The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1949-03-24
STATE MAKES MIGHTY STRIDES
TN '4S TO BALANCE ECONOMY

Mississippi, shod in the seven
league boots of constructive in
ua5t4idl and agricultural promo
ton program, took some mighty
strides in 1913 towards the goal
OF a more evenly balanced econ
omy.
Former records in many fields
were shattered with pleasing reg
ularity as Mississippians approach
ed the New Year with bigger and
better crops, more m a k I 8
through which to channel them,
increased industrial facilities to
process them and the resulting
jingle of cash in their pockets.
Equipped with modern mechan-
zeal aids, tutored in up-to-date
scientific methods and blessed by
favorable growing weather, Mis-
sissippi's second largest cotton
crop in history was the forecast,
despite the growing tendency to
escape a one crop economy.
A new crop, rice, was success
fully tested in the last stronghold
of the cotton kingdom, and live
stock appeared in greater numbers
on farms and plantations which all
too long had leaned too heavily on
the fleecy lint
In other agricultural fields the
story was equally optimistic: An
all-time record pecan crop was as
sured; first Mississippi tomatoes
PROGRESSED into catsup; soybeans
exported In quantity for the first
time.
Expanding research In the field
of agriculture and forestry gave
promise of better things to come
and Mississippis lawmakers pro-
vided new outlet for the harvest
in a million-dollar Central Farm
ers Market dedicated at Jackson
on July 3Ist.
Another significant and import
ant contribution to the farmer was
the proposal OF $13, 100000 nj
trogcn fertilizer plant for Missis-
sippi which when completed will
provide the needed soil food nee
essary to increase the states agri-
cultural output.
Industry wise, Mississippi really
went to town in AS.
Conservatively speaking, a total
of SO towns and cities saw the
establishment of more than 40
known new industries, 25 of them
established directly through the
BAWI plan being administered by
the Mississippi Agricultural and
Industrial Board.
These industries, representing
an investment of more than $50,
600 900, accounted or will account
for nearly $500 new employees
and the increased payrolls which
they will bring.
One of the largest BAWT indus
tries yet established, the S12,5OO,-
600 Manville Corporation
plant at Natchez. was officially
dedicated during the fading mon
tbs of the year.
And on its heels came the an
nouncement of the selection of
Mississippi for establishment Of a
rayon pulp mill which will repre-
sent an investment of between
SIS, 100000 and s2O,000,00O and
employ an additional 500 to 1000
persons.
Sterling, Stanley Furniture, Day
Brite, Lebanon. Wells Lamont.
Real Silk, Blue Bell, Rice Silk and
numerous others are familiar
names in the 1913 record of in
dustrial achievements in Missis-
sippi.
Heavy expenditures also were
made in AS for expansion OF cleo
trio generating systems and trans
mission lines, plus extension OF fa-
cilities to provide natural gas ser
vice to an ever expanding consum-
er market.
An estimated $4,000, 900 barrels
Of oil were sucked from MississiD-
pts underground Treasure house,
a 81 percent increase over 1947
and an "a percent increase over
1916. Mississippi thus maintained
its position IS ninth in oil produc-
ton. but threatened to climb an
other notch before the end of
1919.