The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1904-05-28


sandy country with clay subsoil ex-
tending through the State from north
to south which is pecuriarly adapted
to the culture of tobacco. All that is
needed to make ours one of the lead
ing tobacco producing States, is for
some man with the experience neces-
sary to handle it intelligently, to make
start and the others would fall into
line. IL dozen or more neighbors
would plant Small field of it they
could afford to employ an expert to
manage the crop for year or so
until the art could be learned. This
would be comnuuaity of interests,
and would be in line with the tend
ency these days-organizing large
companies for the handling Of certain
of the same.
The question of better roads still
continues to be a pertinent subject
in most sections of the State. Every
man will admit that better roads are
needed, but, strange to say, few are
ready to offer suggestions of feast
BILE plan to make them so without pro-
hibitory cost. Unfortunately, the
State is almost without stone for
building roads, as has our sister State
of Alabama, and substance for sur
facing is expensive and hard to find
There is one thing, however, that
could be done to an advantage-tl2,
roads could be worked during the dry
summer months and gotten in fair
condition before the time for market
ing the crops. At marketing time
the farmer is too busy to work the
road, and then he needs good one
more than any other time Of the year.
The writer has remarked on several
occasions that man who had an idea
and stuck to it was considered by the
world at large a crank. Also that
the great accomplishments of the past
have principally come from these so.
called cranks, or hobby riders. Our
good friend, Walker Wood, of the
Senatobia Democrat, is riding q
hobby, looking to the consolidation Of
the rural schools, and a number OF
thinking people in his section of the
State seem to be coming around to
his way of thinking. His scheme
may be good one or not, but the
publicity being given it will, no doubt,
bring out the points and educate the
people along that line. May success
crown this young mans efforts.
Trucking first came into general
practice in the southern end of the
State and has from year to year ex-
tended it's lines to the northward.
Last week Water Valley shipped the
fSrcf Of cfToxH horPioC " it's
history They were of splendid size
and delicious flavor, commanding the
highest price on the Northern market.
Others will go into the trucking bust
ness as soon as possible, being en-
couraged by the success of their
neighbors. From the coast to the
Tennessee line Mississippi offers the
greatest inducement to truckers of
any State in the Union. Productive
soil, mild climate, cheap lands, hospi
table people and everything that goes
to make life worth living can be found
here.
Houston reports great industrial
progress these days. One railroad is
there and the second will help to
move the fall crop. Two banks with
a capital of $4,000 have been organ
lied, a stave factory, handle factory,
with a $4,000 pay roll; two brick
factories, a lumber yard, woodwork
ing plant, lumber and planning mill.
a modern hotel, telephone exchange,
machine shop, a $4,000 mercantile
company, Munger ginnery and
numerous other smaller enterprises.
The charter of an oil mill, fertilizer
factory, ice plant and electric light
plant is being published. Several
modern brick business houses are
under construction, and also num-
Der of good residences. And all OF
this came about because a. railroad or
two decided to run by the town.
Reports from over the State show
crop conditions favorable so far. An
unusual amount of dry weather for
the time of year has advanced farm
ing operations and crops are in good
condition. If good crop is harvest
ed and anything like the prices of
last year realized for it, just watch
Mississippi, grow in earnest.
Capt. J. F. Merry, immigration agent
of the Illinois Central Railway, is ar
ranging to bring down a large colony
of people to buy lands in Mississippi
soon.
Some one has said that it never pays
to kick. If you are too little to get
in the lead and pull, fall in behind
and push. Pull or push, one or the
other. Don't kick
Every town in the State is calling
Justify for more hou-es. This goes to
prove that the town population is in
creasing in proportion TO the country,
if not faster.
The Business League at Canton has
gotten down to work and there is
strong probability Of something sub
stantial to show for its efforts soon.
A $4,000 furniture factory is among
manufacturing interests, and an effort
will be made to revive the railroad
projected from Canton to Carthage in
Leake county A committee was ap-
pointed to investigate the matter and
see what could be done. All that is
necessary to make Canton take her
deserved place in the progressive col
umn is for her people to get to work
in earnest.
Mississippi not only raises gooll
crops and pretty women, but will ex-
hibit at the st. Louis Fair boy
II years old that weighG 260 pounds.
How Is that for a Mississippi product?
The ginners report recently pub
lished shows some interesting figures
concerning the cotton crop of the
State. Washington is the largest
producer of the fIeecy staple and
heads the list with 72,030 bales
ginned. Bolivar is a close second
with 68,906 bales. Hancock produces
less cotton than any other county in
the State, showing only Ito bales.
Write some friend out of the State
and tell of the advantages possessed
by Mississippi Repeat the dose next