MISSISSIPPI 



3847 



MISSISSIPPI 



more than half of the total value of the manu- 

 factures of the state, being about $43,000,000 

 out of a total of about $80,000,000. In the 

 production of rough lumber Mississippi ranks 

 third among the states of the Union, yellow 

 pine representing the greatest percentage of the 

 timber cut. There are in the state over 900 

 sawmills. 



Next in importance is the manufacture of 

 cottonseed oil and cake. This is an industry 

 which has sprung up only during the last two 

 decades, and has attained large proportions. 

 Formerly the cottonseed was simply thrown 

 away as useless. Now there are large factories 

 here and in the other Southern states that press 

 out the oil from the cotton seeds, and transform 

 the residue into cakes for feeding cattle. These 

 products are worth millions of dollars (see COT- 

 TON). The manufacture of cotton goods is ad- 

 vancing steadily. Another important branch of 



industry is the manufacture of fertilizers from 

 minerals, bones and the products of the cotton- 

 seed mills. 



Transportation. Mississippi has excellent 

 transportation facilities. Important trunk' lines 

 cross the state from north to south through the 

 eastern, central and western portions, and other 

 lines cross these from east to- west. The state 

 had 4,380 miles of railroads in 1916; the princi- 

 pal lines are Yazoo & Mississippi Valley, the 

 Illinois Central, the New Orleans, Mobile & 

 Chicago, the Mobile & Ohio, the Southern and 

 the Mississippi Central railways. 



The Mississippi River, which forms the whole 

 western boundary of the state, constitutes a re- 

 markable commercial waterway. The improve- 

 ments effected at Gulfport in recent years have 

 made it a valuable seaport, with a rapidly grow- 

 ing export trade, and the possibilities of de- 

 velopment are almost endless. 



Government and History 



How the State Is Governed. Mississippi is 

 governed under a constitution adopted in 1890. 

 This is the fourth constitution since the state's 

 admission to the Union in 1817. It may be 

 amended by a two-thirds vote in each house of 

 the legislature, indorsed by a majority vote of 

 the people. The most interesting clauses of the 

 constitution are those dealing with the fran- 

 chise, which have been framed with the pur- 

 pose of securing the political supremacy of 

 the white race. A literacy or educational test 

 restricts the right to vote to those persons who 

 are able to read, or if unable to read, to ex- 

 plain, when read aloud to them, any part of the 

 constitution. This test has greatly reduced the 

 negro vote. 



The executive officials, the governor, lieuten- 

 ant-governor, secretary of state, treasurer, au- 

 ditor and attorney-general are elected for four 

 years. The governor, treasurer and auditor 

 are not eligible for immediate reelection. 



The legislative power is vested in a senate of 

 forty-five members and a house of representa- 

 tives of 138 members, elected for four years. 

 Sessions are held every two years, beginning in 

 January of even-numbered years, and their 

 duration is not limited. Mississippi sends eight 

 members to the United States House of Repre- 

 sentatives. 



At the head of the judicial department is the 

 supreme court, which consists of six members, 

 appointed by the governor with the approval of 

 the senate for terms of eight years. Each 



county has a chancery and circuit court, pre- 

 sided over by judges elected by the people for 

 four years. There are, besides, in each county 

 district courts presided over by elected judges, 

 and there are also justices of the peace. 



For purposes of local government the state 

 is divided into counties, each administered by a 

 board of supervisors composed of five members, 

 one for each of the five districts into which the 

 county is divided. The towns and cities may 

 adopt the commission form of government, also 

 the recall and initiative. After six years under 

 commission government any city may vote to 

 abandon its commission charter. 



Other Constitutional Provisions. Mississippi 

 has adopted the primary election law providing 

 for the direct nomination of all state, district 

 and county officers. In 1908 the state prohib- 

 ited the liquor traffic, and has since passed sev- 

 eral measures for strengthening that law. The 

 agreement of nine jurors constitutes a verdict 

 in civil suits. The giving of tips in hotels, 

 restaurants, dining and other cars is forbidden. 

 The employment of children under twelve 

 years of age in factories and mills is unlawful, 

 and children under sixteen years must not be 

 employed for more than ten hours a day at any 

 occupation. 



Mississippi was one of the earliest states to 

 recognize the rights of married women; they 

 are placed on an equality with their husbands 

 in buying or selling property or making con- 

 tracts. 



