Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1904-06-23

years. The truth is, Mississippi is
gne of the healthiest States in the
Union, and the following figures, taken
nom the census reports of 1900 will
prove the assertion:
Average death rate for U. S.. Is. 63
Rhode Island 10. 09
Massachusetts, ............... 17.74
New York II. 90
New Jersey ............... 1871
Maryland NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. IT. Is
Tennessee Is. 13
Pennsylvania ........... IA. 80
Michigan .............. 13. 7S
Virginia 13 SO
Indiana ............... 1885
Mississippi 13 05
Mississippi whites alone) -. IL. 60
It will be seen that the death rate
is less than the average for the whole
United States, and far less than many
OF the Northern and Eastern States.
Deducting the negro population and
taking the deaths among whites alone
the rate runs down to the remarkably
low figures of IL so to the thousand
The Greater Mississippi Association
is distributing several thousand bulle-
tins containing this information where
they will do the greatest amount of
good, and they will certainly go long
way to correct the erroneous impress
sion that is abroad concerning the
health conditions of our State.
While the people of Mississippi are
of the best in the world, they are
slow to bronch out along new lines
and adopt innovations They readily
adapt themselves to conditions, how
ever, and when shown, fall into line
gracefully. They have been taught to
raise cotton and corn and really know
little about horticulture and kindred
Industries. The trucking localities
have been founded generally by out
siders and after showing what advan-
tages were to be had along this line,
the people fell in and began to work
also The rich delta will always raise
the cotton for the State and then why
not try something else in the hilly and
sandy sections? Acres of land around
Crystal Springs are worth more today
ard bring the owner larger profits
than any acre Of bottom land in the
State. These conditions have been
brought ABOUT by a system oi culiiYa-
ton and fertilizing which have made
the land and owner rich likewise.
There is a belt of country extending
through the State from North to
South. which is peculiarly adapted to
the culture of vegetables, fruit, ber-
ries. tobacco. sugar cane and like
1Iy, hn tho nlnct
valuable of any lands to be found. We
want truckers to come here with their
experience and energy, buy some OF
this land, put it into cultivation and
show our people how to make it
raise crops entirely foreign to what
Is being done at present.
The State of Mississippi still offers
some inducements to settlers i'll the
way of State lands. Land Commits
sioner E. H. Nall informs the writer
that there is in the State now some
thing over 100000 acres of land sub
ject to entry This land is scattered
all over the State and some of it is
especially good for the price which
will be necessary to redeem 1T. 1t runs
from $125 to SIS per acre, according
to location and conditions. The hill
lands are generally s1.25 per acre
with the exception of the Chickasaw
school lands which have the price
fixed by law at Sc per acre. Lands
forfeited for taxes run from $l.25 TO
SIS as per the assessment when sold
provided it be not less than $1.25. Mr.
Nall makes the startling announce
ment that his office has turned into
the State treasury since 1901 the enor-
nous sum of $4,000, exclusive OF the
sales of school lands, which will
amount to as much more. This is
a very creditable showing for this
department of our State government
of which we hear but little, and it can
be seen how much help this is to keep
down taxes. The land commissioner
place is a very important one indeed
and is in the very best of hands.
w. G. Smith, well known trucker
at Laurel. planted eight acres in Irish
potatoes. has gathered the crop and
pocketed s612.64 in clear profit. He
is planting the ground again IN an
other crop and will. no doubt. have
another balance on the right side OF
the ledger before the season is over
This is another example of what can
be done with the trucking business
here where everything seems to be in
favor of the farmer except the near
ness of the market. and this is gotten
over by number of the railroads
running trains especially for veg
etables on passenger time to the
Northern markets. This industry is
still in its infancy. Mark this pre-
diction
If YOU have a friend in another
State whom YOU would like to see a
resident of Mississippi. send to the
Greater Mississippi Association fol
one or more of its bulletins. write a
letter telling of tho great advantages
of our State. enclose the bulletins and
If he shows an interest at all. follow
it up shortly by another In this man
ner much good work can be accom-
plished by the citizens of our State
In peopling the waste places and in
ducing capital to come in and helI
us in the work of development under
taken There is much to be done and
every one can add his or her mite
Try it for while at least.
From almost every Mississippi towr
comes the demand for more houses,
and the end is not yet. All of them
are growing steadily and surely, and
the country adjacent thereto is like
wise prosperous. When town car
use all the produce raised in county
It is worth something to the man who
lives in the farthest corner.
Work will soon commence on the
extension of the road from Columbia
to Mende1hali It will not be yer,
lengthy road but of incalculable bene
ct 10 the people along the route.