The Tupelo journal., 1908-05-15

gu was intense, going to show that the
teachers of Mississipps are in the work
for something more than the meager
salaries received. 1t was an intelligent
body OF men and women, which fact
was frequently commented upon by
those not members of the association.
The officers had spared no energy or
pains to make the meeting beneficial to
this great army of workers which plays
such an important part in the destiny
OF u state. From the time the gavel
first fell until the last official act had
been recorded the attendance was all
that could be desired, and a commenda-
BILE desire evidenced to gather every
thing that would improve the efficiency
of the work.
This bodies we'll for the future OF our
commonwealth. The teacher occupies
a most important position in the train
ing of the children of today, who will
be the men and women of tomorrow.
In their hands lies more largely the
destiny of the country than any other.
The standard is being continually
raised. Mississippi's public school sys-
tenn is already the model for other
states, and is being improved year by
year. 1t is money well spent and with
the unanimous appreciation of the tax
payer.
An effort is being made to develop
an industry in Mississippi that prom
ises to become one of the greatest i'm
p~ortance. The rivers and lakes of the
state abound in mussel shells that have
a value if handled properly. Some
days since a party of Ohio gentlemen
came to Greenwood with a steam launch
of large size and the outfit necessary
for fishing the shells. A report by the
secretary of the business league goes
to show that these shells are in the
greatest abundance in the waters of
YaZoo river and the first efforts to
gather them was remarkably success
full. One fault with the Mississippi
she'll for the manufacture of buttons is
that they are tinted with pink, but
while this makes them undesirable for
buttons it at the same time makes them
more valuable for other purposes. The
writer is acquainted with this business
as conducted at Black Rock, Ark, and
has q number of times during the past
six years called the attention of our
people to the possibilities of the enter
prise. Something along this line was
attempted at Aberdeen some time ago.,
but nothing has been heard of the ef-
fort lately. There is no doubt but tt at
the great quantity of shells in our state
can be used to advantage if the proper
means is adopted for handling them.
Newton and Scott counties proposs
to join hands in the building up of a
great agricultural fair, the prelimina-
ries of the movement having been con-
sidered at Newton ON the 1st. The
grounds of the Patrons Union, the old
est institution of it's kind in the state,
is being considered for the location.
The consummation of this proposition
will in no way interfere with regular
holding of the. Patrons Union, which
has grown to be a fixed event in Missis-
sippi. The section interested is splen-
didly situated and otherwise competent
to make a display of products second to
none in the state. Good and energetic
men are behind the movement, and its
success means much to one of the best
agricultural communities to be found
anywhere. 1t is to be sincerely hoped
that the first event will be held this fall
and will prove the beginning Of a fair
that will be worth thousaeds of dollars
to Scott and Newton counties.
Predictions for eight cent cotton this
fall continue to be made by those who
claim to know, and it may be that low,
but the man who has plenty of corn,
bacon, hay and other things that can
be made at home, is not nearly so much
interested in the price as the one who
must sell his cotton to buy these things.
Indications and reports from over the
State indicate that the hog and hominy
crop will be larger this fall than ever
before. This is powerful fine breast
works for a holding movement, or or
gained effort of any kind on the part
of the farmer. 1t produces a species
of backbone that is hard to get if a
man is at the mercy of the fellow who
has furnished him throughout the year.
And it now seems that the Aberdeen
and Tombigbee Valley railroad is to be
built. Desultory work on the organi-
cation of this enterprise has been car
ried or for years, but there are good in
dications at the present time that the
line will be constructed and placed in
operation. The stakes between Oko-
Iona and Aberdeen have been set, the
right of way cleared and a number of
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