1942: Mississippi

Area and Population.

The state of Mississippi lies in the south-central section of the United States. It is hilly but not rugged and in general slopes downward to the Mississippi River and the Gulf Coast. The area of 47,716 sq. mi. includes 296 sq. mi. of inland water area.

Mississippi has a population of 2,183,766, according to the 1940 census, which is an increase of 8.7 per cent over the 1930 census. Of this number, 432,882, or 19.8 per cent of the population is urban, and 1,750,914, or 80.2 per cent is rural. Jackson, the state's capital, is the largest city in Mississippi, with a 1940 population of 62,107. Meridian, 35,481, and Vicksburg, 24,460, rank next in size. The 1940 census showed Hattiesburg with a population of 21,026; Laurel, 20,598; Biloxi, 17,475; and Gulfport, 15,195. However, with the recent establishment of army camps and air bases near all these cities, the population has greatly increased.

Education.

During the 1941-42 school session there were 866,000 inhabitants of school age in Mississippi. Of the 613,000 enrolled pupils, approximately 50 per cent were whites and 50 per cent Negroes. Of the total number, 535,000 pupils were enrolled in the elementary schools, and 76,683 students in high schools.

There were in operation in Mississippi, during the same school year, 5,100 white and Negro, elementary and high, schools. The state's expenditure on education for the school year amounted to $6,800,000. The average teacher's salary was about $550.

The 1942 session of the State Legislature provided for the distribution of free text books to all pupils, not only in the elementary schools of the state, but in the high schools as well.

Agriculture.

A majority of the people in Mississippi derive their income either directly or indirectly from agriculture. In 1942, Mississippi cooperated fully with the Secretary of Agriculture in the food production program and a bumper crop was harvested. The agricultural income of the state reached an all-time high of $332,000,000 gross. The cotton crop, of approximately two million bales, accounted for over 60 per cent of this income.

The number of farm families in Mississippi decreased from 310,000 in 1930 to 291,000 in 1940. There has been considerable decrease since 1940 due to migration of farm workers to industry, and to others being called into the armed forces.

In addition to the cotton crop, Mississippi is a large producer of dairy products, beef cattle, corn, sweet potatoes, oats, peanuts, pecans, fruits and tung oil. Mississippi leads the nation in the production of tung oil and long-staple cotton.

Industry.

Industrial employment and the value of industrial products in Mississippi reached its highest peak in 1942, due principally to the demands in the war program. Timber and timber products constituted the principal industry and all saw-mills, planing mills, dry kilns, and other wood-processing plants in the state have been operating at capacity.

During 1942 the war construction program in Mississippi provided the second largest source of industrial employment. It is expected that this activity will greatly diminish in 1943, however.

Mineral Products.

Mineral deposits in Mississippi include hydrated limestone, coal, gypsum, and rich clays. The state's chief mineral resource is its large supply of natural gas. There was considerable activity in Mississippi during 1942, in the state's one large producing field.

Finance.

The state budget for the biennium, 1942-44, amounted to $46,006,323.79.

Legislative and Political Matters.

The Legislature of the State of Mississippi held its biennial session during 1942. During the session the Legislature voted to reduce taxes, to provide free text books for all educable children in the state, increased appropriations for public schools and various welfare services, appropriated money to provide a program for civilian defense in the state, and passed various other measures designed to put the state in full cooperation with the war program. The regular senatorial election was held during the year and on Sept. 15 James O. Eastland was nominated to succeed Wall Doxey, and was elected in the general election held on Nov. 3.

State Officers.

Governor, Paul B. Johnson; Lieutenant Governor, Dennis Murphree; Secretary of State, Walker Wood; State Treasurer, Lewis S. May; State Auditor, J. M. Causey; Attorney General, Greek L. Rice; Superintendent of Education, J. S. Vandiver.

United States Senators:

Theodore G. Bilbo, James O. Eastland.

1941: Mississippi

Area and Population.

