University of Southern Mississippi - Southerner Yearbook (Hattiesburg, MS)

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0Bur Elnfuut Ilnhuatrgmftlliv Hllanufariure nf Haprr O APER for magazines, periodicals, newspapers, wrapping purposes, and manufactured articles is increasingly in demand in all civilized countries, the United States being the greatest consumer. The fiber used for making paper is largely determined by its cheap- ness, and in the early stages of this development rags were used. Later a grass was used and then wood pulp was introduced. At first spruce was the only wood thought to be fitted for the making of paper but now there are about twenty varieties used. They are: spruce, hemlock, poplar, balsam fir, pine, beech, maple, white fir, cotton wood, chestnut, douglas fir, tamarack, elm, basswood, birch, ash, and cucumber. With the exception of the fir trees and the tamarack all of these grow extensively in Mississippi. The Southern Paper Company organized in 1912 established the first paper mill in Mississippi, a million dollar plant, in Moss Pointg and in June 1913 the first paper was made. The refuse from the various sawmills of Moss Point and nearby towns that for years and years has been burned in tremendous quantities is now being used for the pro- duction of paper. Only the pine slabs and wood are used, the bark and small rough twigs not being desirable for smooth paper. It is estimated that every cord of pine slabs that goes into the mill will average 1000 pounds of wood pulp, which, when made into paper, brings from 7 to 75 cents per pound, or S140 to S150 per ton. The plant has attempted as yet only the various grades of wrapping paper, though the experiments show that this can be bleached to a light tan color and newspapers have been printed on it. This mill turns out about 35 tons daily or an average of 12 car loads per weekg yet this is not nearly enough to supply the present demand in the State of Mississippi and with the present advance in price it is clearly seen that Mississippi can make her paper much more cheaply than she can buy it. Besides cutting down the expense by establishing paper mills in Mississippi, large numbers of people are given employment. The mill at Moss Point employes two hundred people who are divided into shifts of eight hours each, the mill being in operation twenty-four hours per day except Sunday. The building of a million dollar paper mill in Hattiesburg in the course of a year is under consideration. Hattiesburg is a good place for such a plant since the conditions essential to the success of this enterprise are favorable: viz, an inexhaustible supply of fresh water that is chemically pure, an enormous supply of pine slabs-these last being obtainable from the refuse of the large sawmills at a minimum cost: and good facilities for furnishing its manufactured products economical transportation to market. All three of these factors are found combined at this point. The grades of paper at this proposed mill will be in the form of cardboard which will be used in making all kinds of paper boxes. 23

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Ignzzihilitira nf Glnt-ODUP1' Wine lllanhz BEEDIE E. SMITH H E Long Leaf Pine Region covers 132,000 square miles along the Gulf Coast, about ten million acres being found in South Mississippi. Between four and five million acres have been denuded of their growth of timber and await development. Less than fifty years ago this land was considered almost worthless and as late as 1910 the population was rated at twenty-four persons to the square mile. At the meeting of the Southern Pine Association held in New Orleans February 8, 1917, the main topic for discus- sion was, How to Improve the Cut-Over Pine Landsfl South Mississippi needs more popu- lation and many colonies have been started under the direction of the Southern Settlement and Development Organization. One of these settlements is situated near Wiggins. The Mills Seed Company, a New York firm, bought 25,000 acres of cut-over pine land and started a truck farm. In 1915 they had 325 acres in sweet potatoesg of these they cured 2000 bushels by kiln drying and sold them the following spring at a good price. In 1914 they planted 425 acres in water melonsg car loads were shipped out of the State, and the seeds of others were thrashed out with thrashing machines and sold. The Mills Farm Company, also near Wiggins, went into the nursery business, and now sells pecans, oranges, and grapes to customers to all parts of the South. Another interesting colony is situated near Sumrall on the Mississippi Central Rail- road. This is divided into a German colony north, and a Bohemian colony south of the town. Both together have about twenty-five families. The people that moved into these settlements and learned to fit their farming methods to Mississippi conditions were satisfied and stayed: while those that did not know much about farming in the South and insisted on using their northern methods made a failure and left. The ones that stayed are making a success by shipping farm products: such as strawberries, cucumbers, tomatoes, potatoes, and early vegetables. One of the prosperous dairies in the State is under tho direction of an Agricul- tural College man at Sumrall. Milk is bought from these colonies and 600 pounds of butter are shipped every week. The German settlement near Lumberton owns 6000 acres of cut-over pine land. This colony is making a success of dairying. It has all the equipment necessary for modern dairies, and every day 100 gallons of sweet milk are shipped over the Northeastern Railroad to New Orleans. This settlement has proved that the most economical way to build up the soil is by keeping live stock. At the Government Experiment Station, McNeill. Miss., an average of eighteen cows has furnished since 1900, S150 to S200 per month of milk, cream and butter, besides skim milk for pigs. These examples show that the twenty-three counties containing cut-over pine land can be made to produce crops. Besides the climate is delightful: the summer is warm with nights cooled by the Gulf breeze, which is felt a hundred miles inlandg and the winters are mild. The rainfall is heavy but the soil is sandy loam and easily drained. The soil of this land is deficient in nitrogen and phosphorus. The nitrogen can be supplied by leguminous crops and commercial fertilizers or by pasturing the live stock. Le- guminous crops, such as cowpeas, velvet beans, soy beans, Spanish peanuts, clovers, and lespedeza are grown successfullygtrucking crops, and such fruits and nuts as pecans, peaches, pears, figs, and oranges are at home in this section, and vegetables can be grown here the whole year through. Other crops are corn, cotton, sweet and Irish potatoes, and sugar cane. The cut-over land can be bought for about 35.00 per acre: clearing of stumps and brush will cost not more than 310.00 per acre. It will cost the owner from S20 to S25 an acre when brought into a good state of cultivation. Roads are easily made good and the consoli- dated schools offer opportunity for educational advantages. 22

