The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1907-09-14
By II. z. BLAKESLEE. JACKSON.

The question Of sufficient and relia-
BILE labor is of greater Importance than
anything that confronts the people OF
Mississippi at present. 1t has been
thus for some time, and instead Of grow
ing better is getting worse year by year.
1t has been the subject of much discus
sion and experiment for some time, the
success attending these varying. If We
would have a Greater Mississippi" in
truth, it is necessary that our agricul-
tural be developed and the
lands made to produce of the worlds
needs. Communications on this subject
are invited, realizing that it is an i'm
pOrtant matter worthy OF careful cOn-
sideratiOn. Hon. Clarence II. Poe, of
Raleigh, N. c., editor of the Progress
sive Farmer, one of the best agricul-
tural publications in the South, recent
ly made a trip through this section for
the purpose OF studying the labor
problem. He wrote an interesting and
instructive letter On the subject from
Greenville that was given wide public
ity and attracted a great deal of atten-
ton. He wrote the editor of this de-
partment as follows:
"A recent trip through the South has
Convinced me that the sections where
small white farmers predominant are
making twice as rapid progress as are
the sections where the negroes are in
the majority. | am writing TO ask your
opinion of this view. l know a county,
for example, where in ten years the
northeast section, with small white
farmeSs, has increased land values from
So to $25 per acre; the southeast corner
land, with negroes butchering it, has
decreased from SIS to SO. What is
your observation? Are the negroes
keeping up the fertility of the lands
they farm? Are the counties where
whites predominant making more pro-
gress in wealth and industry than the
black belt counties? Do you not find
that in many sections white people have
taken hold on poorer land and beaten
negroes on richer? Please run over
the subject in your mind and give me
your opinion with just as many specific
instances and examples as you can
think of, and l ASSURE you that the fa-
vor will be greatly Appreciated"
There is but one way in which Mr..
Poe's letter can be answered. His de-
auctions are correct in the general
sense of the word. The experience of
dozens of communities in Mississippi
could be produced to prove it. While
all lands have advanced some, the
greatest increase will be found in COM
munities titled by white people: Ridge.
land, Crystal Springs and others as an
instance. Negro labor is becoming
more unreliable, and some plan must
be conceived to supply a substitute.
The most feasible one yet offered is to
cut the big plantations into small farms
and induce good white people from
other sections to own and work them.
There may be others. Let it be known
if you have a solution to offer for this
vexed problem.
W. NJ. Bamberg of the United States
Department of Agriculture reports a
pleasing state of affairs in Madison
county. W. B. Kinney has threshed
this year a total of $4,000 bushels of
oats in a section where practically none
were threshed last season. 1t is also
stated that the acreage for next year
will be doubled. The yield averaged
80 bushels per acre. which in itself is
an item of interest. Mr.. Bamberg fur
Their states that the straw, which is or
dinarily an item of loss, was baled and
sold on contract for So per ton. For
what it is to be used was not stated,
but the fact that it has a value is graft
fying indeed. This denotes a healthy
state of affairs in the section surround
ing Canton. 1t means in the first place
that stuff has been raised that would
ordinarily have taken S21 900 out of
the country next season. This much
money has been saved. Then, too, it
means that the spirit of diversificaSion
has gained a foothold that will increase
as time goes by. The section that
raises oats, hay, hogs, mules and other
farm necessities. is sure to take its
place in the list of those most prosper
Gus and with a happy and satisfied peo-
pie.
Those interested in trucking around
Brookhaven held a meeting and dis
cussed plans for increasing the bust
ness for the coming year. Practical
men were on hand and gave the benefit
of their experience and the matter OF
transportation was thoroughly thresh-
ed out. 1t is conceded that the section
around Brookhaven is adapted to the
trucking industry, and with the splen-
did means of quick transportation af-
fcrded by the Illinois Contra railroad,
the business can and will be made n
of the most important and profitable in
that community.
A gentleman named Lee, and living
near Raymond, Kinds county, has re-