The Tupelo journal. (Tupelo, Miss.) 1876-1924, 1906-10-12


subject to undue prominence by the ac-
counts of lawlessness given widespread
publicity by the press of the country,
and more especially that OF Memphis.
which is largely Mississippi city.
The worm is turning; the present con-
dition of the city of Memphis is being
made the subject of scathing editorials
in some of the Delta papers. The fol-
lowing, from Friars Point paper, is a
sample:
"Where is there a community Of the
same number of feet of earth where
there is more crime of every known
character than in Memphis? Where it
is unsafe to walk the streets in the day
time; where human life is so often and
wantonly taken that it is scarcely no.
ticed; where a wilful murderer is re-
leased Immediately upon small bond
and never punished for his crime; where
thieves, thugs and infamous dives reign
supreme; where the most atrocious
criminal cannot be convicted; where
the people of this 'uncivilized' commun-
ity hesitate to go to transact business
because the officers of the law cannot,
or do not, protect them from the hands
of the vicious and lawless element that
infests every locality in the CITY,"
While this arraignment of the author
tiles may be little severe, it is to be
hoped that good will come from it.
Hattiesburg is experiencing solid
growth hardly equaled by any of our
Mississippi cities at this time. The
character of buildings and enterprises
is such that an air of permanency per-
vades the place and the spirit of prog
ress is being strengthened day by day.
One of the handsomest bank buildings
in the city has just been finished and oc-
cupied, magnificent hotel and depot
that will cost in the neighborhood of
100000 is nearing completion, several
buildings five and six stories high are
under construction or contract, resi-
dence additions are being plated and
placed on the market, an electric rail-
way is under construction and the many
good things in sight for that piney
ton. The next census will likely show
for it the most phenomenal growth OF
any of our Mississippi towns of 5000 or
more. The people are deserving of all
the good things coming their way.
The Board of Trade of Meridian has
recently established a freight bureau
for the purpose of auditing freight bills
for its members, correcting errors in
rates and securing rates of certain COM
modities. The manager will visit like
institutions in other cities and learn
from them what an experience of years
has taught in the handling of the bust
ness. The Jackson Board of Trade has
also perfected like organization with
Mr.. j. 7. Savage, an experienced ex-
railroad man, in charge. The same
service will be performed for the jack
son business men. The benefits to be
derived from such organizations is of
value, in both large and small ship
ments. With an experienced man in
charge, incorrect ratings will be dis
covered and the overcharge refunded,
amounting to large sums in the course
of year. The activity of Mississippi
towns along this line goes to prove that
our business people are adopting up-to-
date business methods that in few
years mean great saving to them in
the way of freights.
The growing of alfalfa in Mississippi
is bound to become an important feature
of future crop diversifcation. 1t has
been proven that it will do we'll in
many sections and others are trying it.
The yield is entirely satisfactory, rum
ming from four to six tons per acre on
good land, and it leaves the land in bet
ter condition than before. The farmer
who desires to begin planting it for a
part of his regular crop might COM
mence with a small amount, say an
acre. But little incubation would be
necessary for this amount of land, and
the following year he would have all
the inoculating dirt required for large
crop. The writer is hopeful that clubs
will be formed with the growing of al
falfa as the object, and that individuals
will take it up and give it trial.
An Aberdeen paper calls attention to
the fact that Mississippi has long been
sorghum-producing State and that the
movement now on foot is to make it a
sugar cane syrup producer with mar
| ket for every gallon that can be made.
| This is the correct version of the effort.
West Point and Winona are agitat-
| ing the organization of business clubs
to push the interests of those towns.
Mississippi towns are much better fixed
| in the way of business leagues and
clubs than formerly, and the spirit
seems to be spreading. The town or
city without an organization OF some
character is an exception now more
than the rule. There is a large
amount of good work that can be done,
and where the business and profess
sional men get together for the pur-
pose the result is always good.
The good ladies OF Mississippi can
always be found in the advance guard
when a cOmmendable work is UNDER