Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1907-02-09

writer that the rate for telephone ser.
vice in Mississippi is already too high
and being increased on every preteXt,
come the announcement from Clarksdale
that an agreement has been reached with
the Cumberland at that place and a con
tract signed whereby that city gets
per cent. of the gross receipts from
rentals and the free use of six phones,
with one to be added every time eighty
five new subscribers are connected with
the exchange. The city is also allowed
the privilege of installing a fire alarm
system, to be operated by the telephone
company without charge, and the com
pany to be liable for damage in the
event of failure to so operate it, If
Clarksdale is entitled to this privilege
every city in the State is also due the
same concessions, but would it not be
much better to reduce the rate to fair
amount and allow each subscriber to
share in the reduction? The present
high rate with the graduated increase
for distance from the exchange will COM
pletely prevent the extension of rural
service, which is fast becoming an inn
portant factor With an equitable rate
for service, and service after the price
has been paid, in a few more years al
most every farmer in the State would
be supplied with a phone. The present
condition of affairs will prevent tie
rural people altogether from the ea-
joyment of this great convenience.
Hon. Walter Clark, president of the
Cotton Association, issues a highly SEN
sible address to the cotton growers Of
the State. He cites the enormous in
crease in the States of Texas and Okla
homa, stimulated by large volume of
immigration and the cheapness with
which cotton can be produced there, and
urges the people of Mississippi to look
the situation over carefully before pitch
ing their crop for this year. 1t would
not be good business sense for our people
to increase their acreage if it were likely
that the production would be brought
to figure that's would bring the price
below ten cents. Mr.. Clark also shows
that corn is worth rs cents in Mississippi
and only 80 cents in the States named,
while hay bears a proportion $50 to $50
per ton against $40 to S12. Then it
would be better for our people to plant
less cotton and more corn and hay. 1t
will pay every man in the State to read
this address carefully.
The city council at Gloster in inves-
tigating the advisability of using wood
in the light plant owned and operated
by the city. And why not? 1t is shown
from figures given that to fire with
wood the cost of operation can be con-
siderably lessened, but that is not the
biggest item to consider. Mississippi is
blessed with immense quantities of wood
that is too often wasted in clearing land.
If enterprises operated by steam would
afford a market for this wood it would
be a great blessing to the farmers. They
could realize something for this waste
product and the money thus distributed
would be kept in circulation in the home
communities Money spent for coal goes
to other States and rarely ever finds its
way back here. The Gloster authori.
ties are evidently on the right track,
and other communities should profit by
their example.
The Progress Club of Laurel is Of
fering handsome cash prizes to the citi-
zens of that elegant little city for the
permanent improvement and beautify-
ing of their premises. A splendid reward
should be the result of this movement.
Mississippi should be State of home
owners and such progressive movements
as this will tend to make it so. The club
is also arranging to plant several hun
dred shade trees and care for them until
they are sufficiently large to care for
themselves. LawePs Progressive Club
is an innovation for the identifying and
improvement of the city that will be
watched by the whole State with in'
terest, and it might be well for other
places to get ready for an emulation
of her example.