Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1907-09-26
Br n. 4. BLAKEsLEE. g.cu.o.

Bv 4. BLAKEsLxE Jacnsoa
For too many years has Mississippi
borne the reputation of having a citi-
zenship quick on the trigger and
ready to draw upon the slightest provo
cation. The big insurance companies
considered the increase OF rates for the
State on account of the losses from
gunshot wounds" IL has given us an
unenviable reputation abroad, and one
that is not fully deserved. But IL Is
high time that the lsw-abiding people
Of the State paid more attention 10 the
enforcemeut of the Law with reference
to crimes Of = serious nature. We
have generally as good people a. can
be found anywhere In the world. more
lsw-sbiding than those in other States
as far as the minor crimes and misde-
mexnors arr concerned, but the greater
crime OF murder and manslaughter
10 too frequent entirely. IL is time for
conservative and thinking men to stop
and sec where we are. These things
must be stopped, and the only way in
which il can be done Is to strictly en-
force the laws. The inficting OF the
penalty for murder, be the culprit
black or white, would soon greatly
lessen the commission of the crime. Ii
is the duty OF good citizens to go into
the jury box and see that exact Justice
is dealt TO the offenders. DO not let
able lawyers with pathetic pleadings
turn you away from the path OF duty,
but do what you are sworn to do. In
ninety-nine cases out of one hundred
the differences that bring about these
crimes could be honorably settled by
arbitration. and they should be handled
in this way by all means. II is gratify-
ing to note that the State press is TAX
ing up this subject and discussing it,
the Magnolia News publishing a sensi-
BILE and able article on it few days
since. Keep up the agitation until this
blot shall be wiped from the fair es-
cutcheon Of Mississippi. The press is
the power that can do it and the duty
Is clearly defined.
The adoption OF labor-saving ma
chinery, the intensive system of farm
ing, raising OF stock at home and other
reforms now taking place in Mississippi
will do more to solve the labor problem
than any other one thing. Five bales
OF cotton are being raised today in some
sections upon one-half the land that was
required ten years ago. There is
considerable saving of labor in this.
Fields that ten years ago were making
fifteen bushels Of corn to the acre are
making thirty today. At least one-third
Of the labor Is saved in this instance.
Many such comparisons could be cited,
but these OF the two most important
crops are sufficient. But some one will
say that such instances are too few and
far between. This is fact that cannot
be denied, but their frequency is being
increased. Larger numbers of farmers
are adopting the improved method.
from year to year, and the next few
years will show greater increase still.
The two hundred men who attended the
roundup of institutes at the A. and
NJ. college the first of this month carry
the infection with them that will event.
ually spread to all in a more or less de-
gree. Mississippi is doing well and
the room reserved for pessiinists is
being gradually reduced until they will
finally be crowded out. Speed the day.
The Department Of Agriculture will
issue next week comprehensive bull
letin dealing with the roads Of Missis-
sippi, and 1t is especially desired that
every citizen OF the State interested in
the improvement Of road conditions
have one. Forward your name, also
the names of neighbors who would
likely appreciate this publication, and
they will be sent on October l. This
bulletin gives reliable data as to what
each county in the State is doing
toward building and maintaing roads,
the cost of same, and the success at
tanned. Also several suggestions as to
economical road building. Making
roads with thirty-horse power steam
traction engine in Kinds county is de-
scribed and illustrated. The demon
stration of woodworking machinery to
be made at the State Fair this fall is
described and profusely illustrated.
Send your name and address immedi-
ately for copy Of this bulletin and do
not forget the neighbor who is inter
ested, or should be.
The New Orleans and Great North
ern, better known as the Goodyear
road, is operating trains on q portion Of
the line in Mississippi, and announce
that through service to Jackson will be
inaugursted about January l. The
trouble in securing entrance TO the
Capital City has not been settled, but
IL is probable that the tracks Of the /.
c. viii be used until such time As they
can get in on their own rails.
The organization Of State associa-
tIon Of live stock breeders, as perfected
at the A. and NJ. college 1t the ''round-
up" was a move in the right direction.
The stock interest of Mississippi is
fast becoming one of the greatest inn
portance, and this organization has be-
fore 1t splendid field of usefulness.
N n