The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1889-05-18

Toast Responses at the Banquet,
Observation-Disclosures To BY Gov
ERNoR ROBERT LOWRY.
Mr.. President. Ladies' and Gentlemen;
| would have been pleased if the
agreeable duty of responding to the
toast just given had been assigned TO
some one else. Especially Is this true
when | remember that your guests
compose an important factor In mould
ing public sentiment, and devote their
time and talents to the interest and de.
yelopment of the resources of the
State, and are probably more familiar
with its hopes and possibilities than
any other class of our citizens.
If an intelligent stranger was to
visit the several sections Of Mississippi,
he would no doubt report that the
Great Master of the Universe had
given our people an area Of country
with such diversity of soil as to meet
the requirements Of every character OF
agriculture and horticulture, and at the
same time with conditions and appoint
ments suitable for the establishment
and successful conduct of factories
You are now in most attractive part
of the Mississippi Yazoo Delta, and Il
all the lands embraced In this area
could be thoroughly protected from
the floods, and every acre of 1t con-
verted into cotton field, II would
probably make as much cotton as Il
now made In the world.
Take the Uplands north of tn,
vicksburg Il Meridian Railroad ant
you will find soil that responds mos
generously to good cultivation. En-
braced in this are the beautiful prairiel
of Northeast Mississippi-not only at
tractive, but equal in beauty and fer
tility to the prairies of Illinois and In
diana. South Of the road mentioned
are most excellent farming lands, mucl
of which are adapted to the growing
of our chief product, as well as that o
raising fruits, early vegetables, etc. II
Southeast Mississippi, where agricul
ture ceases to be profitable, there Is |
pine forest equal, If not superior to any
upon this continent. In years past, fol
the want of easy facilities for travel
there was but little intercourse be-
tween our people and other sections o.
the State and those of the Gulf Coast
A large amount Of capital Is invested
ON the Coast in milling interests, and
lumber is exported TO almost every
civilized country; TO England, Ger
many, France, Scotland, and to all con-
tiguous tropical countries.
The toast presents wide field for
thought. Occasionally you hear II said
that Mississippi Is standing still-want-
ing in enterprise, and tagging behind
her Sisters. In what particulars may
] ask2 Upon enquiring, the response
comes from every county Of which |
have any knowledge, that the condi-
ton is better than for many years, and
the people more contented and pros
porous.
In the past seven years-since 1882
more miles of railroad have been
built in the State than was built In
sixty previous years. Seven years ago
there was about eight hundred miles
Of railroads. To-day there Is twenty
two hundred miles. Now factories
have been established and large addi-
tions made to others.
The educational intests of the coun-
try Is in most prosperous condition.
Our colleges supported by the State,
and those maintained by private enter
prise, commend themselves to those
seeking both classical and classified
education. The common schools have
been improved on a practical system,
and are accomplishing more than at
any time since their establishment In
the South. Jackson, Aberdeen, Gren-
ada, Okolona, Oxford, West Point, and
many other places IN the State have
erected large aud commodious build
ings and are constantly improving the
efficiency of their common schools
and so, $4,000 children are receiving
daily instructions from 5000 teachers,
for which the people upon their own
motive expend annually more than
eight hundred thousand dollars.
Mr.. President, | may say with truth
that your Delta country Is blessed with
hopes and possibilities incalculable.
1t has been said "Not every age brings
forth Its mighty spirits TO play the great
parts assigned them," and when look
at your levee system, your broad fields,
reclaimed lands, | can see the Architect,
the Master-hand that directed, that
knew no discouragement, that whether
before committees on the floor of the
National Legislature, or the central
figure in water ways convention, he
carried conviction to those whose con-
currence he sought. A profound
great lawyer, and Christian
gentleman and for generations to
come the people of this Delta will
honor and pay tribute to the memory
of Col. w. A. Percy.
Mr.. President, our people living in
different sections of the State have
heretofore been almost strangers, but
will now be neighbors; for which we
can thank railroad enterprises. re-
member few years ago, meeting in
the eastern part of the State gifted
gentleman, who had been quite a
traveler-had been over much Of
Europe-and he said: "Take the size
of Columbus, and the number Of in
habitants, and have never seen In any
country a prettier town or more cul-
tured people" And 80, Mr.. President,
the Georgia Pacific connects the beau
tiful city on the Tombigbee with
Greenville and her 10000 inhabitants.
And l may say too, that Columbus has
a daughter on the road--large, dash
ing and full of esources--asserts her.
self on all occasions, and claims that
she can guide her own barque without
the aid of the mother. l commend
West Point 10 Greenville.
Isubmit, MIR. President, that Missis-
sippi with her genial climate, her fer
tile aud diyersihed soil, her educational