The total value of livestock on farms and ranges in 1910 was $73,255,756, of which $15,269,364 represented the value of cattle, $20,303,851 horses, $32,028,421 mules, $4,913,166 swine and the rest asses, burros, goats and sheep. Of the cattle, $429,587 represented the value of dairy cows.
In 1917 cotton was grown on 2,801,000 acres and yielded 895,000 bales, valued at $127,538, 000• maize yielded 84,050,000 bushels from 4,100,000 acres and valued at $115,989,000. Oats in the same year yielded 5,700,000 bushels from 300,000 acres and valued at $5,358,000. Potatoes were raised on 14,000 acres, yielded 1,092,000 bushels valued at $1,835,000. The 1917 hay crop from 261,000 acres was valued at $5,676, 000. In 1918 the State had 253,000 horses, 307,000 mules, 508,000 mach cows, 644,000 other cattle, 174,000 sheep and 1,902,000 hogs.
Many counties are pressing vigorously the work of tick eradiction and more than 3 of the territory of the State is now freed from that pest and from the Federal quarantine on cattle shipments. The value of the fruit prod uct of the State in 1917 was about $1,900,000, of this amount nearly 50 per cent was con tributed by the peach crop; 10 per cent by apples, and 5 per cent each by figs and straw berries.
Fisheries.- This industry is centred at Biloxi, from which great quantities of oysters and shrimps are shipped annually. Buffalo fish, mullet, catfish, sea trout are the principal fishes sought. About 2,000 persons are engaged in the industry in which is invested capital to the extent of over $500,000. The value of the annual catch is about $550,000.
Minerals.- Mississippi is not a mining State. Clay is the principal product, being produced annually to the value of about $800,000. Marl, phosphate rock, hydraulic lime, gypsum and lig nite are also found in limited quantities. None of these are worked to any considerable extent. There are six mineral springs which in a re cent year produced 257,200 gallons, valued at $52,780.
Manufactures.- At the last industrial census, measured by the value of products of its manufacturing industries ($79,550,095), Mis sissippi ranked 39th among the States and with an average of 46,702 wage-earners engaged in its industries, the State ranked 31st in this respect. The census reported 2,209 industrial
establishments, employing 52,277 persons, of whom 2,386 were proprietors and firm mem bers, 3,189 salaried employees and 46,702 wage earners. The primary horse power required to operate these establishments aggregated 186,434, the capital amounted to$81,005,484; the cost of materials aggregated $41,340,122; the value of products $79,550,095, making the value added by manufacture $38,209,973. Of the latter sum only ;19,176,627 was paid in wages and $3,831,133 in salaries, of an average of $410 per annum for each wage-earner, leav ing over $15,000,000 for rent and taxes ($1,320, 197), payments for contract work ($2,075,852), interest on investment, depreciation, etc. The following table shows the relative importance of the leading manufacturing industries: Of the 52,277 persons engaged in manufac turing industries, of whom 46,702 were wage earners, as already stated, 46,069 were 16 years of age and over and 633 under 16 years; 1,904 were women and girls and 119 of the latter were under 16 years of age. Consult 'Census of Manufactures> (Vol. I, issued by Depart mem of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Washington, D. C., 1918).
The above statements do not include about 2,000 cotton-ginning plants.
Finances.— On 1 Oct. 1918, the total in debtedness of the State, including $2,354,607.74 of debt for school funds, on which interest alone is paid, was $5,102,991. Total bonded debt as of May 1919 is $8,301,607.74. The assessed valuation in 1917 was as follows: Real estate, $417,164,293; personal property, $117,551,983; public service corporations, $91,580,335; total, $626,296,611 • and the State tax rate $4 per 'thousand. The total receipts for the year 1917 18 were $9,485,790.68, total disbursements, $8,301,526.57. The main source of income is a direct State property tax, which yields almost 45 per cent of the total income. Of the dis bursements in 1918, 15 per cent were for com mon school purposes and 5 per cent for re demption of the State debt.