The Tupelo journal., 1907-07-12
By II. e. BLAKESLEE, JACKSON.

VI SiCot ihpoi ~ w
the people of the Mississippi Valley in
particular and the whole South in gen.
eral was launched at New Orleans re-
Gently, when delegates from almost
every Southern State met on invita-
ton of the New Orleans Progressive
Union and took the initiatory steps
toward the holding of a monster expo
sition in 1915 to celebrate the compile
ton of the Panama canal. Several days
were spent in making an investigation
OF the advantages to be derived from
such an enterprise and perfecting plans
that will interest the whole people of the
United States as well as the world.
Every delegate was accorded a full and
free hearing and the coneensus OF opin-
ion was that this was the hour and the
opportunity for the South to place be-
fore the people of the world a compre-
hensive exhibit of its Incompatible re-
sources, and that the exposition should
be held.
1t is generally conceded that the COM
pletion of this great canal project will
revolutionize the railroad map of the
United States, diverting the terminals
of great commerce-carrying lines from
the Atlantic ports to the Gulf ports,
and developing this section at even a
greater rate than has been experienced
in the East. Then it would seem that
the Gulf States are soon to see the dawn
of an industrial and commercial activity
and development that will attract to
them the eyes of the whole world. The
proposition is to hold in New Orleans a
gigantic exposition that will show forci-
bly, to the millions of visitors something
of the wonderful of the Mis-
sissippi Valley and the South.
Next to Louisiana, and almost if not
quite equal thereto, in the way of bene-
fits to be derived from this undertaking,
is the splendid commonwealth of Mis-
sissippi. There is considerably more
territory in Mississippi adjacent to New
Orleans than in Louisiana. The South
ern portion of our State is fast being
denuded of its wealth of pine timber
and the demand is for good white people
who will buy the cleared lands, make it
produce of the worlds needs as it will
do with intelligent cultivation, and a
source of revenue to the State before the
corroding rains make of it a mass of
gullies. This is the opportunity for
Mississippi to forcibly bring to the at
tention of desirable people the fact that
Mississippi offers more to the man with
brains and energy than any Statesi in the
Union.
Then, too, the beautiful coast counties
of our State have presented to them an
opportunity that comes only occasional
ly, of attracting thereto, multiplied
thousands of visitors during the ten
months of the exposition for a few days
or a few weeks. A trip to the exposi-
ton would be incomplete without a side
trip to the exquisitely beautiful and
pleasant coast towns of Mississippi. No
section of the universe offers more en-
chanting scenes, better bathing, fishing
or other advantages that go to make a
visit pleasant. With a systematic and
aggressive campaign of advertising the
coast towns have presented an opportu-
nifty to induce countless visitors during
the exposition. A well-arranged build
ing devoted to that purpose, showing
large photographs of the beautiful beach,
shell roads, bathing piers, yachting, fish
ing, hotels, ch%autauquas and other at
fractions, with energetic men in charge,
would certainly prove of inestimable
benefit in the way of inducing those
who attend the exposition to make a
trip to the Mississippi coast.
The writer is in hearty sympathy with
this movement launched by the business
men of New Orleans, and sees in it ben
eits almost equal for Mississippi as for
Louisiana. 1t is impossible at this time
to fully recount even a small part of
these, but the time is ample and more
will be said of the enterprise in the
future.
Capt. Titus, of near West Point, has
possibly the largest and best equipped
dog farm in the State. He makes a spe-
cialty of pure-bred dogs and finds the
business pleasant and profitable. A
kitchen has been specially built for pre-
pairing the food for his valuable CANNES
and is kept as neat and clean as that of
a modern home. Large quantities of
meat and bread are required to feed the
large number of dogs on hand and the
farm is unique and highly interesting
to visitors.
The prairie alfalfa farms are selling
their crops at from $3.50 to $40 per
ton f. o. b. cars. This is a splendid price
and shows something of the value of
alfalfa and the manner in which it is
appreciated by those who are com
PEELED to purchase feedstuffs.
Reports from over the State 90 to
show that farming conditions have i'm
proved considerably since the last report.
Cotton has done well, but is generally re-
ported to be thirty days late. Corn is
not in so good condition, the old corn
being very poor indeed. The general i'm
preston is that under no conditions can
the crop of this year equal that of last.
Are you speaking well of your neigh
bors and the commenity in which you
live? If not, you are not a desirable