The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1907-01-30
THE PROGRESSIVE UNION.
An open Letter on the Needs and Con-
ditions Of the Union.

NtstVuS VI btiC OtiVfts
II will be remembered that last
April this organization was COM
pleted. Those who joined and
subscribed for one year, decided
to keep it up for that time, and if,
after the year had expired, it was
concluded that the Union was of
no benefit, it could be abandoned.
A Board of Directors was select
ed, who have given their time and
attention to the business OF The
Union, responding at all times to
every call of the secretary. They
have not added many souls to the
population, but they have adyer-
tised the city, and with the secre-
tary, have transacted all of the
business coming before the Union.
The Union insisted on the naming
of the streets and numbering of
houses, and it was finally done.
The object was to secure free mail
delivery. This will come when
the Board of Aldermen provide
sidewalks. The matter Of side
walks has been pressed before the
old Board of Aldermen, and will
be taken up before the new board.
The Union has procured a partial
reduction of freight rates, which
alone will mean more to the mer-
camille interests than the insignlfi-
cant sum paid from month to
month by the individuals. The
Union is working for a new de-
pot, and has an order of the Rail
road Commission directing the /.
G. r. R. Co. to build one. A plan
was submitted and was rejected
and another plan ordered. The
depot will come. Be patient.
The Union is doing all it can.
The Railroad Commission, the
railroad company and every one
believes that the whole population
of Brookhaven is behind any
movement inaugurated and mana
|ged by this organization. We
have melted our neighbors, Nc
Comb, Magnolia, Hazlehurst,
Crystal Springs, Summit, to emu
late our example. We have been
complimented throughout the
State. We have answered hun
dreds of letters, enquiIing about
this locality. We have investi-
gated manufacturing propositions
and other schemes, and have in
some instances saved the people
from fake enterprises. There is
work to be done yet. We can
build a city without foreign i'm
migration. | had a vacant house.
There we're over 30 applicants for
it. We need more houses, if we
wish population. A united effort
for sidewalks and better streets
would result in good. Eight or
ten miles of turnpike in every
direction from the city would
build up the surrounding country
with our own people. 1t takes
work to bring results, and it takes
money to make men work. We
can be economical and do much
good for Brookhaven. Already
people say this is the best, most
progressive, up to date town in
Mississippi We are well adyer-
tised and with a little more judic-
ious advertisement in the frigid
northwest, we can look for desira-
BILE immigrants. A good climate,
good people, a naturally good
country, good roads and good
health, are elements which attract,
and with the addition of good
opportunities the result is bound
to be foretold.
The Progressive Union had a
serious set back on account of the
carnival, which, while a success
as far as the ability Of the town is
concerned to have show, was
financially disastrous to the Union
and got it in debt. We desire all
persons, having accounts against
the Union, to send them in to the
undersigned.
The officers and directors, and
the great majority Of the patriotic
people of this community desire
to see this organization continued.
We may have to call upon the
people to give the organization
financial aid. We, therefore, ask
every man who is interested in
Brookhayen's future to stand to-
gether and not be discouraged by
the temporary reverses Of the first
campaign. ] shall ask the papers
to publish letter from Capt. j.
f. Merry in week or two, which
should be encouraging.
Do not blame the Union for not
having free delivery; for not in
creasing the population; for not
having concrete sidewalks. All
of these things will come and
more too, if the people of this
city continue to pull together.
Mr.. Curtis has resigned and gone
away, but he was not the Progress
sive Union. He did good work
but on account. of the apparent.
anathv of some. .of 0nr cltiZans he
was discouraged. He was a paid
employee, having no ties to bind
him to Brookhaven. We have
such ties. Our interests are ire
trIeyably interwoven with every
fibre Of this community. Let US
make it a cltyi Help US do sol
Let US start on a campaign of
good streets, good sidewalks and
good county roads.
I'll. CASSIDY,
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