The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1904-08-20

SToPa, NCEUfftcFCC &Fto thddos'J
Mr.. Lee J. Langley, of the Manu-
facturers' Record, and one of the
best-known newspaper men of the
South, who has just made a trip
through the State, gives an interest
ing and glowing account of crop and
commercial conditions throughout
Mississippi. MI. Langley says:
Crop prospects in Mississippi could
hardly be better. The State will
raise the largest corn crop this year
In its history. A great deal has been
said and written about increased cot
ton acreage, but the percentage or
corn acreage in the State of Missis-
sippi this year will be decidedly
greater than that of cotton. DR.. Tur'
ner, of Leland, one of the largest
planters, bankers and merchants in
the delta, in discussing the subject
with me the other day, said that, as a
rule, cotton land owners did not want
their negro tenants to raise anything
but cotton, but that this year they
had encouraged them to plant corn
III order to keep down the cotton
acreage, and that as a result, there
would probably be 100 per cent more
corn grown by colored farmers in
Mississippi this year than usual. He
said it made no difference, however,
how much corn a negro raised that
he would manage to s%quander X
some way before the next planting
time, and would have to be furnished
corn to make his next crop on, and,
knowing this, the plantation owner
was planting his usual acreage just
| the same. This has been an ideal corn
growing season, and Mississippi has
never had such promising corn crops.
1.-THE cotton crop Is also looking
we'll, although there has been too
much rain and too much grass, but
the cotton fields were in usually good
| condition when the rain commenced,
and there is plenty of time yet for
it to be cleaned out and fruit in the
principal rain centers. The crop as
it is Is certainly fine. see that
the government report shows a 98.6
crop, which means nearly perfect. and,
il it was not for a little too much
rain and grass, it would be perfect.
"a great deal is being said and
written about the increased cotton
acreage, every vacant spot, the fence
| corners, etc., being planted in cotton;
that is untrue and absurd. The gov
eminent report shows the increased
acreage in the whole South to be q
little more than II IL per cent, and
my own opinion is that the estimate
is ample. Washington county, per
haps the largest cotton grow
ing county In the South has, II
anything, a decreased acreage. There
Is an increase in some places, Of
course, but nothing like what is re
ported and generally believed.
From a commercial and industrial
standpoint, l have never known the
State to be as prosperous before IL
a presidential election year. Every
where 1 go I find bank deposits in
creasing, trade volumes swelling, ne"
businss and residence buildings going
I'D. streets being paved. sewers, water
works and other public and private
improvements in course OF construc
ton.
1.-THE only break in trade circles IL
the State is the recent slump In lum
Der. A great many millmen put
large part of their capital in stump
age. based on recent high prices, ano
to-day they cannot saw it and sell Il
at current prices and make cost on
OF It. This Is not going to last long
however, as lumber is bound to re
cuperate with all the building goinl
I'D. and to be put up in this country
and an increased demand iron
abroad. The chief difficulty that the
state has to contend with at tht'
time is the scarcity of labor. 1t takes
two-thirds more labor to gather a cot
ton crop than 1t does to plant ant
cultiva.e. and practically all the avail
able CT ton field labor in the State 1
now engaged in c%ultivating the pres
emit crop. and it win, therefore, b.
necessary to find a great deal of add
tional help to pick 1t. Where this ad
ditional help is coming N Is
problem. but It must be hau.
Notwithstanding the fine GRO
prospects at this time, I am a nrn
believer, in 10 and 12-cent cotton IN
coming season, and that the State Ia
never known such prosperity as !
will enjoy next year"
New Albany to issue Bonds.