Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1907-04-27

BY II. f. BLAKESLEE, JACKSON
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In support Of the writer's contention
that the county and State fairs are the
greatest stimulant possible for agrcul-
lure, horticulture nd stock-raising,
the interest being shown in Mississippi
at present in the new fairs being organ
ized and old ones renewed is given as
convincing testimony. The people are
beginning to grow something for ex-
hibit at these fairs, and their success
will undoubtedly encourage theirneigh-
bors to try themselves next year. II
stimulates good-natured rivalry that
can result in nothing but good. The
thousands who visit the fairs and see
what has been accomplished will, of
course, want to know how it was done,
and the Information thus gained will
be useu TO an advantage by them the
next season. The fairs are great
agricultural school in which young and
old alike will learn valuable lessons
that can be put to practical use.
Interest in the State fair is greater
than ever before, and it now looks as if
rsore than twice as many will compete
for premiums as ever before. The
grand sweepstakes for the best diversi-
fled farm exhibit, which is divided into
three parts this season, will be hotly
contested for by several parties who
are now arranging for their exhibit in
November, A Warren county planter
writes that he expects to take this prize
and is going after it in earnest. He
says that he would rather have that
gold medal than $500 in money, and it
is not at all unlikely that he may be
able to wrest it from Copiah county
that has won it the last two years.
Madison and Holmes counties, as we'll
as Kinds and Copiah, are in the con-
test and something good is certain to
be shown at the fair for individual
farms. The premiums offered are as
follows:
Best and greatest variety displayof
farm products, any one farm in
the State q. .......... .........,S 70
Supplemented with q $50 farm
wagon and S25 gold medal
Second premium. .................. o0
Supplemented with a $50 disc
harrow)
Third premlum...... ............, 2s
Best and greatest variety display Of
farm products by a county or club 100
Second premium. ...............,.. Oh
In addition to the several thousand
dollars offered 10y the Fair Association
there are number of handsome spe-
cial premiums offered by firms and in
diyiduals, amounting in value to nearly
$1,000. A number of the county fairs
will bring the cream of their exhibits
10 the State fair and the prospects for q
great fair and large attendance is
much better than ever before. New
buildings and many needed improve.
ments will be made to accommodate eX-
MDltOrS ana tnOse VINO dlleuu.
Missouri has recently passed law
making an appropriation OF large sun
of money for road improvement along
the following lines; The fund is appor
toned among counties desiring better
roads and willing to cooperate in the
movement in proportion to the taxable
valuation of the property in the county
Then, if the counties signify their will
ingness to Join in the movement, the
fund is apportioned among them as has
been stated. The county that gets SO,
900 must appropriate an equal amoun
and the work is done under competent
management so that the best results
will be obtained. This seems to be {
sensible system Of handling State ap
propriation. II county is interested
and desires State aid, an equal amoun
must be furnished by the county itsel
before the State appropriation is avail
able. Such plan would no doub
stimulate good roads interest from tn
fact that county that does not TAX
advantage of the opportunity to buil'
some roads must necessarily pay some
thing toward the building of roads il
counties that do. The Missouri pla1
is worthy of consideration to say th
least of it.
II An innovation in the way OF trans
portation Of freight will be tried /
Il Coahoma county shortly. The peopl
of Clarksdale have been trying TO
some time to build railroad from tina
place to Friars Point, on the Mississippi
river, for the purpose OF getting &C
vantage OF water rates in the transpoi
tation of freight. Failing in this, the
y have raised the money and will soon il
q augurate line of freight automobile
nj for freighting purposes. These m5
IN chimes are largely used in the grea
II cities for this purpose and have prove
successful. The experiment at Clark
II dale will be watched with interest.
q will undoubtedly result in the buildin
of a good road between these point!
Il which will be long step in the rigf
u direction If there are no other results
Il But it is likely that the prime object
n the venture will be realized also.
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N Many Convictions.