Admitted to statehood, Dec. 10, 1817, Mississippi ranks 31st in size among the states, with an area of 47,716 sq. mi. of inland water surface, according to remeasurements of the United States undertaken for the 16th census in 1941. The state has a population of 2,183,766, according to the 1940 census, which is an increase of 8.7 per cent over the 1930 census. Of this number, 432,882, or 19.8 per cent of the population is urban, and 1,750,914, or 80.2 per cent of the population is rural. The urban population increased 27.8 per cent during the period 1930-1940, while the rural population increased only 4.8 per cent. There are twelve cities with a population of 10,000 or above, but only one of these has a population in excess of 50,000. Jackson, the state's capital, is the largest city in Mississippi, with a 1940 population of 62,107. Meridian, 35,481, and Vicksburg, 24,460, rank next in size. The 1940 census showed Hattiesburg with a population of 21,026; Laurel, 20,598; Biloxi, 17,475; and Gulfport, 15,195. However, with the establishment of Camp Shelby at Hattiesburg, and a large air-training school at Biloxi, the population of these cities was greatly increased during 1941.

Education.

During the 1940-41 school session there were 864,000 inhabitants of school age in Mississippi. Of the 610,150 enrolled pupils, approximately 50 per cent were white and 50 per cent Negro students. Of the total number, 533,467 pupils were enrolled in the elementary schools, and 76,683 students in high schools.

There were in operation in Mississippi, during this same school year, 5,100 white and Negro elementary and high schools. The state's expenditure on education for the school year 1940-41 amounted to $14,500,000. The average teacher's salary was about $500.

The 1941 session of the State Legislature provided for the distribution of free text books to pupils in the elementary schools of the state. The books were purchased by the State Text Book Commission and were distributed in all grades from the first through the eighth.

Agriculture.

Agriculture is the chief interest in the state. Cotton is the principal crop, and Mississippi is the second ranking state in the nation for this product. The broad level reaches of the Yazoo-Mississippi delta are the world's premier cotton country. Other important crops are pecans, sweet potatoes, corn, rice, wheat, oats, sugar cane, peanuts, tung oil and fruits.

The size of the average farm in Mississippi is sixty acres. The average farm income for 1941 was estimated at $500.

Industry.

There were 1,241 manufacturing concerns paying taxes in Mississippi during 1940, according to figures released by the State Tax Commission.

The sales value of the products manufactured by these concerns during the year amounted to $179,144,430. This was an increase of $22,854,046 over the 1939 figure.

A total of $166,869,000 in defense contracts have been awarded in Mississippi by the Army, Navy and Maritime Commission.

Mineral Products.

Aside from sand and gravel, coal, gypsum, and rich clays, of which Mississippi produces limited amounts, the state's only important mineral product is natural gas. Resources in this regard are however apparently declining, after a spectacular rise from 1936 to 1939. The amount produced in 1940 from the state's only field, at Jackson, fell to 6,449,000 M. cu. ft., compared with the peak amount in 1939 of 14,527,000 M. cu. ft., with a value of $3,300,000.

Political Events.

A special election was called by Governor Paul B. Johnson on September 23, 1941, to fill the seat in the United States Senate left vacant by the death of Senator Pat Harrison on June 22. Congressman Wall Doxey, of Holly Springs, was elected to fill the unexpired term. James Eastland, of Rule-ville, appointed by the Governor, served until after the election.

State Officers.

Governor, Paul B. Johnson; Lieutenant Governor, Dennis Murphree; Secretary of State, Walker Wood; State Treasurer, Lewis S. May; State Auditor, J. M. Causey; Attorney General, Greek L. Rice; Superintendent of Education, J. S. Vandiver.

United States Senators:

Theodore G. Bilbo, Wall Doxey.

1940: Mississippi

Area and Population.

The state of Mississippi lies in the eastern south-central section of the United States. Comprising 46,860 sq. mi., its maximum width is approximately 190 miles from east to west, and its maximum length 330 miles from north to south. The population, according to the 1940 census, is 2,183,796, of whom about 50 per cent are Negroes. The total represents a gain of 8.7 per cent over the 1930 figure of 2,009,821. Mississippi has a relatively small urban population. There are 13 cities with a population of 10,000 or above, but only one of these has a population in excess of 50,000. Jackson, the state's capital, is the largest city in Mississippi, with a 1940 population of 62,107. Meridian, 35,481; Vicksburg, 24,460; Hattiesburg, 21,026; and Laurel, 20,598, rank next in size.

