The Tupelo journal., 1907-03-01
BY H. e. BLAKEsLEE, JACKSON.

of the effort being made to reduce the
rates for telephone service to rural
subscribers. The telephone is a mod
ern convenience that should be in the
home Of every citizen of the State, but
the arbitrary rate charged at present
by the company that has an almost
complete monopoly of the business in
Mississippi will greatly retard, If not
completely stop, the extension OF service
20 the rural districts. AT present the
rate is based on the rate charged by the
local exchange, plus forty cents for
each mile out for direct line service and
twenty-five cents per mile for party line
service. For instance, the man living
ten miles from a town with a residence
rate of So, would be compelled to pay
So for direct service or $3.50 for party
line service. Such rates as these are
~prohibitive. The writer believes that
the railroad commission will grant a
material reduction in these rates if the
people will try to show that it is work.
ing a hardship on them and preventing
the extension of the service. Would
like to have expressions from all inter-
ested in this matter. The Farmers
Union, a body of more than 10000
farmers of the State, has Endorsed this
reduction. Then let others who have
an interest in the matter be heard from.
The municipal ownership" idea OF
certain public utilities is gaining
strength in many sections of the State.
Jackson is soon to vote on the PROPOSE
ton to issue $2l6, 900 in bonds for pur-
chasing the water plant as well as an
additional issue for the purpose OF i'm
proving the plant and charging its ca
pacity to meet the demands of a grow
ing city. Some time ago Yazoo City
proposed to issue bonds for the purpose
of building an electric street railway, a
decided innovation for Mississippi, al
though Monroe, La, has such a plant
in successful operation. Bidders on
the bonds, which were to bear a low
rate of interest, did not show UP strong,
and for some time it looked as if Yazoo
was not going to have a railway.
Within the past few days a firm has
shown up that proposes to take the
bonds at par in payment for building
the plant. The impression is that
Yazoo will soon have installed the first
municipal railway system in the State.
The success of the movement will be
watched with great interest. Munich
pal ownership is distinctively a popu-
listic proposition, but along with many
other good features of that once loudly
heralded platform, has been appro-
priated by one or the other of the older
parties. The arbitrary position as
sumed toward the public by trusts and
corporations is fast making friends for
ownership by the people of utilities.
Pontotoc is a splendid county in many
respects, and especially so in the pro-
duction of fine porkers. Ulton Caldwell
of Cherry Creek, in that county, re-
Gently killed four six-months old shoats
that netted $50 pounds of pork, and
Clark Wilson of Pontotoc killed one
fifteen months old that netted $50
pounds. These instances substantiate
the assertion that Mississippi is well
adapted to the raising of hogs and that
meat can be produced here as cheaply,
if not cheaper, than anywhere in the
world. 1t is a branch of farming that
has come into prominence during the
past few years and n that deserves
more attention than is at present being
paid it. There is good money in hog
raising, and it is an undeniable fact
that Mississippi should raise every
pound of meat that she
Preparations for the coming chau-
tauquas are being made thus far in adj
vance, and the attractions this year
will be ahead of the past. Rev. B. F.
Jones has been selected as chairman of
the Gloster Chautauqua program com
mittee and the work of securing talent
has been begun. G. H. Barney is pres
ident of the association, w. D. Caul-
field vice-president, w. r. Brumfield
treasurer, and G. M. Causey secretary.
The time selected is July 81 to % in
elusive. The buildings and grounds
will be repaired and beautified, and the
management hopes to have many new
cottages by the time the event is
opened. This is a heightened season
of entertainment that is worthy OF
patronage.
With the taking over of the Wesson
cotton mills by a company with several
million dollars of capital, and the guar
antee that it will be continuously ope-
rated, business is again tlourishing in
that little city. Real estate is looking
up again and the transfers recorded in
the Mirror evidence the fact that Yves
son will be as good Dr. better than e
before.
Hazlehurst will have a regular our
- 49, IT. Fo11 A ,,car