St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1909-04-17
A Citizens Views.
CoYington, La, April z, 10

Covington, La, April z, 1909.
St. Tammany Farmer.
1t is not with sense Of notoriety
that | have undertaken to express my
views to Covington people, to assist
them in developing the commercial
industry which naturally belongs to
her and her people. In the last year
there has been marked an era Of de-
velopment which will bear great fruit
in the way of forcing its visitors to
remain in state of ecstacy that they
will hardly believe their own eyes,
and hence urge great many to be-
come one of US, by making their abode
with US permanently, even though
their business carries them elsewhere.
1t is not with view of scrutinizing
the past, far from it; but our people
will admit that our present admins
tration ought to commend the ever
lasting admiration of ther achieve
ments and accomplishments, in the
way of good, sound business manage
ment of the reins of administration
with so little financial means. We are
having at this time, as all have per-
ceived. a great stride in road build
ing. We have at least something to
offer our patrons while their stay in
Covington. They may ride to their
hearts content without dodging those
stumps which was an eye-sore to all.
It is with great pride that we can
point to our roads, which are a neces-
sity to all.
To-day we are again on the very
verge of close and rapid communica-
ton with tile greatest metropolis of
the South, 'New Orleans" Who is it
that does not appreciate this great ad-
vancement? 1t is received with out
stretched arms, just like a child makes
it's first steps. Let US hope that they
will receive the encouragement of all,
and that they may reach high prin-
ciple Of success, and prove to be a
benefit thai we can point to with pride.
Again we notice your earnest pro-
gressive union, who have bent their
influence and energy towards inducing
the moter system to displace the
steam service on the I. C. Let US all
hope that they may succeed and reap
benefits which were so long unknown
| to US, and close communication with
Hammond and Baton Rouge
So much for these developments,
which are more substantial than mere
suggestions. Let US look into the well
fare of this great country, which has
its wealth in dormant condition. Let
US get together, compare views, offer
suggestions, see if they will coincide
theoretically as well as financially in
the development of its commercialism.
Do not let us fall into errors of the
past, in the way Of offering competi-
tions on the same line when one is
hardly on paying basis. You will all
! remember very short while ago
there was an enormous capital invest
ed with the object of competing. Com
petition is the life of trade, is an old
adage; but compete as you grow; do
not try and crush what is in it's in
fancy. There are SO many things left
to be developed, and one which strikes
me at this time is ginnery. You who
are here long enough remember the
amount of cotton that came through
this town. 1t was enormous. Not so
long ago, before the railroad extern
sion, there was more cotton brought
here than to-day. Why? Because time
was saved, and the market alike, and
no inducement offered to the farmer,
Who feels it? why everybody does.
Why not see what can be done to re-
instate the past relations? Why not
get together, open ginnery? The cot
ton will come, even though thev use
the means that have taken it away
from you. (the railroad.) There are
a great many by-products in this part
of manufacture, and all of which are
used in our country, which we have to
purchase elsewhere, namely, cotton
seed oil, meal and huIls. Then why not
get together and use our land to an
advantage; there will be more land in
cultivation, which means all to us.
The more for the farmer the more the
merchant makes, and so on down the
line. Again take the ginnery; it will
employ men who live among us, spend
their money here, and where there is a
market there is always prosperity.
The soil of Covington, as is said by
many, is so poor tnat it cannot be cul-
tivated. Well, in one sense they are
correct, but where is the soil that will
bring returns without fertilization?
Even the rich belt Of alluVial soil.