Education.

During the 1938-39 school session there were 843,000 inhabitants of school age in Mississippi. Of the 608,730 enrolled pupils, 50.7 per cent were white pupils; and 49.3 per cent, Negro students. Of the total number, 536,209 pupils were in the elementary schools; and 72,521 students in high schools. Of the high school students, 86.7 per cent were white, and 13.3 per cent Negro.

During the same school session there were in operation in Mississippi 4,412 elementary schools and 675 high schools. The state's expenditure on education for the school year 1938-39 amounted to $13,640,000. The average teacher's salary was about $500.

The 1940 session of the State Legislature provided for the distribution of free textbooks to pupils in the elementary schools of the state. The books were purchased by the State Text Book Commission and were distributed in all grades from the first through the eighth.

Agriculture.

Mississippi is primarily an agricultural state, but due to many recently developed resources the number of its industries is steadily increasing. The size of the average farm in Mississippi is approximately sixty acres. The average farm income for 1939 was estimated at $500.

Industry.

According to the Mississippi State Tax Commission, there were 1,244 manufacturing concerns paying taxes in Mississippi in 1939, and the sales value of the products manufactured by them in that year amounted to $156,290,384, compared with $139,324,407 in the preceding year. In 1939, sawmills and planing mills led in the value of their manufactured products, with lumber and timber products ranking first. Oil processing mills ranked second, cotton mills third, bottled drinks fourth, cheese and dairy products fifth, bakeries sixth, feed mills seventh and naval stores eighth.

Not only has there been an increase in the number of home corporations and concerns engaged in manufacturing within the state, but many outside manufacturing concerns, which have branches or subsidiaries in Mississippi, have been recently expanding their facilities and their operations. That Mississippi has splendid opportunities for manufacturing industries is further evidenced by the fact that new branch plants have in recent months been established within the state by corporations with nationally known reputations. Other plants, smaller in size, are beginning operation in various sections of the state. It was only during the past few years that large-scale dairy processing plants were located in Mississippi; and that many knitting mills, with headquarters in the North and in the East, first established themselves in Mississippi, in order to take advantage of cheapness of labor and nearness to raw materials.

Mineral Products.

The amount of natural gas, the state's chief mineral resource, produced in 1939, totaling 15,233,000 M. cu. ft., represented a 7 per cent rise over the already increased production for 1938, of 13,656,000 M. cu. ft. with a value of $3,210,000. It is feared however that the supply is becoming exhausted.

Finance.

The state budget represented an increase of 3.87 per cent over that for the previous biennium. Most of the increase was appropriated for increasing the welfare functions of the state, for the purchase of free text books, and for Homestead Exemption Reimbursements.

State Officers.

Governor, Paul B. Johnson; Lieutenant Governor, Dennis Murphree; Secretary of State, Walker Wood; State Treasurer, Lewis S. May; State Auditor, J. M. Causey; Attorney General, Greek L. Rice; Superintendent of Education, J. S. Vandiver.

United States Senators:

Byron Patton Harrison, Theodore G. Bilbo.

1939: Mississippi

Area and Population.

Mississippi's slightly more than 2,000,000 people are distributed evenly over an area of approximately 46,860 sq. mi. In 1930 barely more than one-fifth of them lived in cities and towns of more than 1,000 people, but the urban percentage is now growing. The state's largest city, Jackson, had an estimated population in 1939 of 65,000, compared with its 1930 total of 48,282. The populations of other Mississippi cities, as reported by the 1930 census are: Meridian 31,954; Vicksburg 22,943; Hattiesburg 18,601; Laurel 18,017; Biloxi 14,850; Greenville 14,807; Natchez 13,422; Gulfport 12,547; and Greenwood 11,123.

Mississippi had had a predominance of Negroes in its population since the introduction of slave labor, but the percentage of white population has climbed slowly until in 1930 it represented 49.7 per cent, and the 1940 census may show a predominance of white people.

Education.

