ECONOMIC SURVEYS OF COUNTY HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT. 69 
last of the improvements contemplated in the first $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 corn, 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 rolling 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, issuéd $450,000 and Beat 5 issued 
$50,000 of road-improvement bonds. The total of all outstanding 
bonds must not, by the State law, exceed 10 per cent of the assessed 
valuation of all 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 such bonds is not petitioned against by an equal number 
of qualified 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. res Interest. me 
3 Per ceni 
Slip is UGH 52 Ss eede oe SOR een eee caer eas See Eee Core = -| £50,000 | $50,050 53 1 
OS a Si ee a ea ei Oa ee er | 150,000 | 150, 275 5 1 
Tne: TCS ee aah BAe en eee eee a gee eae Se See gee | 100,000 | 100,110 5 1 
Tibbs TE TES ot ST ee SG ee er ee Sa eee | 100,000 100, 000 53 1 
nadie LT Pe et ie a ee me gee eee ie pe adeeie Sr eaaere ae | 50,000} 51, 041 54 1 
“Fore, SE ES Ss aaa a ee ee rts os eae ae | 50,000 | 51,950 53 5 
902,026 [oan as- 6c eee 
