ECONOMIC SURVEYS OF COUNTY HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT. 69 



last of the improvements contemplated in the Ih'st $450,000 of bonds 

 issued were completed in the spring of 1915. 



The county is somewhat larger than the average and has an area 

 of 770 square miles or 448,000 acres. Less than one-fourth of the 

 land is actually under cultivation. The population of the county 

 in 1910 was 46,919, of which Meridian, the county seat and principal 

 city, comprised 23,285. The products of the county are quite varied, 

 as indicated by the fact that in 1910, 19,257 bales of cotton, 265,291 

 bushels of com, 44,372 bushels of oats, 18,000 bushels of dry peas, 

 and 121,000 bushels of potatoes were produced, and there were from 

 30,000,000 to 40,000,000 feet of yellow-pine lumber cut for shipment. 

 Stock raising is also becoming an important industry. 



The topography of the county is for the most part hilly, with small 

 areas of roUing land and level creek bottoms. The soil varies from 

 sandy loam to bright-red clay. During certain seasons the natural- 

 soil roads are impassable for loaded vehicles, and therefore improved 

 roads mean a great deal to the rural population. 



The economic studies were made in March, 1911, and in April of 

 1912, 1913, 1914, with a short study in November, 1915. 



HOW THE IMPROVEMENT WAS FINANCED. 



Between September 1, 1910, and March 1, 1915, Beat 1, which 

 includes the city of Meridian, issued $450,000 and Beat 5 issued 

 $50,000 of road-improvement bonds. The total of aU outstanding 

 bonds must not, by the State law, exceed 10 per cent of the assessed 

 valuation of aU the taxable property in the county. 



The bonds were issued by the county board of supervisors in 

 accordance with the general law of the State. This law, adopted in 

 1910, provides that any county or district thereof may issue bonds 

 on petition of 20 per cent of the qualified electors, - provided the 

 issuance of sach bonds is not petitioned against by an equal number 

 of quahfied electors. If 20 per cent of the qualified electors peti- 

 tion against the issue of the bonds, then an election must be held, at 

 which a majority vote decides the question for or against the issue. 

 The bonds were issued without resorting to an election, except the 

 last issue of $50,000. Table 25 shows the amount of bonds issued, 

 dates of issuance, selling price, and interest. 



Table 25. — Road-improvement bonds issued by Lauderdale County. 



Date sold. 



Amount. 



Price 

 obtajned. 



Interest. 



Beat 



No. 



Sept. 1,1910 



S50,000 

 150,000 

 100, 000 

 100, 000 

 50,000 

 50, 000 



S50, 050 

 150, 275 

 100, 110 

 100,000 

 51,011 

 51,050 



Per cent. 

 Si- 

 s' 

 5 

 5i 

 5V 

 SJ- 





Do 





Mar. 1, 1913 





Mar. 1,1014 





Mar. 1, 1915 - 





Apr. 5, 1912 



5 







Total 



500, 000 



502,52fi 













