The Tupelo journal. (Tupelo, Miss.) 1876-1924, 1908-07-10

q financial standpoint and popularity
with the people. The property now
owned by the association and on the
state land lists about ops, 900. About
$4,000 in stock has been issued, and
there is an indebtedness OF something
like $4,000.
This is an excellent showing for our
great old state. Our fair is not as
large as the Texas fair and possibly
some of the other southern states, but
it must be considered that this fair has
not had state aid, as have many Of
these, If not all Of them. Louisiana
gives to her fair each year S1O, 1000 for
buildings and 5000 for premiums;
Tennessee gives for premiums $40, 900
per year; Florida pays SIS, 600 per year;
Missouri has spent s4Oo, 900 upon her
fair during the past few years, it being
owned and controlled exclusively by the
state. Mississippi has had nothing
more than the use Of the ground, which
is held under tentative lease.
The Mississippi State Fair is con-
Quoted for the benefit of the agricul-
tural people Of the state and not as a
money making institution. OF the Of
ficers who have managed it during tho
four years Of it's existence, only one Of
them, the manager, receives one cent
for his services. That it has been
worth great deal to the agricultural
interests cannot be denied, but this
benefit is just now beginning to be
felt. In future years it will be worth
thousands OF dollars to the people. 1t
is today the one big event annually in
in the history Of the state to which the
farmers, truckers, poultrymen and
stock-raisers look. 1t must grow larger
from year to year. The necessary
buildings will take some years to sup
ply, unless state aid is secured, but
they will come in time.
The dates for this year have been
moved forward from Oct. q to Nov. S,
to get ahead OF the annual cold spell
that has been encountered for the past
three seasons. The enterprise is we'll
worthy of the support and cooperation
Of the good people of the state who
would see our agricultural and stock
resources properly developed. Other
states have maintained fairs for years
and drawn upon Mississippi for thou
sands of our people to develop their re-
sources to the detriment of our own.
Texas alone has taken from us during
the past twenty years more than 100, 900
Of our good white people. Texas main
tains great state fair as we'll as nu.
merous county fairs. There is more to
live for in progressive country that
maintains good fairs, brings the people
| together each year in an experience
meeting where the best of everything
is shown. Mississippi must encourage
fairs and other movements that will
tend to keep our people in Mississippi.
It Is said in cotton circles that the
brokers and spinners are very much ex-
ercised as to the strength of the hold
ing movement for the present crop and
the figure that 1t will cut in the price
OF cotton this fall. The spinners are
inclined, it is claimed, to lay in their
supplies early and at fair price II
| spinable grades can be had. This 10
cheering news for the farmer and is
| evidence Of the good work being done
by the union throughout the cotton
planting section. There is no doubt
but what good was accomplished last
fall, and the organization is stronger
this year than ever, having had more
experience, being provided with more
warehouses and better connections with
the consumers of their cotton. Ar
engagements are being perfected with a
large cotton mill to supply cotton bag
ging for portion Of this years crop.
The contract calls for SO much per yard
for manufacture, the cotton to be fur
nished from low grades by the union
itself. This is good move, and it
will be remembered that the writer
recommended in q report to the legis-
lature in January that the state erect
a small factory for making cotton bag
ging on one of the farms, but it was
not acted upon. The union is doing
good work, the membership is growing
in stability as well as in numbers. One
trouble with our people is that they
expect too much in short time, but
those who are faithful and stick it out
will have the satisfaction Of seeing the
conditions surrounding the farmer
greatly improved in the next few years.
Those opposing the union in this fight
have taken years to build up their
business and it cannot be changed in a
few months. 1t will take earnest and
persistent effort to accomplish the de-
sired ends. Stand by the union and its
officials, and good results will come
after awhile.
| There are number of men in Mis-
sissippi who are doing splendid work
for the state, and who are not seeking
preferment of any character. This
number is larger than ever before, and
the result of their efforts is beginning
to tell in unmistakable results. Agri-
cultural pursuits are becoming more
popular and there is lessening ten
dency to leave the farm and go to town.
Those who forsook the farm years ago
have an inclination to 60 back, and
few of them have not secured piece
of land and made arrangements to