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and Credit Bond Issue to expedite and guarantee the construction of the Old Spanish Trail through Hancock County. It was gravel only, but it was the prosperity building predecessor of today's zooming U.S. 90. The Hancock also bought other complete bond issues for the construction of several strategic county roads -- as well as public schools. It also loaned money to build churches.
Way ahead of its time the Hancock Bank bought blooded Jersey bulls, blooded rams and Brahma bulls to help the Hancock and Harrison County farmers to upgrade their cattle and sheep.
This bank was also one of the pioneer promoters of reforestation in Mississippi. Back in the middle-1940's, when the state was giving 5,000 free pine seedlings to farmers for planting, the bank realized how slow and back breaking was the job of placing these by hand. So, the Hancock Bank invested in three mechanical planters, running from $200 to $800 apiece and made them available without charge to the farmers of both Hancock and Harrison -- substantially stimulating the tree planting program.
A moment ago we referred to that period when Long Beach was a nationally recognized vegetable producing center, especially famous for its long red radishes. During the period when the Hancock had a branch there, the growers conceived the idea that Long Beach could also successfully raise and market strawberries early enough to secure the top beginning of the season market prices. To help develop this project the Hancock Bank set up a special fund for loans to the truck farmers to help them purchase and set out their plants. The L & N Railroad also guaranteed cooperation by seeing that the necessary freight cars were available on the siding at the right time.
The first year's crop was successful, the growers made money and paid back their loans. The second year, however, the_ crop was ruined by an early freeze, the bank lost money and the community lost interest.