Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1905-08-30

A conservative student Of the question Of southern
land investments said to that he expects to geo
both farm and timber lands in all desirable sections
Of the South double or treble their value within five
years.
stOnIy lew years ago." said this same man, ''the
great Mississippi valley, embracing the cotton pro-
ducing section, practically untouched forest
except along the Davigable streams which afforded
Transportation; then only small portion Of this
great valley was adequately. protected by levees;
tneD, probably three-f0urths of the undeveoped
lands vast forests Of the finest hardwood timber
bad reverted to the states in which they were situ
ated for non payment OF taxes Immense tracts were
offered and sold by the states to wbOmsOever would
buy at prices ranging from three cents to twenty
! five cents per acre.
"The purchasers Of theee lands we're often strained
to the extent Of their financial ability to pay the
taxes through the years these lands held prior
to the advent Of railroads; and not inirequently
large tracts went back the states again and again
for taxes due and unpaid.
"Folowing this period the railroads began to
bring prospectOrs from the Northern states, who
saw the great wealth Of timber and the wonderful
fertility OF the soil. Within five years the lands
had advanced from dollar to So and $6 per acre,
or an average OF 100 per cent per year, and during
the five years last past the undeVelOped lands have
advanced from s. and Sc per acre to $15 and $40
per acre, while the improved lands have advanced
in the same ratio
'The Mississippi valley from Cairo to New Or
leans, embraces sufficient area OF fertile soil to
sustain, probably, the entire population OF the
United States. It is capable Of producing as much
cotton as the world now consumes. II all Of these
agricultural lands we're in cultivation it could pro-
duce enough to feed population equal to that OF
France and Germany combined
sThe fertility Of Jhe soil and the climatic condi
tiOns favor the most abundant vegetable growth.
Nowhere else in the world are such peculiar climatic
conditions found as those produced by the warm
currents of the Gulf stream meeting the South
lern states the cold currents ,Of the Appalachian
range Nowhere else in the civilized world can be
4 found such overwhelming percentage OF unOCcu-
pied fertile land This last is due to the chaoticpo
litical conditions following the war, when the immi-
grant and capitalist were alike afraid to venture
South. Now the protection OF life and property in
the Southern states is as well assured as in any
other part Of the country Investments in the South
during the past ten years have proven wonderfully
profitable, and the world is beginning to see the
South as it is the center Of wonderful natural re-
sOurceE.0
Along with the business activity which can be felt
throbbing in every portion Of this great section,
there has come an intellectual awakening as well.
Education has received an impetus within recent
years and promises greater things than before
for the southern people. It is mistaken idea that
the South has been largely literate those portions
embraced in the ignorant classes have beer fo by
selection.
! The illiteracy Of the South WIS born on an Of
of misfortune. 1t was the inevitable 0utcom the
circumstances attending the Of the on.
Hundreds OF slaves were freed who coL aer
i read nor write The male negroes were err ed.
White people once In comfortable cil ices
we're left destitute and penn1ess to bri rem
into the world without the least 9 & ed
4 ucation. But the advancement OF edu lnteF-
Pests in the South is story all its owl this 4
hope to write later, as well as Of the Il 4trial
problems which confront the southern tple, and
which are, believe, solving themselves gradually
and will work out in time in the natural evolution OF
n things.
There is no factor which has entered more largely
into the upbuilding Of the South financially and
otherwise than that OK good roads. This, too, s .
subject worthy Of separate treatment. Suficr to
cay here that the good road movement Ia the South
is well started and is going to continue. Already u
has brought the farmer Of many districts Of the
South 60 close to civilization that he himself is sur
prised. II has given him new inspiration, new am
billions and new outline life. It will continue
to be an important element In the growth and de-
vel0pment Of the New South.
/ "A Kansas man praises the honesty Of che Italians
because he lost bis umbrella several times while
i travelling in that country and II WAS prOmptlv re-
/ turned BY each finder. What kind Of an umbrella
was iti
Speaking 81 eakhalin how can Russia give UP
lsOmething which has already been taken from hers
Jack Frost il cordially invited to come South and
4 grow up with the country