The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1908-09-17

county lying east of Pearl river and was nam
in memory OF Christopher Rankin, a Congress
man in the early days Of the Statehood
Mississippi. It forms a large, triangular ar
of land near the center of the State and. has
land surface of TIT square miles.
Pearl river forms its western and i
northern boundary; Simpson its SOUTH
ern, and Scott and Smith its eastern.
1t was a part OF the purchase of 1920
and the ChoctaW boundary line defining
that purchase is part of its eastern
boundary. 1t contains about twenty
townships.
1882 it had a population Of 3,255
free whites end 1856 slaves. The last
census 1900, showed &C, 955, a consider
able increase over that of 1890, but a con-
sentative estimate Of its population today,
would be $4,000 which shows a steady
growth.
One of the Oldest settlements in the
county was at Richmond, on the east
side Of Pearl river, and during its great
est prosperity had about 800, white and
slave residents. John Long, Henry White
James Howard, William and Simpson
Cooper, were among its most prominent
citizens. The old town has disappeared
and its site is now under cultivation.
While it is unduatino, and in some
sections billy, the bottom lands along the
creeks and branches are very product
i've, yielding most generously to inteIIi- |
gent cultivation he prairieS produce |
we'll, and when fenced off pay large re-
turns in good crops Of hay from the lux
urlant grasses that only require StOckkept |
off to cut from to 3 tons per acre. Along |
the water courses there is yet left val
uabIe oak, hickory, beech, gum, poplar
and magnolia timber All over the |
country will be found quantities of
short leaf pine, while in the southe
and eastern portions the long leaf, yeIlc
pine is of as fine quality as can be found ar
where in the world. Gravel beds are also n
merous, with quite large deposits Of lime sto
rock OF very superior quality near Brandc
and some extensive ones near Star in t
southern portion.
Pearl river which borders its entire eng
on the west is raaWigabe for several mont
during the year, and with small expense
cleaning out snags and bars could be ma
so the entire II months. The A. e v r.
RUNS through from west to east in about t
center and the Gulf &c Ship Island r. r., COZ
pleted in 1900, enters it in the southern ps
and terminates at Jackson about the nnidc
OF its western line Another road will certai
iy be constructed from Jackson up the vail
OF the Pearl, which will give spIendidy tir
bered and fine agricultural section an Quit
for its forest and field products, Which is tt
one thing needed to make it one Of the be
and most prosperous portions Of the stat
The soil, the timber, and the right kind Of pc
pie are there, but the serious lack Of raiIrO;
Transportation is handicap that prevents tt
full results that will accrue to industry ar
brains, when the iron horse draws paSSenge
and freight over a line from Jackson north ca
terry That road Will be bniIt--juSt how soon,
is impossible to say, but come, it will
Another line is an extension of a standa
guage road built by that enterprising unb
firm, the Lockwood Lumber Company, fro
their large saw mill plant at PeIahatcfnie nort
through their extensive holdings of pine tinbe
It could also 90 south to the G.. e S. i.R.