to the territory adjacent to their roads
This leaves a large section without
the attention needed. 1t is to be hoped
that the present legislative bodies will
not adjourn without having looked in
to the matter and making some pro
vision to have it looked after
Amendment to the charter of the
Pearl and Leaf Rivers Railroad, chang
ing the eastern terminus from Hat
tiesburg to Scranton and the West
ern terminus from Columbia to
Natchez and changing the name to
the Mississippi Central, was recorded
in the secretary Of States Office last
week. The road is now in opera
tiol from Hattiesburg to point near
Monticello, in Lawrence county, and
the proposition is to build it from
the new terminal points as named
in the charter, connecting with that
portion already in operation. This
will give the State another road pea
etrating a section heretofore without
means of transportation The line
penetrates section of fine pine and
hardwood timber that will find ready
sale when placed upon the market
Then, too, the land thus cleared will
produce handsomely several crops, es
pecially, corr, cotton, sugar cane, etc
This means the development of an
other section of the State and open
ing of new territory.
The question of vital statistics Of
Mississippi for general use is attract
ing more attention daily. Most of oul
States make provisions for registra
ton of births, deaths, marriages, etc.
with strong penalty provided fol
failure of their observance. Agricul
tural, horticultural, dairying, timber
manufactures and dozens of other in
terests ought to be kept before tn,
people of the world by giving reliable
statistics as to extent and variety of
fered. Several of the most Influential
newspapers are devotilg space to tht
correction of this evil and it is hopet
that a remedy will soon be forthcom
ing.
The new year is starting off in goot
shape for record breaker in the wa,
of capital invested in the State
There are not so many big institu
tions, possibly, being chartered, bu
the number of smaller ones is fas
increasing. This goes to prove tina
our home people are beginning to re
aliZe the benefits to accrue from tn,