The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1902-03-20

forests which are being denuded
at an alarming rate, leaving the
land almost valueless unless it
can be shown by modern and
scientific experiments that
the farm can be made profitable
when the tim Der is gone, The
gentleman from Hancock (Mr.
Bowers has explained the OBJ
iects and purposes of this eXper-
iment station In detail and pointed
out the incalculable benefits that
will come to South Mississippi
through the proper management
of such a farm. | now desire to
call your attention to another TACT
as an evidence that the southern
portion of our state deserves
some consideration at the hands
of this Legislature. We have
been extremely liberal and gen
erous to all of the states institu-
tons: we have stood by her hos
pitfalls at Natchez and at Vlcks-
burg, vet we could derive no di-
rect benefits therefrom; we have
literally supported her university
at Oxford, and her a. & M. Col
legc at Starkrille and the |. !. &
c. at Columb bus, we have lavlshly
poured out the revenues OF the
Treasury ia their support.
More than this, Mr., Speaker,
coming as we do from the white
counties of the State, yet we have
supported the negro colleges IN
the Delta without murmer,
notwithstanding the fact that the
white children in our section of
the State have been unjustly DIS
eliminated against in the distrl-
button of the common school
fund--a fact that ought tie bring
the blush of shame to any man S
face, But, Mr., Speaker, we are
not asking the Legislature to re-
munerate us for our constant lib
crafty to the State S institutions,
liberality is characteristic of our
people-and we think the sum
asked for is insignificant when
compared to the benefits to be de-
rived if judiciously expended.
We have been asked the question,
will it pay?" In answer to that
question | will say that ! believe
it will prove a source of revenue
to the State in that it willenhance
the value of the land there after
the tim Der is gone; but | desire
to say further, that the cost OF
such an experiment should not
enter into the consideration of
this measure,-the wealth of the
state stands ready to pay the
cost, but demands, of course,
that the benefits (not profits) de-
rived therefrom shall be equal to
the expenditure. This is the
first time in the history of the
State that South Mississippi has
asked for a dollar from the State
Treasury, and l appeal to the
house to give this measure fair,
i'm partial and unprecedented con-
sideration, and to whatever con-
clusion you may reach we shall
be satisfied. The citizens of Nc
Neill, confidently believing that
the State would keep faith with
it's promise as represented to
them by the investigating COM
mittee, absolutely donated to the
State of Mississippi over ten
thousand dollars in land, money
and building material for this eX-
detrimental station, and | submit,
gentlemen, that it would be I'M
fair and unjust to those men and
an act of bad faith for the state
to rcpudiate its obligation to car
ry this farm into successful oper-
alton.
The citizens of Pearl River
county are far from being pau
pers and many might be consid-
cred wealthy, but they are not
able, or inclined to make gratuit-
Gus donations of this kind with
out confidently expecting some
thing in return: but, Sir, they are
millionaires in honor and integri-
ty, and the Legislature owes tito
the State to make this appropria-
ton, and then l pledge you that
your honor and your names will
live aRd be forever safe in the
love, in the hearts and in the
homes of the people of my county.