The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1907-01-24

There are . great many people ii
Mississippi who look upon the rail
road commission as an expensive adj
junct to the state government with but
little benefit being derived. Few
know Of the work done by this body
Of men or the great difficulties under
which they labor. Competition in
transportation Of freight and passen-
gers is largely thing of the past and
the protection to tie public in the flu
ture must come in the way Of regula-
ton by the commissions. The writer
attends q great many meetings Of The
Mississippi Commission and has an
excellent opportunity of knowing some
thing Of the work being done by this
body. The present movement for the
issuance of interchangeable mileage
books, if successful, will be consid-
cradle saving to the travelling public
and 1T the rate of two cents asked for
Is granted, it will mean great deal.
The establishment Of distributing
points and maintenance Of rates from
these to local stations save large sums
TO the public yearly, although the sys-
tenn is little understood by the people
in general. Dozens of specific items
could be mentioned wherein the COM
missions are doing a good work and
the public might be more lenieat iii
criticising body about which so lit
tie is generally known and understood.
Tho rates charged for telephone ser
vice in Mississippi is too high. During
the past few years the rates on resi-
dence phones has been increased from
81 to $1.65, or more than 60 per cent.
This is on the basis Of less than 600
| phones in county. The tendency is
to increase this rate on every pretext
that is offered. "A few years ago, when
there were a number Of local ex7
changes over the country and before
the consolidation Of nearly all into one
vast trust, residences were furnished
phones for 81 per month and connec-
ton with other phones in the county
were free. This service, rates recent
~ announced, now costs $2.15. A slid
ing scale Of prices has been announced
which increases as the number of
phones in county increases, whether
the subscriber has the connection with
balance Of county or not. Prospects
are good under this rule for our peo-
pie to be compelled to pay as much as
So for residence phones in the neal
future with only limited number Of
connections. It Is a matter that de-
mands attention at the hands Of oul
people, and right now before 1t goes
much further. Competition is a thing
of the past in most cases and regu-
lation is the only remedy offered. The
writer would like to hear every per.
son who is interested in this matter
at an early day.
In line with the proposition to es-
tablish an agricultural school in each
congressional district of the state, i
the proposition Of Superintendent
Smith Of Holmes county to organize a
corn club among the students in che
county schools for the purpose OF max
ing corn study, experimenting with
actual crops, breeding and improving
I the seed and etc. The members OF
| this club will plant a small plat Of
! ground and give it everyattention and
improved cultural methods, noting
carefully the difference in yield under
varying conditions. This is by fal
one Of the most progressive move
ments ever inaugurated in the state
and it is TO be hoped that the exam
pie will be emulated by others, mol
only with reference to the corn crop
but all crops that are grown in the
state. The success of the movement.
inaugurated by Prof. Smith will be
watched with the greatest interest BIZ
interested persons everywhere.
A number Of large porkers have
been slaughtered in the state recently
but it seems that Tate county has the
palm so far. Charlie France of Trus-
low in that connty killed one that
dressed $50 pounds. 500 and 900 pound
| hogs are plentiful. It can be safely
said that Mississippi offers excellent
advantages for the raising Of pork,
and those who have followed it for
years have succeeded splendidly. Ev-
cry man with ten acres or more of
land has no excuse to offer why he
does not kill enough pork each fall
to supply his family. Even with less
land, some can be made. One man
4 4h;,, yrno,. l,I1n1 = choof that dr-occod