The Tupelo journal., 1907-11-01

There will few leave this fall in quest
of riches in other countries OF promise.
Mississippi is as good as the best, the
only trouble being in the fact that we
have not known it all along. Little If
any effort has been made to develop
u u until within the past few
years and things have rocked along in
a happy-go-lucky way. But the change
desired is taking place and better times
are upon us, rel at the present mo-
ment. Then let's keep up the lick and
guarantee a continuance of prosperous
times. The farmers are organizing and
making IN earnest effort to improve
their condition, and upon their pros
perity depends the prosperity of the en-
tire State. 1t is the duty of every per-
son, makes no difference in what line
business, to assist in this work, q
business obligation as well.
In looking around for this satisfac-
tory improvement and the cause there
are many things to take into considera-
ton, but the writer believes that one
OF the greatest factors has been the re-
luvenated fair spirit, the building up
OF county fairs and the State fair. 1t is
a fact that cannot be c~ontradicted that
communities sustaining a live fair are
doing better than those that have moth
ing of the kind. 1t brings the people
together once a year in fraternal meet
ing; they see what their neighbor has
accomplished, and after hearing how it
vas done are encouraged to make the
effort themselves. Mississippi has fur
nished multiplied thousands of the best
people or earth to make the Empire
State of Texas what she is today to the
detriment of our own. Texas has fifty
county fairs and the great Texas State
fair at Dallas, more than twenty years
old, and the largest in the South. The
Texas Legislature makes liberal apprc-
Ipriations to the support of this fair, as
do the Legislatures of nearly every
Southern State, and find it the best in
vessment that cen possibly be made.
The people demand an outing at least
once each year and the fair is both
entertaining and highly instructive.
Mississippi is awakening to the i'm
portance of fairs and more are being
held this year than ever before in the
history of the State. The first at Yazoo
City was held last week and was a mag
nificent success. The people of that
splendid county took the greatest III
terest and the exhibits were up to a
high standard. 1t will be worth untold
thousands of dollars to the people in
the end. Copiah county, the banner
trucking county Of the State, held her
first regular fair the week before and
at its close a regular love feast was
held. Planters, stockmen, bankers,
merchants and all expressed themselves
as delighted with the initial attempt
and pledged their undivided support to
it's permanency. The reports from
every point are OF a similar nature.
The writer hopes to assist in the or
ganization of at least half q dozen new
M for next fall. Greenville, Hatties-
burg, Greenwood, Kosciusko, Meridian
and a dozen other points are agitating
the subject and it is to be sincerely
hoped that tangible results will follow
the organization.
The great State fair begins next
Tuesday at Jackson and continues until
Saturday, the 10th. Everything is in
readiness and the event promises to be
much better than ever before. The
railroads have all granted a rate of one
fare for the round trip plus rs cents,
and an attendance Of near 100, 900 is ex-
pected. Let the man who does not be-
lieve in fairs come for one or two days,
study carefully the interest shown and
the instruction received, investigate for
himself and then pass upon the possible
benefits TO a great commonwealth like
Mississippi of a good State fair.
No city in Mississippi has experienced
a more phenomenal growth than Hat
tiesburg for the past four years. 1t has
discarded the ~swaddhng clothes of a
country town and grown into an up-to.
date city with all conveniences and ne.
cessities. Five and six story buildings
have replaced those of a less preten.
tious nature, the streets have been
paved, factories built and the popula.
ton pushed to above 10000. Hatties.
burg is the delight of all loyal Missis.
sippians as a live, hustling metropolis,
A bale of cotton made into handker.
chiefs will bring the manufacturer
something like $1,000. The difference
of 81 $50 is lost to the South where lit
tie cotton is manufactured into the fine,
fabrics, but there is a change to take
place that will save this to us. The
factories are gradually coming to tbs
fields and within a few more years there
viii be a different tale to tell.
Mississippi chickens swept the FIELD
at the louisiana State Fair and broughr
back nearly all the cash prizes. Thi:
is a good showing for Mississippi to &c
/, down and capture SO much of the SIS,
600 donated by the Legislature of Louis
lana for State Fair premiums. Let's
get 1t all next time.
The town of Magnolia and county O
Pike will cooperate in the improve
ment of roads leading to that place
This is c~ommendable on the part o
both parties to the agreement. Co
operation is the word.