Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1905-12-06

advantages toward reganing the cminence in 6nan-
Il Cial and commercial affairs which they have not
previously held since the Civil War.
i Fifty years ago the farmers were the owners Of
lbank stock. They were subecribers TO railroad
IEt0cks and TO the stOcks0 other enterprises that
tprOmised good profits. They kept money in bank
i They were the men TO whom application was made
whel help was needed for q meritOrious neighboT
Tor loans we're wanted upon good security. In the
cotton States business, as well as politics, was
largely dominated by the planters. The first found
ations Of the cotton manufacturing industry Of the
South were made possible by the planters subscrp-
tiOns to the stock Of the factory companies.
l Secretary Wilson'S latest report indicates that
the agricultural interests regaiuing their former
economic independence, and are rising to more than
their former economic importance. People whose
observatiOn is confined mainly to the enormous com
mercial and manufacturing activities Of our bnsy
cities and towns will be surprised at the statement
that the farms have produced this year more than
Is per cent Of IN the wealth created within the
United States. That these products OF the farms
amount in value to- only trife leHs than six bill.
lions and half Of dollars is statement that may
be dfmly cOmprchended By the computation that
they would more than pay of the bonded debt Of
the United States seven times, or would bali pay
for the building and equipment Of the 100000 miles
OF railroad that makes the United States greater
than All Europe in land transportation.
The most Instructive part oi the story H. how
ever chat che farmers have had their full share In
tie prosperity TO which their products have con
hibuked. That the condition oi the farmers has
vastly improved during the past five or six years
has been made known by many reports Of their bet
Itef style Of living by their better dwellings and
Outhouaes their purchases d better furniture and
iarm equipment.
All this u more than confirmed by Secretary will
sons showing ol the multiplication OF banks and
the increase ol deposits therein throughout che farm
ing regions. Aa result Oi the profits that have
come TO the iaTmcrs the deposits la The banks
of the South now for the first time exceed e1, ,OOO,-
O00 000 while The increase ii the bank deposits O
the agricultural States Oi the Middle West haa been
no less extraordinary.
An aQalllOn 90 the numerous banks Of deposit or.
ganlzed II tho smaller towns OI the South under
Gtata laws Secretary WilsOn.s report tells 81 10
less than 083 small national banks organized ID /
THE seCtlon since the act % Congress- March, 1900
Within the lasl tgn gears says Secretary Wilson,
farmers hayo become prOmincnt As bankers and
money lenders throughout large areas; and durinkl
he last hve years they have increased the value 81
their farms 81. g per cent Or BY an amount approx
imately equal 70 $6,133 100000.
In ali The world There Is no more patriotic 81 con.
servatiye person chan che prosperous American
farmer. HiH participation, with direct interest,
IA hnanclal and commercial affairs n guarantee 81
stability that means much.