The Tupelo journal. (Tupelo, Miss.) 1876-1924, 1906-10-26
at was splendid success and will re-

verdict of those who were in position
to give an opinion as to the Diversified
Farming Special" operated over the lines
of the illinois Central and Yazoo & Mis-
sissppi Valley railroads from October 2
to II, inclusive. 1t was something new
for the South, and not unlike innova-
tions in general, was looked upon by
many with misgivings as to the bene-
fetal result desired. The train was ope-
rated throughout the States of Missis-
| sippi and Louisiana under disadvantages,
coming as it did Immediately after the
disastrous storm that had swept the
length and breadth of both States and
conlnuous rain for the first four days OF
the schedule When the rain did finally
stop the farmers were exceedingly busy
in trying to save the remnant of their
crop and had little time just then to
visit the towns and meet the train But
thousands did come and expressed a
great interest in the work, asking ques-
lions and otherwise showing their appre-
citation of the work attempted in their
| behalf.
| The special" as it rolled out of Men,
phis early on the morning of the I'd, con-
sisted OF a baggage car, diner, two day
coaches with platforms in the end for
| speakers and Il sixteen-section sleeper.
Every arrangement had been perfected
| for the comfort of those to make the
| long and arduous trip, as well as for the
people who came to hear the distin-
| eulsned gentlemen who were to talk
| upon Investigation. Each coach was
capable of taking care of about one hun
Tred persons, and it was thought that
| The two would take care of the crowds
assembled at the stations. While the
coaches afforded sufficient room at a
| majority of the stations, at times it was
necessary to hold overflow meetings on
the outside and frequently with more
people in these meetings than were able
to get into the coaches. The parties
aboard took their meals between stops
and the work was strenuous from 8
o'clock in the morning, when the first
station was reached, until 10 at night,
when the evening meeting adjourned and
the, tired workers repaired to- their
sleeper for rest until the next morn
ing, when the stentorian voice of Capt.
Merry could be heard throughout the
car ordering all hands up and to get
ready for breakfast. With very few eX
CcptIOilS INC TAIN was oh NihiS fV StSh
stop scheduled and the meetings were
conducted without hitch.
The itinerary covered in the trip in
cluded over eighty stations in Missis-
sippi and fourteen in Louisiana. The
Western portion of the State of Missis-
sippi from end to end was pretty well
covered and more especially the great
delta of the Yazoo and Mississippi rivers.
One trip was made across from Durant
to Aberdeen, which is near the Alabama
line on the east. That portion of Lou
siana east of the Mississippi river was
given fourteen stops. The hill, prairie
and delta sections of Mississippi and
the delta of Louisiana were covered by
the train and its diversified farming spe-
cialists A liberal response was made
by the people generally to the invitation
to come out and hear the lectures and
no one section could be claimed to have
shown greater interest than another.
The train left Memphis in driving
rain on Tuesday morning, the I'd, and
the hopes for turnout by the people
on that day were not fiattering. How
ever, at the first place, fernando, car
of solid farmers and business men met
the train, raising the spirits of those in
charge several points. The attendance
increased as the day grew older, despite
the inclement weather and the night
meeting at Holly Springs was largely at
tended by men in every walk of life,
together with a number of ladies. The
second day began at Grenada at s
O'Clock; thence down the main line to
Durant and over the Aberdeen branch
l. 10 oft JaI
II Getting was held in the opera house.
The weather was somewhat better on
this day and the attendance good
throughout. The return trip from Aber-
deem was made during the night and the
third day began at Durant. The main
line towns were visited down as far as
Jackson and the Natchez branch as far
as Hermanville; thence back to jackson
for night meeting at jackson, which
did not materialize on account of failure
of local committee to make arrange
ments. Friday morning the party awoke
at Greenwood and found the rain falling
in torrents However, a good audience
was on hand at this point and an es
pecially interesting meeting was held.
1t was deemed wise to abandon por
ton of the regular schedule at this point
from the fact that continued rains had
made the track on branch road to be
Travelled unsafe. Yazoo City and points
from there into Jackson turned out good
audiences. Saturday morning opened
clear and cold and the prospects for what
proved to be the banner day were bright
and encouraging. Good audiences were
On hand at every stop during the day,
at times it being necessary to hold over
flow meetings. At Brookhaven, where
the fall carnival was in progress, the
train was met at the station by brass
band and committee and the party con-
Quoted to the opera house, where an i'm
mense audience had assembled. Mag
nolia and Osyka furnished the record at
tendances, at both places there being
more people in the openair meetings
than were able to get in the cars. After
leaving Osyka the train entered Louisi
ana and good meetings were held at
Kentwood, Tangipahoe, Roseland and a
| night meeting at Amite. This wound
| up the first weeks work and those in
charge were happy indeed at the sue
cess attained so far
After spending Sunday in New Orleans
the train began the second week at In
dependence Monday morning. At Ham
mond an especially large crowd had gath
cred and number of the party were
driven out three miles to inspect model
dairy. The entire day was devoted to
Louisiana towns and wound up with an
immense meeting at Garig Hall on the
university campus in Baton Rouge.
| Tuesday morning the first stop was
made at Zachary, where the, school chill
dren were out in. full force as well as a