The Kemper herald. (Scooba, Miss.) 1875-1908, 1907-02-28

O1 C6Tldln PAUlA0 uGAA4tAoo 40 S"AAAAAAS
strength in many sections of the state.
jackson is soon to vote upon the pro-
position to issue $216,000 in bonds
for purchasing the water plant as
well as an additional issue for tine
purpose of improving the plant and
enlarging its capacity to meet the de-
mands of growing city. Some time
ago Yazoo City proposed to issue
bonds for the purpose of building an
electric street railway, a decided IN
novation for Mississippi, though Mon
roe, La, has such plant in success
full operation. Bidders on the bonds,
which were to bear a low rate of IN
terest, did not show up strong and
for some time it looked. as if Yazoo
was not going to have a railway. With
in the past few days firm has shown
up that proposes to take the bonds
at par in payment for building the
plant. The impression is, that Yazoo
will soon have installed the first mu-
nicipal railway system in the state.
The success of the movement will be
watched with great interest. Munic-
ipal ownership is djstinctively pop
nlistic proposition, but along with
many other good features of that once
loudly heralded platform, has been
appropriated by one or the other OF
the older parties. The arbitrary po-
sition assumed toward the public by
trusts and corporations IS fast maxi
ing friends for ownership by the
whole people of Mississippi.
It has been truthfully stated, that
when the people are prosperous they
become careless and not alert to the
action necessary 20 continue their
prosperity. The recent period of un-
precedented prosperity in Mississippi
should not act as an opiate on our
people and put them to sleep, but on
the contrary as a stimulant urging
them to renewed efforts to perpetuate
the present state of affairs. The cam
paign inaugurated two years ago for
better system of handling our great
money crop, cotton, has borne good
fruit and should be kept up without
cessation. The education of our citi-
zens to the highest standard carries
with it safety in the future and there
should be no laxity of this movement.
Voting intelligently upon all ques-
tions and for men Of known worth
and integrity is a important matter
that is deserving Of careful consider
alton. Mississippi is great state,
well governed and as it has been stat
ed, one of only five in the Union en-
Firely free from graft. Then let IS re-
double our energies to keep it so. Such
Va distinction is far more preferable
than to have accumulated millions OF
wealth secured by questionable meth
ods and absolutely controlling legisla-
tion to the detriment of the plain peo-
ple.
None can fail to realize the business
of the effort being made to reduce the
rates for telephone service to rural
subscribers. The telephone is a mod
ern convenience that should be in the
home of every citizen of the state,
but the arbitrary rate charged at
present by the company that has an
almost complete monopoly of the busl-
ness in Mississippi will greatly retard
if not completely stop, the extension
of service to the rural districts. AT
present the rate is based on the rate
charged by the local exchange, plus
forty cents for each mile out for di-
rect line service and twenty-five cents
per mile for party line service. For
instance; the man living ten milas
from town with a residence rate OF
So, would be compelled to pay Sc for
direct service or $3.50 for party line
service. Such rates as these are pro-
ahibitive. The writer believes that the
Railroad Commission will grant ma
terial reduction in these rates if the
people will try to show that it IS
working a hardship on them and pre-
venting the extension of the service.
Would like to have expressions from
all interested in this matter. The
Farmers Union, body of more than
10000 farmers of the state, has en-
dorsed this reduction, then let others
who have an interest in the matter
be heard from.
With the taking over of the Wesson
Cotton Mills by company with sew
eral million dollars of capital, and
the guarantee that it will be contin-
uously operated, business is again
,fourishing in that little city. Real
estate is looking up again and the
transfers recorded in the Mirror, IS
n n L