The leader., 1905-07-01

. =
"The increased demand in ten years
succeeding 1890, it will be observed,
amounted to 57,504, and the demand
has enormously increased with every
succeeding year as her greater agricul-
tural ventures have extended, exceed
ing the annual product of many coun-
ties, while other counties have been
steady sellers of surplus though many
farmers have bought from imports in
lots, in preference to hunting them up
as individuals, on farms of breeders.
t'* As to furnishing mules to
work on the Panama canal, we have no
doubt they can be purchased in every
county in the state if the bids are high
enough to tempt owners and producers,
but the home market is at present
satisfactory, and it is easier to sell q
$3.50 or SITS mule at home than an in
ferior animal. 1t is notable that many
mules were purchased by the govern
ment in our state during the Spanish
American war, and our dealers are
eager for such contracts as those from
other states, and will seek for such in
dividual animals as may be called for,
wherever they think they can be found. =
The statistics as given by Major Jonas
are doubly interesting and are worth a
careful perusal by all His statements
also as to what Mississippi is acturalIy
doing in the way of mule raising, are
| interesting and no doubt true, which
state of affairs is very gratifying indeed,
but the fact still stares us in the face
that not enough attention is being paid
this important branch of business.
Mississippi has hundreds of thousands
of acres of land that is especially adapted
to the raising of stock of every des-
cription and more especially mules.
The industry is profitable one and
has been proven so, but the fact remains
| that Mississippi does not raise enough
mules for home consumption and thEt
every year car after car are brought
in to supply the demand. When the
State went in the market this year
Missouri was drawn upon for the supply
and one jackson firm had brought in
thirty cars during the present year to
say nothing of other places. We could
and should raise all the mules needed
at home as well as surplus to build
the Panama canal and other uses.
The industry is one that should appeal
to every good farmer or stock raiser in
the state.
AS has been remarked before inthis
department, Mississippi needs thous-
ands of families of good people that
will come here and make from twenty
to sixty acres of land furnish liberal
sustenance for that family There are
hundreds of thousands of acres of land
| lying idle that could be made to do
this with little energy and common
sense properly expended. The Ger
mans and Scandinavians who come here
| do Just this and make splendid citizens.
| They are the right kind of immigration
that is SO often spoken Of They make
good citizens, work hard and are not
vicious and mean. The State Is OF q
disadvantage in securing immigration
of this kind from the fact there is no
department OF immigration, and we are
compelled to take what is left of immi-
grants after other states have had their
pick of the lot. The legislature at its
next session will have the opportunity
of remedying this evil by creating such a
place. It would be made valuable
department for the State and the cost
would be very small indeed.
The record made by Mississippi along
banking lines has not been beaten by
any State Of the Union of anything
like comparative size. 1t goes to show
that our people will invest their money
where there is an opportunity to make
q fair dividend, and the banks are more
than doing this. When manufacturing
enterprises show up as well, and they
will when properly managed, the peo-
pie of Mississippi will be just as anx-
| ious to Invest their money therein.
There is a considerable quantity Of
money to invest where something il
offered that will be reasonably sure
Of dividends.
Coahoma county's 800, 900 appropria-
ton for the purpose Of furnishing the
county with good roads i attracting d
great deal Of attention throughout the
State The writer ventures the predic-
! tion that within ten years over half the
counties of Mississippi will have spent
that amount oi money on their roads
&nd found the investment good one.
Nothing would 60 further to make the
country better and more prosperous.
4 The saving to stock, vehicles and har-
ness, to say nothing Of the satisfaction
TO those who use the roads, would be
ample return for the outlay Of money
required TO put them In good condition.