The 1937 census of school-age children listed 379,309 whites and 464,387 Negroes, a total of 843,698, or approximately 42 per cent of the population. To serve this large school population Mississippi had in the 1938-39 school year a total of 1,519 elementary schools and 562 secondary schools. There were 522,199 white and Negro children enrolled in elementary grades; 67,799 in high school.

Nearly 38 per cent of the state government's total appropriations for the biennium 1938-40 went for common schools and other educational activities. This equalled the sum of $15,511.96. The average school teacher's salary per term is $562.50.

Significant advances have been made during the school year in curriculum revision to embrace more adult, vocational, and industrial education.

Agriculture.

In the past seven years Mississippi farmers have increased their cash income from sales of livestock and livestock products from approximately $12,000,000 to about $36,000,000 annually. This increase gives the clue to much of the state's changed agricultural program, well evidenced in the farm season of 1939. More than 1,000,000 acres were planted in winter cover crops last year. The acreage of summer legumes has trebled since 1932. As a result of soil-building practices the yield of lint cotton has been increased from an average of 185 pounds per acre, for the five years 1928-32, to an average of 328 pounds per acre for the past four years. This achievement in crop production is without a parallel in the history of American agriculture.

Industry.

Mississippi industry in 1939 felt the effects of full operation of ten 'balance agriculture with industry' plants brought into the state by legislation empowering municipalities to raise factory buildings for plants. The program has added one new industrial worker for every 15 listed by the 1930 census, and one new dollar of industrial payrolls for every $5 listed by the business census of 1935.

Business activity in Mississippi showed a considerable increase in December, 1939, as compared with December, 1938. Bank debits to individual accounts, as reported by the State Business Research Station, showed an increase of 33.8 per cent. Postal receipts showed an increase of 9.8 per cent. Sales tax receipts were up 19.8 per cent; electric connections up 12.4 per cent; gas connections up 11.8 per cent.

Legislative Matters.

Of the total appropriations for the biennium made by the 1938 Legislature for ordinary governmental purposes — exclusive of debt service and repairs and replacements — almost exactly 50 per cent went for educational purposes. The appropriations for public health and hospital service represented 10 per cent of the total; and appropriations for pensions and social welfare another 10 per cent. Reimbursements for homestead exemptions consumed 17.5 per cent of the total. The appropriations for agricultural service, the promotion of industry, and the protection of forests and other natural resources amounted to 2 per cent. Appropriations for the support and maintenance of the penitentiary, and for repairs and the replacement of work stock amounted to 2.5 per cent; and the appropriations for the executive offices and departments amounted to 5 per cent.

The business of Mississippi building and loan associations and home-financing companies increased approximately 25 per cent in 1939 largely as a result of the homestead tax-exemption law passed by the 1938 Legislature, exempting homes up to $5,000 assessed valuation, and including 160 acres of land, from state and local government ad valorem taxes levied for current expenses. The state treasury reimburses local governments for losses in revenue suffered as a result of the exemptions.

Welfare and Correction.

Governor Paul B. Johnson went into office pledged to increase support for the state's aged people and eleemosynary institutions. The state maintains five charity hospitals at Jackson, Laurel, Vicksburg, Natchez and Meridian; two hospitals for the insane at Whitfield and Meridian; a tubercular sanatorium at Magee; a school for feeble-minded at Ellisville. During 1938 the sum of $500,000 was appropriated for the care of indigent patients in private hospitals during the biennium.

The state maintains also an industrial training school for delinquent children at Columbia; and three penal farms in the Mississippi delta (the largest unit at Parchman) which together constitute the nation's only self-supporting state penitentiary. The sales of farm products turned back into the state general fund are more than the state appropriation for the upkeep of the farms.

During 1939 Mississippi saw its $90,000,000 highway construction program nearly completed on through routes, the state now having three all-paved North-South routes, and four all-paved East-West routes. Concurrently with the progress of the highway construction program has been a state-supported tourist promotion campaign which has seen the estimated expenditures for travel in Mississippi increase by 40 per cent and 60 per cent respectively in the last two years. The index of gasoline tax receipts indicates an even greater increase for 1939 than in 1938.

