The Tupelo journal., 1907-04-26
By Il. e. BLAKESLEE. JACKSON.

InSupport of the writer's contention
that the county and State fairs are the
greatest stimulant possible for agricul-
ture, horticulture nd stock-raising,
the interest being shown in Mississippi
at present in the new fairs being organ
lied and old ones renewed is given as
convincing testimony. &he people are
beginning to grow something for ex-
hibit at these fairs, and their success
will undoubtedly encourage t~heirneigh-
bors to try themselves next year.. 1t
stimulates a 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 used to an advantage by them the
next season. The fairs are a great
agricultural school in which young and
old alike will learn valuable lessons
that car be put to practical use.
Interest in the State fair is greater
than ever before, and it now looks as if
more than twice as many will compete
for premiums as ever before. The
grand sweepstakes for the best DIVERSE
fed farm exhibit, which is divided into
three parts this season, will be holly
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 well
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 display of
farm products, any one farm IN
llC oUdtO . =. - ~ ~
Supplemented with a $50 farm
wagon and 1926 gold medal.)
Second premium. ............ 30
Supplemented with a $50 disc
harrOw.)
Third premium. 49,. ............ 70
Best and greatest variety display of
farm products by a county or club 100
Second premium. 80
In addition to the several thousand
dollars offered by the Fair Association
there are a number of handsome spe-
cial premiums offered by firms and in
dividuals, amounting in value to nearly
$1,000. A number of the county fairs
will bring the cream of their exhibits
to the State fair and the prospects for a
great fair and a large attendance is
much better than ever before. New
buildings and many needed improve
ments will be made to accommodate ex-
hibitors and those who attend.
Missouri has recently passed a law
making an appropriation Of a large sum
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
beer stated. The county that gets $685.
900 must appropriate an equal amount
and the work is done under competent
management SO that the best results
will be obtained. This seems to be a
sensible system of handling a State APP
preparation. If a county is interested.
and desires State aid, an equal amount
must be furnished by the county itself
before the State appropriation is avail
able. Such a plan would no doubt
stimulate good roads interest from the
fact that a county that does not take
advantage of the opportunity to build
some roads must necessarily pay some
thing toward the building of roads in
counties that do. The Missouri plan
is worthy of consideration to say the
least of it.
An innovation in the way of trans
portation of freight will be tried in
Coahoma county shortly. The people
of Clarksdale have been trying for
some time to build a railroad from that
place to Friars Point, on the Mississippi
river, for the purpose of getting adj
vantage Of water rates in the transror-
tation of freight. Failing in this, they
have raised the money and will soon in
augurate a line of freight automobiles
for freighting purposes. These ma
chimes are largely used in the great
cities for this purpose and have proven
successful. The experiment at Clarks-
dale will be watched with interest. 1t
will undoubtedly result in the building
of q good road between these points,
which will be q loug step in the right
direction if there are no other results.
But it is likely that the prime object of
the venture will be realized also.
Many Convictions.
Az tho form IF court inst, closed ar