Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1905-05-13
BY II. Z. BLAKESLEE, Jackson.

There is. perhaps, no State in the
Union that Is forging to the front
with such leaps and bounds as Missis-
sippi. Commenting on her great ad-
vancement, the Birmingham News
says:
while all Of the Southern States
have made long strides in Industrial
and commercial fields during the past
few years, few Of them have made as
srnch progress comparatively as has
Mississippi The good people Of that
resourceful State have awakened to
their possibilities, and they are more
busily engaged in the development Of
their State than ever before Facts
collected by the Baltimore Manufac-
turers' Record of late indicate pros
perity in Mississippi that speaks well
for the enterprise Of It's citizens and
for the confidence they feel in the fut-
ure development Of one Of the rich
est States in natural resources in the
South.
During the month of March char
ters for new corporations with cap
italization Of s217900o Of which
$3.50. 900 represents banking institu
tions, were granted, and during 1905
the increase Of capitalization will
amount to perhaps SIS 600 900 From
February 3, 1904. to March H. l9O5
the number of State banks In Missis
sippi increased from III to 22l, their
aggregate capital now amounting TO
$9,007 ,S37 surplus S1.54335S, undi
vided profits. st,543,33l and individ-
ual deposits, $29, ,94S, 900 Already ther
are eight canning factories between
Jackson and Gulfport, and several 9th
ers are being built. In fact. Missls.
sippi is making wonderful progress
all along the line, and especially in
industrial operations.
"But that is not all No State In
the South has made moro headway In
two of the essentials Of prosperity
during the past few years than has
Mississippi These two institutions
are education and respect for the law
The latter is fairly dependent upon
the result Of the former Mlssissip
pts public educational system has
been wonderfully improved during the
past few years, and the effects are
already widely noted, not only in Mis-
eissippi but by outsiders as well. The
people of Mississippi have gone In for
improved educational advantages
They realize their value from bust
ness standpoint, as well as in the de
velopment Of higher standard OF cit
izenship.
During the last year or two o much
healthier public sentiment has been
developed In Mississippi toward the
laws, and the citizens are widely in
sisting upon O more rigid enforcement
OF the same Much Of this Is the nat.
ural outcome of q better public edu-
cational system These two powerful
influences In the development of high
er ideals and better conditions have
done a great deal for Mississippi dur
ing the past few years and are sure
to do great deal more for the vel
fare Of that State and its people in the
future"
]. II. Hunter a banker and stock
man, Of Springfield, M. in an ad-
dress before a convention of Northern
immigrants in Texas, said
"We have a surplus of population In
Illinois. Some 40 or 80 per cent of
our lands have gone into the hands of
renters. Because of the high price of
land, our poor young men have no
hope Of acquiring 100 acres. Many
ha*e moved into our towns and be
come clerks, etc. They have aban
doned hope of acquiring land What
should have been done? They should
have been sent down to Louisiana
Texas and Mississippi and shown your
wonderful resources Indiana, Illinois
and Iowa all have large class of
men Of this character, who should be
led here '"
Here Is presented striking view of
state of things which ought to re
dound, not only to the benefit Of the
men Of the overcrowded Northern
States, but also to the development
Of our own State. We want white
population Of the right sort, and there
can be nothing better than these
young men from the Northern States.
Here they can buy land of the best
quality at low rates and here all of
the natural advantages and conditions
are In their favor. The Northern
farmers who have come here are do.
ing well, and We need more of them,
Arrangements have been perfected
whereby the matter written descrip-
~ ,,,c
year, and published in these columns,
will be issued in pamphlet form for
general distribution. One hundred
thousand will be printed and circulat-
ed by the railroads and real estate
people. Almost every subject Of in.
terest to outsiders seeking locations
has been handled In a more or less
comprehensive manner, and the pub
licatio should prove valuable in the
way of letting the wonderful advan-
tages and resources Of Mississippi be
known to the outside world. The pub.
lication will be made under the man,
agement of the Greater Mississippi
Association, and is worthy of approval
by all who desire to see the State con.
tinue prosperous They will be fur
nished for s150 per 100, and numbers
Of interested parties could well af
ford to distribute few hundred
where they will be likely to do the
greatest amount of good.
Congressman Humphries has made
q personal investigation of Coldwater
river to satisfy himself as to the feas-
ibility of navigation with improve
ments. He states that it Is certainly
nayigable with some work in the way
OF improvements, The Federal gov
ernment will he asked to make
a small appropriation to aid in the
work Of Improvement, and Coldwater
will likely yet prove a blessing to
those who own property in Its rich |
bottom section. The rivers Of Missis- |
sippi are neglected too much by our
representatives in congress, and too
lite attention paid to the possibility |
of making them carriers Of commerce. /
Water Is the most economical means |
OF transportation known and there are
a number of streams in Mississippi |
that could be made of service with |
the proper attention. Pearl river could |
be made navigable for small vessels |
as far up as Edinburg with a small |
amount Of work, and there are dozens
OF other places where Uncle Sam
could place few dollars to an advan.