The chief tourist attractions are the Mississippi Gulf Coast, the spring garden pilgrimages centered in southwestern Mississippi around Natchez, and historic memorials such as the Vicksburg National Military Park which alone draws some 250,000 visitors annually.

State Officers.

As a result of the regular quadrennial elections in November 1939, the chief state officers are as follows: Governor, Paul B. Johnson; Lieutenant Governor, Dennis Murphree; Secretary of State, Walker Wood; Attorney General, Greek L. Rice; Treasurer, Lewis May; Auditor, J. M. Causey; Superintendent of Education, J. S. Vandiver.

United States Senators.

Pat (Byron Patton) Harrison, Theodore Gilmore Bilbo.

1938: Mississippi

Area and Population.

Admitted to statehood, Dec. 10, 1817, Mississippi ranks 31st in size among the states, with an area of 46,865 sq. mi. In population it ranks 23rd, numbering 2,009,821 according to the census of 1930; 2,023,000 on July 1, 1937, according to the latest Federal estimate. The largest cities are Jackson, the capital, 48,282; Meridian, 31,954; Vicksburg, 22,943. Other important cities are Hattiesburg, 18,601; Laurel, 18,017; Biloxi, 14,850; Greenville, 14,807; Natchez, 13,422.

By the 1930 census, 99.6 per cent of Mississippi's population were native-born, the state ranking third highest in the nation in this respect. Mississippi was the only state in the Union which in 1930 showed a majority of Negroes in the total population. But although 50.3 per cent of the population in that year were Negroes, the state's white population has so increased in proportion since 1890 that the 1940 census should show a larger percentage of white people than Negroes.

Agriculture and Industry.

Strenuous efforts are being made to diversify the predominance of cotton in Mississippi's agriculture, and also to balance agriculture with industry. Industries using farm products enjoyed a successful year during 1938. A tire factory which will use cotton fibre is under construction at Natchez, in the state's 'balance agriculture with industry' plan. Plants which have been buying timber from state farmers for the production of wood pulp and naval stores have prospered. The nation's first and only sweet potato starch plant, at Laurel, completed its biggest season in 1938. The state continued to increase its tung tree acreage, which already totals more than the combined total of all other states.

Mississippi's interest in markets for its farm products led to the formation of a National Cotton Council during the year, with the object of broadening the base for cotton uses, and concerted efforts were also made to secure for Mississippi the Southern Federal Farm Research Laboratory. A State Advertising Commission used the 'farm chemurgic' theme — the alliance of agriculture with chemistry — in a national campaign to secure new industries.

Forced to restrict its acreage in cotton, the state has turned more to forestry as an industry, and to the exploitation of its rich clay deposits. The continued improvement of beef as well as dairy cattle herds keeps Mississippi at the top of the cotton states in the livestock and dairy products business.

Mineral Products.

Natural gas, of which Mississippi produced about 14,248,000 cu. ft. in 1937, compared with 11,821,000 (value, $2,646,000) in 1936, represented the largest share of the total value of the year's mineral products. This total amounted to $3,831,784 in 1936. Additional values came chiefly from clays, sand and gravel.

Education.

In the school year ending in June 1937 the total enrollment of pupils in Mississippi's public schools was 720,200. School expenditures for the same period amounted to $50,666,044.

Finance.

A pioneer among states in the use of a sales tax, which is now its chief revenue producer, Mississippi continued to make interesting reforms in its revenue system during the year, chiefly by exempting homesteads from ad valorem taxation for current revenues, both state and local.

Events of the Year.

The year 1938 was noteworthy in Mississippi for the continuation of a four-year highway construction program which will total $90,000,000. Approximately 3,000 miles of roads in a priority system will be hard-surfaced by the completion of the program. Tourist travel has shown tremendous increases, especially to the Gulf Coast, Natchez and Vicksburg.

State Officers.

The chief state officers are as follows: Governor, Hugh L. White; Lieutenant-Governor, J. B. Snider; Secretary of State, Walker Wood; Attorney General, Greek L. Rice; Treasurer, Newton James; Auditor, Carl N. Craig; Superintendent of Education, J. S. Vandiver.

United States Senators:

Pat (Byron Patton) Harrison, Theodore Gilmore Bilbo.