The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1905-04-22
By H. E. BLAKESLEE, Jackson.

New Albany has bought the machin-
cry and commenced work on a S25.-
600 box factory for making packing
cases Of all kinds. The plant will
employ a considerable number of
hands and prove of no little help
to the industries of that growing city.
Large quantities of timber that has
little value for anything else will be
worked into merchantable stuff and
made to bring money. The plant will
serve the double purpose of furnishing
a market for the timber INC employ
ment for labor.
Although Mississippi is generally
looked upon as strictly a cotton State,
it might interest the people to know
that last ear the corn crop amounted
to the stupendous figure of 80, 7O9. 664
bushels. That should dispel the idea
hat We raise nothing but cotton. The
corn crop for 1905 promises to reach
the fifty million mark on account of
the reduction in cotton acreage.
While less attention is paid to wheat
growing in Mississippi than any other
Southern State, something owe $4,000
bushels were grown last year. No
~ SA'S IAN "
for trucking have been compiled, but
it is safe to say that even the truck
ers themselves would be amazed at
the enormity of this industry and the
amount OF money it brings into the
State every year. With the cotton
crop bringing from SIS, 600. 900 to 500
100000 and the corn crop being worth
$40. O0C, 900. it looks as if our State
stood pretty well up N the two prin-
cipal crops of the South.
Naiden's handsome new courthouse
will be formally dedicated on May
2. An elaborate program is being
prepared and some of the leading ora
tors of the State will make speeches.
1t is a substantial and commodious
building and the people Of that thriv-
ing burg have a just cause to be hap
Ply over its completion and occu-
pancy.
Work is under way on fourteen
miles Of the Mississippi Central rail-
road from Brookhaven east. The road
! of that section of the State will
open up a splendid trucking and fruit
growing country after the timber iy
cleared away.
Jackson's two million dollar manu-
featuring concern and railroad are as
sured facts. The ground for plant
and terminal facilities, as we'll as i'm
mense bodies of timber up Pearl river,
have been bought and paid for. It
promises to be-the largest numbering
concern in the State.
R. H. Parker, of near Waynesboro,
is the right kind of a farmer. He is
successful and prosperous and owns
one of the best farms in that section.
Mr.. Parker always raises all the meat
needed on his farm and never sells
less than from 1000 to 5000 pounds
each year. He keeps bees and gets
more honey than his family can use.
Good stock only will be allowed to re
main on his farm, which consists of
500 acres.
President Roosevelt should feel
more kindly toward Mississippi since
the utcom Of the Memphis News
Scimitar's contest for the largest fam,
lily of living descendants of one per
son. Mrs. Mary Buck, of near New
Albany, vas the winner Of the first
prize, successfully showing that she
had 154 living descendants. The next
prize was awarded to some one in
Tennessee, with 1914 living. There
were a number in Mississippi with
more than this, but according to the
terms of the contest only n prize
could go to each of the States of Mis-
sissippi, Tennessee and Arkansas.
Mrs. Black is 90 years of age and hale
and hearty. Her large family of de-
rcanIopfc r1rohor many nf tho host
people in the State. In the face Oh
such convincing argument as this it
seems impossible for other sections OF
the country to claim that Mississippi
is an unhealthy State.
The Armour Packing Company will
erect a depot and warehouse in Jack
son 80 cost 500, 900. 1t will be three
stories high and fitted with all mod,
eIn conyeniences for handling refrig.
Grated meats and products. The Ar
mors Company is approaching the i'm.
portance Of trade relations with Mis-.
sissirpi and will arrange in time to
get in on the ground foo
Hattiesburg is preparing to enlarge
the city limits to three times what It
is at present. The city is growing
fast n more territory will eventually
be taken in from time to time. as the
population increases The population
is something like 10000 at present.
Mississippians are feasting on rad
ishes, lettuce. Strawberries, new pota
toes and other table d%elicacies. Ur
about Chicago and Milwaukee they
are now looking for enough warn
weather to plant the spring vegeta
bles. Who wouldn't want TO live il
Mississippi anyway?
=
The action of Mississippi farmers il
forming an association to handle TIL
cotton crop and are for the surplu:
will be the entering wedge hat viii
put thousands of spectators out o
business who have amassed immens