The Tupelo journal., 1906-08-24

the manufacture OF denatured alconoi
during the summer months and thereby
find employment for the whole year. The
free alcohol bill recently passed by Con-
gress will prove a great stimulus to this
industry and there is an opportunity for
our millmen to get in on the ground
floor. The oil mills have the power lying
idle more than half the year, and the
addition of a small amount of machinery
would enable them to manufacture TINS
product economically. Irish potatoes
are excellent for use in making this grade
of alcohol, and the lands of Mississippi
will produce lavishly OF the crop. Then,
engaging in this new branch would not
only give employment to the mill force
the year round, but would also furnish
a market for a crop that grows as well
here as at any other point in the coun-
try. The mills could keep their forces
of hands much better organized under
this system of continuous running as
well as produce twelve months in the
year on an investment that ordinarily
lies idle six. The subject is worthy OF
careful consideration.
1t seems that Hazlehurst is to have
the first warehouse to be built by the
Farmers Union. A $4,000 lot has been
purchased at that place and the building
will be ready for occupancy by next sea
son. Two others are also contemplated
in that county and plans are being made
for a number throughout the State. The
scheme is a good one and packed by
hard. common sense. The farmer is the
only producer of any commodity that
dumps the bulk of his product upon the
market at practically one time of the
year. With the aid of good warehouses,
where insurance will be reduced to the
minimum, the farmer can store his cot
ton and have it insured for a very small
amount. If he is bound to have money
it can be secured from the banks upon
the warehouse receipt, such being excel
lent collateral. By this means the crop
can be fed to the market as the con-
sumption demands and better prices real
lied thereby.
The tax on our farmers by bad roads
is more than all other taxes combined
has been said many times, and Is the
gospel truth. The greatest need OF Mis-
sissippi today is better public thorough
fares. That it will cost considerable
sums of money to provide good roads is
also a fact, but the investment would be
the best that could be made. The abb
sence of gravel or stone In many sec
tions demands that other methods be EN-
ployed in road building. Some time next
month a bulletin will be issued from
this department giving definite informa-
ton concerning an economical plan OF
improving our highways. 1t is not an
untried experiment, but has proven prac-
teal and effective in many portions of
the country. The commissioner hopes to
be able to work up an interest in road
building that will prove of inestimable
benefit to the State and earnestly asks
for the cooperation of every good citizen
in the movement.
There is a good prospect for a crop IN
Yazoo county, judging from the reports
of two farmers from that section. A.
HI. Deskins, of Zion, says that his pros
pect for a large yield of corn was never
better. On some acres he estimates that
he Will gather IS or so bushels, and on
one and one-half acres he expects to get
as much as 100 bushels to the acre. w.
S. Donaldson, of ~Redmonville, is almost
as optimistic, saying that if he does not
get 70 or so bushels to the acre he will
be disappointed. Such reports as these
are encouraging indeed. With a good
corn crop, such as is reported from al
most every section of the State, there
will be little attention paid the price
of feedstuffs next year. 1t is time that
Mississippi was raising her WI feed
stuffs, anyway, and it now looks as 1t
the start had been made.
There has been some little interest
excited with reference to the manage
ment of the Soldiers HON at Beauvoir,
caused by letters written concerning con-
ditions by one of the inmates. The SUI
p~erintendent denounces the charges as
false. but does not give them further at
t~ention, pending an investigation that
will be made at an early day. 1t is to
be hoped that the charges emanated
from a diseased mind and that all will be
cleared to the entire satisfaction of all.
Mississippians have cause to be proud
of the model home furnished for the COM
fort of the old boys who are without rel
atives. friends or means in their declin-
ing days, and it is to be hoped that the
management will always be of the best.
Prosperity seems to linger with a great
number of our Mississippi towns, even
during the usually dull summer months.
West Point insists that she is growing
some and names a list of eighteen hand
some brick and concrete buildings that
are going up right now, while Others are
in the various stages OF contemplation,
planning, etc. The amount of money in
yolved is somewhere between $4,000
and 5000. That is doing well and
the prosperity of West Point is the pride
of the State.
The writer was very much gratified
at the receipt of several communications
from good men in the State indorsing the
articles in last weeks department call
inc for a strict compliance with the laws
as they are upon the statute book. Some
of these letters will be used when space
nermits. The sentiment for a strict en-
forcement of the law is growing day by
day. and it's encouragement means MUGS
for the State of Mississippi. Our repu-
tation in the past for law and order must
be maintained, and it is the duty of
every citizen to assist the officials in
seeing that it is done without fear or
favor.
Excellent work was done at the Farm
ers' Institute at Mcneil, on the 14th.
The experiment station located there