The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1921-09-30
.EC|TOR WRITES
FROM COAST
Discusses Possibilities OF 1ha. Sec
tion. Is Pleasantly Situated. Hears
The Rev. Mr.. DeMilIer Preach
While On The Coast.

While On The Coast.
Biloxi. Miss, Sept 10, 1921.
Dear Sentinel:
| Just a short letter TO keep at least
a little in touch with our readers.
| There is a great big lot Of differ
ence between voluntarily going any,
where and in being alZnost ordered
to go by ones physician. I am here
under orders.
| During the past hal dozen years
the acquaintance between north
Mississippi and the Gulf Coast has
multiplied almost an hundred fold.
Fifteen years ago, the average citizen
in these two sections rarely thought
of the other section except on pri-
mary election days. Numerous things
have contributed to get the citizenship
of the two sections 70 know each
other better, but the chief one is that
the Gulf Coast has sought to make
others know what she has and what
| it means to come here and enjoy the
| Ocean breeze for a few weeks. Then,
too, better roads and the automobile
have been no small factor in bring
ing the two sections in loser touch.
1t will be a number o. years yet be-
fore this section has that fellowship
with other parts OF the State that
would perhaps be best for the whole
commonwealth. This is The first part
of the State to be settled, and owing
to the proximity to New Orleans and
the lack of proper railroad facilities,
the tie between the EiSSjSSippi coast
and the Crescent City has grown with
the passing years.
Nature has done much fo- the coast.
But it has taken money, and lots Of
it, and the skill of the artist 70 bring
out and develop wha+ IS here The
lavish use of money Dy vel directed
brains can take almost any spot IN
this great country and make i a
garden fit for the god Still in say
ing this, l would no+ be understood
as in anyway underra+-.c this beauti-
ful section, the home Of the healJh
seeker, the place whe-e the retired
business man seeks retreat and
where the "hustlSf' ahides to help
all classes and kinds c0ant their casn
over occasionally. TIE few miles
strip that girts the coas+ is IDEAL.
But what is to become Of the vast
territory that lies bac. Of the coast
for miles which has Deeu deruded Of
its coveted long leaf pine? this is
the question that is Clvirg many Of
the more serious minded of this sec
ton concern. Indeed II is q question
in which the whole State S interested.
This cut-over land belongs largely to
lumbermen; they know nothing about
farming even if it is feasible TO farm
these lands. The taxes are being in
creased on these lands every year:
they cannot be sold. certainly net
now, hence it can be tint a matter OF
time that a great deal ulll be allowed
to go back to the State. It tGas been
proven that even thourh these lands
were reforested, the long leaf pine
will grow no more, bur in It's stead
viii be the pines kn0Wn 10 north
Mississippi. Should Yef ores+inr be
undertaken, it viii -ake something
like third of a century for the tim
Der to be marketable At the last
sitting Of the Legislature. 4 commit
tee was named to study reclamation
and refOresting conditions as regards
these lands, and it is understood that
that Committee viii recommend a
Commission to look after reclamation
and refOresting. But il the law
making body is obeGlent 20 the wish
es of the taxpayers, i will not only
refuse to create any ew Commissions
or new offices, but VII 0ut off some
which are already on the States pay
roll. In my judgment the surest way
and the shortest route by which this
cut-over land problem may be hand /
led is for the owners to cut it up into
tracts of 80 or 120 acres, erect
modest cottages or the subdivisions
and sell it to settlers on long time.
A farmer can take 100 acres of these
lands and plant them in pecans and
make big money. Like cotton or any
other crop, the pecan crop is not al
ways a certainty. II fails about
twice out of five years. saw sever
al pecan groves just the other day
which promise handsomely this year.
They consisted Of about 100 acres
each. The owners told me that they
had sold 10000 pounds each at so
cents per pound. Last year they got
80 cents per pound for pecans. The
trees are counted on to yield about
20 pounds apiece. There is some
risk to be run yet with the pecans,
and that is the fall storms, but if
they get by the next twenty days,
they will be safe.
Not only did these men have pc Il
cans, but they had grape fruit and
Satsuma oranges. / had the privi-
lege of pulling some Of the oranges
that were just beginning to get yel-
low and they were most delicious. I
saw ten well grown grape fruit in
one bunch on the end of limb. The
tree was loaded. / was on the pecan
grove of Mr.. Theo. Bechtell, a few
miles out from Ocean Springs. He is
the proprietor of the celebrated
Success" pecan. He Is an Illinois !
ian who came down here g few years
nmn Onto q Inro.o MN tnar of these ,