The Kemper herald. (Scooba, Miss.) 1875-1908, 1907-01-24
There are great many people il

There are a great many people in
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 the public in the fu-
ture must come in the way of regula-
tion by the commissions. The writer
attends 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 IL 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 good work and
the public might be more lenient in
criticising body about which so lit
tie is generally known and understood.
The 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 so per cent.
This |. on the basis of less than 600
phones in a county. The tendency is
to increase this rate on every pretext
that is offered. A few years ago, when
there were number Of local ex-
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 a county increases, whether
ths subscriber has the connection witt
balance Of county or not. Prospects
are good under this rule for our peo'
pie to DO compelled to pay as much a,
% for residence phones in the neal
future with only a limited number Of
connections. It is a matter that de-
mands attention at the hands of oul
people, and right now before it goes
much fupther. Competition is a thine
Of the past in most cases and regu
lation is the only remedy offered. TIL,
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 eacf
congressional district of the state, il
the proposition of Superintendent
Smith of Holmes county to organize 8
corn club among the students in Gh'
county schools for the purpose Of mal
ing corn study, experimenting with
actual crops, breeding and improving
the seed and etc. The members Of
this club will plant a small plat Of
ground and give it everyaStention 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 1t is TO be hoped that the exam.
pie will be emulatsd by others, moi
only with reference to the corn crop
but all crops that are grown IN tht
state. The success Of the movement
inaugurated by Prof. Smith will bs
watched with the greatest interest By
interested persons everywhere.
"A number Of large porkers have
been slaughtered la the state recently
but 1t seems that Tate county has the
palm so far. Charlie France of Trus-
low in that county killed one that
dressed $50 pounds. 500 and 900 pound
hogs are plentiful. 1t can be safely
said that Mississippi offers excellent
advantages for the raising of pork
and those who have followed 1t fol
years have succseded splendidly. Ev-
eqy 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
this year killed shoat that dressed
465 pounds ehat was fed largely on
refuse from the kitchen and did not
cost him more than cent pound in
money. Hogs are profitable as has
been shown by actual experience.
Believe in your community and take
care to lot others see that you de.
Anothsr cotton picker is knocking
for admission at the doors of our
planters. It has been patented by q
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