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Qlnmieruatinn nf Elinrwta---An Appml HE forests of Mississippi constitute one of her richest assets. Today the manufacture' of lumber and other timber products ranks first among the industries of our state. The future of this valuable enterprise is wholly dependent upon our attitude in the consumption and the conservation of our resources at hand. The United States Forest Ser- vice estimates that under the present system of cutting and wasting the timber, our supply for commercial purposes will be practically exhausted within the short time of thirty-five years. In the light of this fact it behooves our people to study carefully the agents of de- struction and the possible means of effective conservation. The forest fire, which is oftentimes looked upon as being beneficial, is one of our greatest enemies. Fire not only injures and kills the more mature trees, but also destroys the undergrowths and seedlings, which contain the only hope of future replacement. With the fire comes the destruction of soil humus followed by surface erosion. Conservative figures show that Mississippi is sustaining an annual loss of two dollars per acre on all areas swept by the flames. To this estimate must be added the loss from fire spreading to buildings and fences, which frequently occurs. ' Another destructive agent to our forests is the unlimited stock range. Cattle destroy the younger trees that escape the fire, and hogs search for the seeds and roots that lie be-A neath the ground. While these forces are cutting off future possibilities, the present supply of timberise being rapidly and indiscriminately exhausted. We are cutting over our lands, sparing only those trees that are too small for the mills to receive. Many of these are broken down and destroyed in the clearing. In this connection we should like to recommend the forestry sys- tem of Germany. In that country where timber is truly obtained at a premium, no tree is cut until approved by oflicial authority, and provision is made for planting anotherin its stead. Again, the common method of tapping or boxing our pines for turpentine is a very wasteful practice. As a result the trunk of the tree is greatly exposed to fire and insects and its strength is weakened before the storm. Our people need to learn the lesson of conservation, and co-operate with the forces in protecting our woodland. Our Federal Government under the so-called Weeks law has a standing appropriation of 3100,000 among the states in behalf of this cause. Under the liberal provision that each state furnish an equal amount of her allotment, only twenty-one states at present are receiving the benefit of this offer. We should like to call attention to the Work of the Foresty Association of Texas and the laws enacted by her legislature, which might serve as a model for Mississippi. Through the directors of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas, a qualified forester has been appointed, who has supervision over the timber interests of the state. This forester with the directors has the power to purchase State Reservations, and to provide adequate means to protect the forests at large from the destructive agents at work. It is estimated that from forest fires alone we are sustaining a loss annually of 13 cents on each EE100 worth of real estate. How much more economical it would be if an equiva- lent tax were used to conserve our resources! We hope the time is near at hand when Mis- sissippi will provide adequate laws and appropriations to care for the forests of the state. Agents of Destruction: Means of Conservation: Fire Federal Co-operation Overflow Organized Supervision Range Reservation Erosion Education Saw-mill State Legislation Tapping Taxation 24