The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1908-01-26
TO CULTIVATE RICE ON
PEITENTIARY FARMS
Congressman Humphreys Has Gene
to Jackson to Confer With Gov
Noel on the Subject

Congressman Ben @ Humphreys
passed through the city yesterday
morning, says Fridays Vicksburg
Herald, enroute form Greenville to
Jackson, where he goes upon a most
interesting mission to- the governor
and penitentiary trustees Congress
man Humphreys in speaking of the
object Of his trip said:
81 believe from what we have
learned by the most careful investi
cations, that the delta country is the
very finest place anywhere to raise
rice, and with the hope of getting
the state to experiment with several
hundred acres of this product. I will
visit Governor Noel and. the state
penitetntiary trustees, and urge that
this be done
Congressman Humphreys says
that DR.. S. A. Knapp, an eminent
and experienced expert in the en-
ploy Of the government, has made a
most thorough Investigation of the
opportunities for producing rice in
the delta, and had pronounced the
chance Tor this plant to thrive as
phenomenal.
DR. Knapp has said that all Of the
conditions, including the natural lay
of the land for the proper irrigation
is all that could be desired, and
that the great advantages to be gain
ed. should the state make successful
results on planting rice, are num-
erous.
Mr. Humphreys, together with DR..
Knapp, have fully studied the min
utest details tof the subject in hand.
down in southern Louiiana, and their
deductions are not theoretical at all,
but most practical. Congressman
Humphreys says that he will urge
the planting of rice on the Parch-
man farm, and then later other plac-
es can thus be planted, when the re-
suits are seen.
Another most important matter
that Congressman Humphreys spoke
lof during his visits here, was the I'M
provements going o.. and contem-
plated in Sunf1ower river. 1t will be
recalled that through his efforts, con
gress has already appropriated the
sum of 100000 for the purpose OF
making the necessary surveys and
other preliminary work, toward the
| betterment of the channel of the Sun
flower So far this river has beer
| provided for, that improvements be
made only as far as Baird, but The
hope is to eventually get the chan
/ mel so improved that it will be nav
| igable the year around as far az
DHusnpuckna. Congressman Hum
/ phrevs saws that he has no doub
| but that this will be accomplished
| and he intends TO SO place the mat
ter before congress as its very sen
sible and urgent demand will appea
for the aid needed This would Cd
en- up a new and one of the riches
Fparts of the delta, and place it II
closer touch with not only Vicksburs
/ but all the intervening points, which
are now almost absolutely separtes
so hard is it to reach from one plac,
| to another. The navigabillty of SUI
flower river would make intercours,
not only possible, but most desirabl,
| While here Mr. Humphreys had yer,
satisfactory interview with Captaii
| Clarke Smith, engineer IN charge o
the third district, and says that Capt
i Smith is a most prepossessing gen
tleman, and man in his position
j who seems 10 be so alive and wei
Il come to receive any and all matterl
which are of vast good to the peopI
i generally. Congressman Humphrey
4 hopes to secure the aid Of Captain
i Smith in ftmthering the Sunf1owe