Norwich bulletin., 1909-02-18
THE ADVANCE OF THE NEGROES.

II 10 surprising TO learn that a large
part Of the city of Jackson, Miss. is
owned by negroes, when twelve years
ago the negroes were not active or
prosperous enough to be recognized as
an active force in the place.
D. W. Woodward of the Tuskegee
institute of Alabama, in study Of the
progress made by the negroes, says:
THE negroes Of Jackson, who have
always outnumbered the whites, but
who at present constitute about one
half Of the population, have figured
largely In this era of greater prosper
ity for the town. Twelve years ago.
with two conspicuous exceptions, the
negroes were not reckoned in the bus
mess life Of the town. Comparatively
few Of them owned property, and that
for the most part consisted of the
homes occupied by them. A few fra
ternal socities, the churches, and a
periodical organization at the time of
national elections. constituted all there
was Of associated life among the ne
groes Of the town.
To-day, according to an official of
the town, the 5000 or more negroes
own one-third Of the area of the town.
Statistics of the condition Of property
ownership among the negroes of
twelve years ago are not available,
and only the citizen acquainted with
the situation at that time can apprs-
ciate the great advance on the part
of the negroes implied in the above
estimate. While It was practically
impossible at the time of this inquiry
TO determine accurately the amount of
real estate possessed by the negroes,
the real property assessment of 566
negroes, as recorded in the tax books
of the town. amounted to 1881 $50, with
an average Of $1,O27.52 to the individ-
ual II is significant that but SO Of
these assessments were under $500,
showing that almost all of this prop
erty is in an improved condition. More
than one-third Of the assessments
we're above $1,000; while six Of them
were for amounts greater than $4,000.
The largest single assessment was that
of S23800. It is to be remembered
that these figures refer to the real
property only Of the $50 negroes men
toned.
There are about ten negro contrac-
tors IN the town, a few Of whom are
doing a rapidly growing business.
These are men who started out as or
binary skilled mechanics, and after
accommodating a small capital, have
launched out upon an Independent ba-
sis. This kind Of enterprise has been
made possible to negroes by the IN
precedented amount of building that
has been carried on in the town in the
last few years. Five Of these con-
tracing companies did a combined
business last year Of $I80,000 and
gave employment constantly to about
"a men. G. c. Sims, who does a bus
mess that compares favorably with
that done by the largest white con-
tractors was born on a farm, near
Jackson. AZ years ago. and spent his
youth there with only such limited
advantages as a Mississippi rural
community Of that time gave to the
negro boy. Twenty Ave years ago he
came to Jackson, where he picked UP
the carpenters trade, finally engag-
ing in 1898 in an independent contract
ing business. During the last year
his contracts amounted to more than
$4,000. Mr.. Sims frequently employs
whites among the fifty or more men
that work for him. HIS pay roll for
labor is between $500 and $500 a
week"
This is a splendid showing Of adj
vancement and thrift and it would be
a credit to any race under the sun.
Those who used to think the negro
lacked ability are being forced to rec
ognize him IN business life as a COM
petitor as well as a man and a brother.