The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1906-09-08

Lave ollceS, being To-Day u HUI
over three months old. The demand 70
such a department came from a mum
per OF sources. In 1905 the Mississippi
business Mems League passed a resolu
ZION memorializing the Legislature t
create a department of immigration an,
andustries, or such other name as wa
thought best. A year later the Create
Misslsslppi Association passed a simila
aeolutlon and appointed a committee t.
present the matter and assist in havin.
such a law passed. Then came the Mis-
slsslppl Division of the Southern Cot
con Association, with a resolution IMAM
tmously passed in annual meeting, ask
ing that a department of agriculture
statistics, ETC., be created, with an APP
preparation sufficient to enable the com.
missioner to collect and distribute data
concerning the condition, reports from
glnners and everything of interest rela-
tive to the great Mississippi crop in
prospect in which practically 500, OO0, OOC
rs In prospect today. The creation of
the department is due more to the good
work of this association than any other
cause, although the appropriation for
maintenance almost prohibits the accom-
plshment of anything as especially
asked for by the members.
Mississippi was the last State to Gre
ate such a department in the South,
every other one having been supplied
Tor years with excellent working offices
that are deemed among the most i'm
portant and valuable of State govern
ment. Now that Mississippi has con-
cluded to give such a department a trial
and experiment, it must be judged from
the meager appropriation made. The
nlInCtInn &c ALTON ,rIoI - L -
the duties of the commissioner, and
what benefits are to be derived from his
work? This question would be hard to
answer in its entirety from the fact
chat the construction of the law allows
70 the commissioner a great scope for
his operations. Many duties are out
aimed more fully; but a clause in the act
reads like thSs HE (the commissioner
shall encourage the proper development
OF agriculture, horticulture and kindred
industries" In another place, and in
speaking of the qualifications Of the
commissioner the following language
appears: "Who shall nave competent
knowledge of agriculture, mining, stats
tics and general industries" 1t would
seem from the indulgence in such gene
Tallties as the above that the commits
sioner was given considerable scope in
his operations for the benefit of the
people OF Mississippi, every interest be
ang fully provided for and some that
are not yet on our list.
The principal object for which the
Cotton Association desired the establish
ment of such a department, and which
was clearly set forth by Mr.. Clark and
other officials of the Association, was
an accurate reporting system by which
our farmers could int~elligently keep in
touch with the conditions of our great
est crop, cotton, and thereby fortify
themselves against spectators and
sharks, who prey upon the ignorance of
the cotton raiser generally as to what
his cotton is actually worth and what
price he should get before selling. The
appropriation asked for to put this sys-
TEN into operation was not forthcom-
dng and practically nothing can be done
along that particular line. However,
the commissioner is formulating the sys-
tenn and appointing reporters with the
hope that they may become acquainted
with the requirements and conditions
imposed, and that when the legislative
bodies again convene, money sufficient
TO carry on this great work will be
cheerfully given. A great deal of work
ohN NhO ACINIoC II HIuCH pdllcICc Will
be necessary to develop this system into
the valuable institution designed, but
with twenty months in which to do this
work before the legislative bodies con- !
vene it is hoped that a showing can be
made that will appeal to them for sub 9
%stantial recognition in the way of a rea- Z
sonable appropriation. =
The act relates that the commissioner t
shall encourage the organization of ag-
clubs and associations, and s
of these the organization of a State S
Association. Just at pres t
ent the field for operations under this n
provision is somewhat limited from the O
fact that the Cotton Association, the i
Farmers Union and the National Gin s
ners' Association have numbers of or
g~anizers working throughout the State -
and organizing the farmers at every .
into what are no more nor =
less thar agricultural clubs. A State "
Association has already !,
formed and the provisions of this ~
will nave been complied with in q
due time. e
Another duty is the collection and :,
publication of data and information re- =
all Industries of the State. and =,
other States where it may be of in \,
terest to our people. The commissioner .,
is ordered to put himself in connection Il
with and in cooperation with the agri- u
departments of other States and y,
the Commissioner of Agriculture e,
at Washington. Also that he shall dis -,
tribute all documents and information r
into his possession that may be q;
interest and benefit to the people. g
provisions are being complied with ~,
Is fast as possible. The work of dis r
5ributing the literature as we'll as get =,
ing hold of it, is being vigorously pros
The United States authorities
nave sent several thousand pieces, which -
8 sent out on request along with that h
rom the State Department. The soil ~
surveys have proven especially valuable in
md have been eagerly sought by the II
in the areas covered. The ne -
,essity of securing bulletins from the re
United States government, when they 10
be had upon subjects of interest to be
'ur people, is important from the fact DC
hat little money is available for such m
bu fho Cfofo DopartmaDt