The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-07-14

the Great Northern it will be necessary to
build a new line from Slidell to New
Orleans that the Hill Yoakum lines may
come into that city over its own tracks.
These reports have created a great deal
of interest here and much speculation is
being INDUCED in as to what will be
the next move on the railroad checker
board.
There is also a good deal of specula-
ton here as to what the Illinois Cen
trail is preparing to do. 1t has been quiet
ly buying up property in proximity to Its
switching yards. and the announcement
has been made that 1t is preparing 10
extend them, but the general impression is
that there is more in view than a simply
enlargement of It's yard facilities. Since
the announcement that the Great North
ern would be Joined by the Alabama and
Vicksburg in the erection Of s25O,0oo
depot IN the eastern section of the city,
the Illinois Central has been real &C
tive. and the belief is gaining ground
that this road intends to make good Its
promise of several years ago. At that
time il was urged to erect union depot
here adequate to the demands of the
travelling public. but refused, some OF
it's officials stating at that time that IN
a few years the road would build depot
that would meet the needs of the city
for the next fifty years to come.
1t is also said that this big system Is
keeping a jealous eye on the Great North
ern in reference to the oft-repeated as
sertion that 1t would shove its line up
the Pearl river valley and open that I'M
nense tract of timber lands. This would
come in direct opposition to the Aberdeen
branch of the Illinois Central, and the
indications are that the Illinois Central ls
making some arrangements to bring thal
territory under the operations OF It's lines
and not wait for this new road to gobble
up all the good things in the state IN
which it has operated SO long.
Lands Forfeited for Taxes
s Swamp Land Commissioner Gillespie
has been kept busy this month recelpting
for taxes on lands that have been forfeit
ed to the state for non payment OF taxes.
The average amount received by the
swamp land commissioner for 80 days Is
something like $780, but with the month
only half gone that amount has been ex-
ceeded by nearly $500. Most OF these re-
demptions have been made of lands locat-
ed in Harrison county, and large snare
of these are town lots in Gulfport. These
lots were placed on abe market by land
SPECTATORS and sold TO purchasers at
very low price. but oft-repeated asser-
tons that Gulfport had arrived at about
the heights of It's Importance. and after
having taxes on them for several years.
became convinced that their investment
would never amount to anything, and let
them go back to the state. Now some or
the same parties are purchasing them Tor
the second time, this time, however, from
the land commissioner, who reports the
sales of this month SO far as almost
double that of any other entire month
since he has been in office.
1t will be noticed that these lands that
make up the bulk of the redenlptions are
located in and around where lands have
been purchased for terminal facilities py
the railroads running into Gulfport, or
rather by the Gulf and Ship Island, which
has offered to grant terminal facilities
to any and all roads running into that
seaport city.
Several years ago a large lot Of land
was forfeited to the state in the southern
part of Mississippi, one town, that of
McHenry, going almost as an entirety,
but an era of activity has struck that
section, and instead of letting their lands
go back to the stats. rather than to pay
taxes on" them, they are now glad TO
the chance to redeem them, and many are
taking advantage of the opportunity. This
is healthy sign, and shows that the
people of the state are regaiuing conf
dence in its future, and see for Gulfport
one of the largest and most important
ports of the south on the completion of
the Panama canal, and are getting ready
for the boom that is bound to come.
Most of the lands held by the state sub
ject to redemption are located near the
seacoast and some of them are valuable.
Among these are lots in Bay st. Louis
and Saucier City. and a large tract on
Lowrys Island, which. however, is valu
able only for hunting and fishing pur-
poses.