The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1907-06-08
BY II. e. BLAKESLEE. JACKSON.

The Importance of raising ,an abun-
dance of corn for all purposes has been
preached with increasing force for
years, and the geater number of Mis-
sissippi planters are doing that very
thing, but it appears that the necessity
for this is greater than ever before.
1t looks as If those who buy corn next
winter and spring will be compelled to
pay an exorbitant price, not less than
one dollar per bushel, if that reason
able. The reasons given for this are
that wheat is short something like 1O0,-
600, 900 bushels and has jumped to more
than one dollar per bushel and the price
of -four will call for a larger consump-
ton of corn for bread. Then. the sea-
son for corn in the Northwest is open
ing up badly, being unproDitlous In
every way, and with the narrow margin
existing between planting time and the
frost in the fall, the prospects for a
large crop in the corn belt is not at all
inviting. The demand for export is
growing year by year, and a consider
able increase is required for that alone.
So it would seem that it especially
stands Mississippians in hand to be sure
of enough corn at home to care for
their farms. The prospect for an alb
normally high price for cotton may be
as good as reported, but If the corn Is
not made at home a t~welve-cent cotton
crop would be largely decreased In
value if we have to pay a dollar for the
corn necessary to run the farms.
Water Valley citizens have awaken
ed to the fact that organization of the
business men was necessary to look
| after the interests OF that enterprlslng
city. A business league was recently
organized with Mr.. J. D.. Peacock as
president and J. r. Cahill, secretary.
| A large number of the best men OF the
| CITY enlisted in the movement and Will
| 90 to work to make Water Valley big
ger and better. One Of the first moves
| was to locate the Farmers Union ware
| house and the effort was successful.
Other matters of Importance Will be
| taken up and handled, among them an
| extension of the railroad now running
as far as Calhoun City to Water Valley.
The action of those good people is
worthy of emulation by all who would
| see their communities prosper as they
| should, and which can only be brought
| about by cooperation and persistent
effort.
Considerable activity by the parties
interested in the new railroad from
Jackson up the Pearl river has been
shown recently, and those to be bene-
fitted by the move are more hopeful
that work will begin soon on its actual
| construction. This line will penetrate
the largest section of the State that is
without a railroad and develop a cOun-
try that is rich both in timber and
| farming lands. The section to be trav-
ersed is already thickly populated.
some of the best communities In the
South being included, but they are OF
course anxious for quicker communlca-
ton with the outside world and a means
of getting to and from market. The
prospect for this dream to be realized
seems to be excellent at this time.
Crop conditions as reported from
Louisiana and Texas are, if anything,
worse than in Mississippi. The excess
| sive rains have come to those States as
Sell. and on top of this the boil weevil
began to come out months ago and are
waiting in millions to attack he first
| squares to form. 1t seems that the
| farmers in those States face conditions
.ar worse than in Mississippi, and that
| the prospects for eve an average crop
are very slim indeed. While a cotton
| crop is extremely difficult to estimate,
the writer believes that nothing a
happen that could bring this years crop
to an unusually high figure, and that
| the planter should easily secure twelve
| cents or more for what is produced.
B. w. Mathis of Crystal Springs cut
| and sold SIS, 900 worth of cabbage this
| spring from so acres Ct land, and now
has the land planted in other crops
with the prospect for a proportionate
| yield. While the price received for
cabbage this spring has been abnor-
mally high, the crop is a safe one and
profitable. Mississippi offers more to
| the man with brains and energy thar
| any State in the Union, and it is singu-
lar that any one would leave here to go
West and seek homes in the newer
| States. This emigration has lessened
greatly during the past few years, and
it is to be hoped that it will entirely
| cease in the neal future. Use your in
huence to keep our young men n
women in Mississippi to aid in the work
| of developing our wonderful resources
that are not excelled by any State.
Congressman Livingston of Georgia