The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1885-05-15
I L MISS.
Annual Meeting of the MISSISSIPPI
ri Press Association.
to the Times-D Democrat.

Special to the Times-Democrat
Water Valley, May 13.-The
twentieth annual session of the
Mississippi Press Association con
vened here today at II O'CLOCK with
eighty members present., represent
ing "ifty-seven papers. The meet
ing was held in the spacious court
room, which had been beautifully
and artistically decorated for the
occasion by the ladies.
The association waS called to or
der by the president, Hon. j. j.
Shannon, of the Meridian Mercury,
and the session was opened with
prayer by Rev. II. M. ~Sydenscheck-
er, pastor of the Presbyterian
church here. Capt. w. A. Herring,
the mayor, welcomed the press in
an address which was replete with
interest, and showed the wOndrouS
growth, public spirit, enterprise
and surprising material wealth of
Water Valley, of which the State
at large has heretofore been con
paratively in Ignorance. He held
that the town rivals, it it does not
excel, any town in the State in the
varied industrial pursuits, with
manufacturing enterprises new to
many parts of the South. W lille
it is deprived of the local advant
ages of iron and coal, the first cast
pillow factory was established here
before they had railroad facilities.
Now fOundrIeS and machine shops
make iron and steel plows, hollow
ware, cotton gins, plantation and
mill machinery and steam engines.
Here the cotton mills convert into
yarn 1900 bales of cotton annually.
The railroad shops here furnish
hundreds OF miles of track with
locomotives and cars and repairs TO
machinery. The first locomotive
built in Mississippi was bnilt here
in 1873. Since then over forty new
locomotives have been built not
only for this line but tor other lines
in the State and for other States.
This too without the immigration
of capitalists or money from abroad,
but the local capital and the strong
arms aud nerves of its indOmltAble
citizens, who now number over 1000.
He showed the city to have made
equal progress in intellectual cui-
ture. Showing that there exists
here the best and most efficient
system Of public schools that can
be found il. the State for both races,
there being Il school ct some 400
scholars in prosperous organization
and conduct,
&. The press, by IA general verdict,
bears testimony to the intelligence,
culture and generous hospitality of
the good citizens OF Wafer Valley.
Mr.. j. II. Anderson, OF The Kos
ciusko Star, on behalf of the press,
i. responded to the welcome in an ell
oqnent speech.
The secretary. j. X. AlnOn, of
the West point New Era, vas at his
post, and called the roll and COllec-
= ted annual dues. President Shan
non then delivered his address, re-
view ing the workings, gruwth and
usefulness 1T the association from
it's organization, ana making many
wholesome suggestions as t. Re
/, proper mode Of conducting Il news
paper.
r There were presented anal rpa 81
invitations to visit the State Uni
verSitN at Oxford, the Worlds Ex.
position at New Orleans and the
various public places OF interest in
this city, all of which were accept
ed.
The association will leave here ia
a body Friday morning for Oxford,
thence at 4 O'clock Oh the same day
| for New Orleans.
Tomorrow night the association
will be entertained by the citizens
at a grand banquet. A telegram
was received aud read from Spna-
tor Walthall, acknowledging the
receipt of AN invitation to be pres.
ent, aud expressing his regrets at
his inability 20 attenl.
r. III. Henry, Of the Jackson State
Ledger, from the memorial commit:
tee, presented, in feeling and APP.
propriate terms, resolutions com
memOrative of Harry Moss and j.
d.. Burke, deceased members Of the
association, which were unanimous
ly adopted and ordered spread on
the minutes.