Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1904-09-15
Greater Mississippi
HOW TO BRING IT ABuor

The following interesting paper.
prepared by Mr.. II. L. Blakelee. was
read at-thc Industrial Rally held at
the A. and M. College last week:
The president OF your excellent in
stitution has conferred great honor,
and one that is highly appreciated, in
| allowing me the privilege OF submit
ting few thoughts to this magnifi-
cent audience, composed of the beau
ty. brain and Drawn Of Mississippi.
The subject assigned Is near and dear
to my heart, and II I am rewarded
for my labors In the end with the as
surance that through my efforts one
more blade Of grass has been made to
grow. or that one fellowman has boon
benefited. the recompense will be full
and complete. The Greater Missla-
sippi Association" In which am deep
ly Interested. has for It's object the
betterment Of conditions generally aud
find great satisfaction In the fact
that several hundred good and
tue men have Joined In campaign
with that end in view. The patriotic.
energetic and loyal citizenship of tho
State has been thoroughly awakened
to the fact that effort Is necessary, aud
that without cessation. TO bring about
the changes desired.
The greatness of Mississippi is
already beginning to attract attention
abroad, and none are so blind that they
cannot see and realize that tidal
wave OF prosperity is sweeping over
our State as well as the whole OF our
beloved Southland, but to the entbu.
slastic and optimistic citizen, this Is
but the rose tints Of dawn that por-
tends bright day when every foot
Of land shall produce OF the worlds
requirements. every resource shall be
| developed and every blessing OF our
God-favored State be enjoyed by ma
| tive and adopted citizens alike.
A Greater Mississippi" in the full
sense OF the phrase. means that with
in the confines of our own State there
shall be manufactured into the fn-
ished article, all crude material
which Is now shipped away and the
money paid fer skilled labor and
freights irretrievably lost to our chan
neis Of commerce That the cotton
raised upon our hills and dales be
put through the loom here instead OF
sending the bale to New England. pay
Ing freight both ways, and then fur
nishing market for the manufac-
tured article. That no longer will
We send our hickory, oak, ash and
poplar to Illinois and Ohio and in
turn buy 1t back again In wagon,
buggy or other vehicle. That never
more will we freight the oil from our
cotton seed mills to Armour and Cud
ahy and pay a largely increased price
for 1t again in the shape of lard corn
pound and olive oil. That we depend
no more upon Northern and Western
stockmen for our thoroughbred ami
mails, but will raise them ourselves In
country and cline where nature has
placed all natural advantages. That
we will draw from our own boundless
supply Of brain and Drawn the artisan
OF high wage who snail direct and
control our institutions of manufac.
ture. That our smoke houses shall
no more be located in Kansas City.
cur corn crib never again filled in
Nebraska. and for the last time has
our beef been slaughtered In Chi
cage.
To bring about this state of af-
fairs campaign OF education must
and has been inaugurated. The Agri-
cultural and Mechanical College, with
It's splendid facilities, prepares our
young men to take charge.of the farm,
stock range. poultry yard. textile man
ufaeturing and other industrial insti-
tutions with clear conception of the
duties involved and the responsibilities
assumed. The education of the pres
eBt generation to the fact that condi-
lions have changed, and In turn de-
mand n change in customs and
procedure to conform to the new
order of things. A diversity OF
bilities OF single crop or in
terest falling and bringing dire dis
tiess upon the person or community
interest. Two-thirds of our land
which now lies idle must be made 10
produce Of the worlds needs and bring
corresponding benefit to the owner
Our vast quantities of timber, in viz
gin forests undisturbel. must ne
brought into the uses designed by ma
ture and executed by man. The min.
eral waters of our State, with health.
giving and life-prolonging qualities,
must be exploited before suffering hui.
manity and made to perform the mis-
sion for which they were intended by
the Supreme Ruler of the Universe
The clays Of our State, which in many
localities are of minute fineness,
should decorate the table of king and
serf alike and bear the legend, made
in Mississippi" The railroads, the
principal arteries of our commercial |
greatness and industrial prosperity, |
should penetrate to the innermost re-
cesses Of the State and open commu-
nication with the busy marts of trade
and exchange everywhere. ! am very |
strong in the belief that this very |
much to be desired state of affairs 10 |
not far in the future. The unprece- |
dented development of Mississippi |
along agricultural. Industrial and com
nercial lines during the past few |
years. with the spirit Of progressive
ness and perseverance so prominently |
shown by our people. presages the re.
alization of the optimists' brightest
dreams for our beloved State. Through |
this splendid institution the fame OF
Mississippi has spread to foreign
shores and upon 1t drafts are matte
for men versed In stock lore and pro
duction Of the fieecy staple. Engines.
boilers and other machinery made in
Mississippi are used In the antipodes,
tc the amazement and awe of the halt.
naked natives. The Filipinos recognize
the purity of our breeding pens and
demand the finest jerseys in the world
as a nucleus for their herds South
Africa calls upon Mississippi for the
tact and experience necessary to han
ole savage nature in the production
If cotiou and other valuable crone