The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1908-10-17

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Early Crops and Cotton.
Joseph Smith & Sons and r. Ing
lis, Sons & Co., of Long Beach art
falling in line with other sections o.
the State trying to settle the cut
over pine lands of south Mississippi
Not only are they trying, but they are
succeeding in this enterprise. They
have settled several desirable citi
zens around abut Long Beach on
small farms, and Mr.. Smith is busy
up along the. line of the Gulf and
Ship Island Railroad getting options
on lands and getting settlers. These
gentlemen are from Ohio and have in
duced several of their neighbors and
| friends to settle here. They are the
most intensive farmers in this Sec
tion of the country and the most sue
cessful.
An erroneous idea prevailed some
years ago that pine land was not fit
for farming. 1t was often remarked
that the soil was SO poor that it would
not sprout black-eyed peas, but the
fallay of this has been demonstrated
by individuals and by the Govern
ment
A few years ago the Finkbine Lum-
Der Company, at Virgins, and the
Gulf and Ship Island Railroad Com
pany established a demonstration
farm in some of the poorest, ,hilliest OF
the lumber company's cut-over lands
The Government sent out superin-
tendent for the farm, and such crops
as were grown there and are being
grown there are an object lesson to
the entire State. At no point were
there finer, or earlier vegetables and
the corn and cotton crops are scarce
ly equaled.
The larger lumber companies and
the railroad companies, together with
many of the citizens are working
hand in hand to have these lands
settled. 1t is well understood that
it is not the riff-raff that has floated
to this country from foreign shores
that are wanted, but Americas brain
and Drawn that is the foundation
of the nation Syndicates have sought
to get hold of these lands for mere
trifle, hoping to speculate upon them,
but the lumber companies oppose
such a plan, desiring rather to go
more slowly and select better class
of settlers. The rail road companies
are equally anxious and are making
fair terms to those who are helping
build up the country. Good citizens
are wanted by the railroad companies
and every business man in any local
|ity.
A movement was put on foot in the
spring for the organization of a bu-
reau to which the lumber companies
and the railroad companies in south
Mississippi would contribute for the
purpose of working up immigration.
But things grew very dull with the
lumber companies during the summer
and the railroad likewise, and moth
ing has been done about it.
P. M. Ikler, the well-known lumber
man, has had the idea in mind for
years of settling the cut-over lands
with thrifty farmers. When his log
gers were sent out he had them COM
Portable houses built, and when the
camp was moved the houses remain
ed and other houses were built, leav-
ing the vacant houses for incoming
settlers.
He had gone a step further. During
| the dull season he has used many OF
his men to clear off the tops and
| take out the stumps SO that when
the farmers comes in all he will
have to do is to build his fence and
break up his land and put it in cul'
tivation. He is not losing money in
this operation; for during summer
| thousands of acres have been cleared
of stumps. These stumps and
I fat limbs he sends to the turpentine
factory at Laurel, which has pro
cess for dis tilling the resinous sub
| limbs that are full Of resin. The
railroad companies which pass neal
Mr.. Ikler's cut-over land have made
special rate for the hauling of these
stumps.
1t has been demonstrated that these
lands will produce from two to
three bales of cotton to the acre
and fifty to seventy-five bushels OF
corn. The vegetable crops and the
cane crops have been so often told
of and demonstrated by so many peo
pie that it is useless to particular
ize. Suffice to say that all kinds OF
peaches, ounces, figs and many othel
kinds of fruits are successful.
grown on these cut-over lands, ant
| it is the very home of the nut-bearin
trees.