The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-18
SOUTHERN SECURES
 SOME FINE LANDS Supposed That Railroad Will be Built Up Pearl River OPENS LARGE TERRITORY Deals Which Led Up to the Purchase saturday-captallsts Bought the
 Lands Some Time
 Ago.
OPENS LARGE TERRITORY

Jackson, Miss, December 17.-(Special) The most interesting proposition submit ted to the people of Jackson in years is the announced yesterday whereby the Southern and Mobile and Ohio Railroad companies, one or both, take over the Foley Bros. & Larsen holdings in Pearl river valley Six months ago Foley Bros. & Larsen, capitalists of St. Paul, Minn., came to Jackson and purchased some sixty thousand acres of land lying to the north of Jackson and all in the valley of the Pearl, one of the prettiest, richest and most important streams in the state. They seemed to have an abundance of money and paid cash for every acre of land they bought The prices paid were considered good The timber lands they purchased were worth the money paid and more too. but they bought lands that were not worth one-fourth what they paid-except as terminals. In the imme- diate vicinity of Jackson the Foleys pur- chased old fields that overflow every now and then in the spring of the year any where from three to ten feet deep. It was explained at the time that the Foleys were going to establish great wood work ing plants on this land, and that they knew they would have to build great levees to protect their property. The people of Jackson stood by and marveled at the sand in the craws of the Foleys and the Larsens, but like Brer Fox, they laid low and said nothing
 Disaster Predicted.
 It was not the first time that northern and western capital had been emptied into the laps of citizens of Jackson for what appeared to local capitalists to be for no cause whatever, and disaster was predict ed, as is customary. It was announced that the Foleys were going to build the greatest and the biggest lumber manufac turing plant in the south right here in Jackson. and that appeared feasible for the reason that they had acquired title to thousands of acres of the finest hard wood timber lands in the state. A great town was to be built at the eastern door to the city of Jackson and Jackson was really glad of it. The yellow fever and the o1larantines came along, and that was said at the time to have broken up the arrangements Nothing was done, and
 in course of time 1t was stated that the Goodyears had acquired the interests of the Foleys in the Jackson territory. Later 1t was stated that Joel Johnson, the local agent of the Foleys, had purchased the land for some three-quarters of million of dollars, and lastly comes the authort- tative statement that the Southern rail- way is the purchaser and that MT. John son was the go-between.
 Railroad Valley.
 The deal means the early construction of a railroad up the valley of Pearl river. and that is what Jackson has been try ing to secure for many years Dozens of efforts have been made to penetrate those great forests of hardwood timber but up to the present writing they have all been flashes In the pan. Just why, would be hard to say. The timber Is there, so Is the best of farming lands in the hill regions of the state The lands in the valley of the Mississippi make q bale of cotton to the acre and are selling at $oO per acre. while those of the valley of the Pearl make three-quarters of bale and sell for BIO to S2o. The lands In the delta rent for $10 per acre, those in the valley of the Pearl for S2.50. The Missis- sippi delta is honeycombed with railroads while the valley of the Pearl has never been penetrateu Dy tHe hoi ioiSo, oe in crossing. The lands are better in the Mississippi valley but the profits to the farmers, year in and year out, are little different while the timber and other advantages and resources are the same. For these reasons Jackson cannot under stand why somebody has not built a railroad or two in the valley of the Pearl.
 Outlet to Sea.
 The understanding here Is that ths Southern wants another outlet to tho sea. The Mobile and Ohio carries 1t to the | Gulf of Mobile, and the outlet via this city from some point on the Georgia Pa | cific is contemplated. The Goodyears are | coming up the country from New Or | leans with their New Orleans and Great Northern. and 1t is taken for granted that | they are coming to Jackson. This is the railroad center of the state, and any new railroad line coming in tfs direction would make Jackson the crossing point L C. Enochs the head of the Good wear Interests in this section, Is as dumt as an oyster as to the intent of the com many, hut having large personal interests l in Jackson 1t is not believed he would permit the road to cross the Illinois Gen. | tral and the Alabama and Vickshurg else | where.
 Tn any event. Jackson Is going to gel 1 something. The Goodyear road may SC
 elsewhere, but the Southern will com' down thls way, and Jackson people arc tickled over the situation.
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 | MEXICAN FINANCES.