The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1913-02-21
IMMIGRATION AND
THE SOUTH
with Special Reference to Jack.
son County, Miss.

d
Taking all things in to consideration
It would be-. difficult to find a NOR
ideal climate than that which prevails
in the South, especially in Jackson
County, Mississippi. This is particu
larlv true when considered from the
viewpoint Of the man who mus
wtest his living from the soil. 4
casual excursi6fihto Jackson Coun
tyissproof. enough for no where else
will the visitor find farming lands
which, as rule will yield more
readily or intelligent cultivation.
The Southern farmer has always at
his door an unsatisfied'' market for
his produce. When it is taken into
consideration that we are daily
importing from other States food
stuffs which can readily be raised, at
home it will be ,seenSthat there is for
some time to come, but little likely
hood of glutting the home. market.
Should this some day come pass,
yet the hungry world; cries for food.
Ideal weather and the absence of
Billiards obviate the necessity of
suspending outdoor work during at
large Part sof The, year as must be
done in less favored portions of the
country, and. by properly rotating
his crops and giving them intelligeni
care, the farmer in Jackson County
can make every month Of the year
harvest month. All crops which
flourish in the temperate zone are at
home in this section. In. word, I
we have ideal. weather conditions,
productive lands, and a market
clamoring forallthat can;be produced
thereon, We lack, however, farm,
ers in sufficient numbers and there
fore large part Of thisland lies idle
year after year which means a shock
ng waste not only to this county,
but indirectly, to the whole country.
The first census of the United
States gave ninety-Seven per cent
Of the population as rural residents
while the census Of 1910 revealed
the fact that but thirty-five percent
of the population Of the country lived
on farms. This Shows the tendency
of the Amercanpeople to congregate
in cities and neglect the soil. we
havey therefore, to look to other
nations to furnish large quota OF
the farmers needed in the south.
BY the Thousands immigrants are.
this country and so they
will continue to come. These are,
in great part, an agricultural people
from southern Europe and therefore,
particularly adapted to the needs of
the south and her genial climate.
But once let these aliens who are at
home are ground between the upper
milestone of landlordism and the
neither one Of poverty, realizing that
they can, by application and industry
make good living and achieve in
dependence on even few acres in
Jackson County and the call of the
south will mean much to them..
The writer does not commend
the southern soil to the sluggard nor
to the immigrant whose tastes and
.nclinations are averse to farming.
1t is readily apparent that even a
small farm of from five to ten acres ,
bearing vegetables, small fruits,
nuts, etc., properly titled and atten- !;
led, is no place for the lazy lugguard
nor one whose heart. is not in his
work. A worker, to insure success,
must find joy in his labor:
The day is rapidly approaching ,
when the cane and cotton plantations
'f Mississippi and Louisiana must
share honors. with the small farm ,
illed by the small. farmer. Many.
Instances might Be" cited 'offarmers /,
who have bought land in jackson
County. making small payment at
ime of purchasing and the land has !
not only supported the family Of the
buyer but has paid out the debt in
rom two to three years. This
nducement, however, should not
De held out to the immigrant; but it
S safe to say that all who intelligent
y and intensively cultivate their
!round in this famons Jackson :.
County are successful.