The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-15
GREAT INTEREST
 IN CORN CLUBS
Men As We'll As Boys Are Be-
 ing Organized
MEMBERSHIP OVER 5000
Corn Clubs Are More Popular Than Anything Introduced in Mississippi In Many Years, Says Mir.
 Blakeslee.


 Geo. B. Parker, superintendent of edu- cation of Clarke county, writes to Com missioner of Agriculture Blakeslee that he is stirring up great interest in corn clubs, and expects not only to have the school boys of his county well organized this year but also to have a Mans Corn Club" with 150 members. He organized this mans club a few days since with 40 members and hears of many more who are going to join.
 Commissioner Blakeslee was asked how many members there are now of the Boys Corn clubs scattered over the state, but was unable to say. Last year there were about 5000, and 1t is known that the in- lection has spread in every direction, and it is expected that the membership will be doubled this year.
 Friday night MT. Bakeslee visited Eu- pora and on Saturday was at Walthall both places being in the northeastern part of the state. for the purpose of or genizing corn clubs. On the 29tn he will be at Decatur and on the 22d at Ashland, after which he goes to Yazoo county, all on the same mission. He finds that the corn clubs is the most popular movement that has been inaugurated in Mississippi in many years, and is convinced that they are accomplishing a vast deal of good. Some of the boys belonging to these clubs have produced corn at the rate of 15O bushels to the acre during the past two years, and there have been great many yields of more than 100 bush els per acre. It is doubtful if the fathers or the grandfathers of these same boys ever made as much as 50 bushels of corn to the acre in their lives.
 Affidavits were sworn out here today against Charles P. Evars. one of the de- tectives who has been in the employ of the Law Enforcement league the past two or three months, running down blind tigers. gamblers, etc. The affidavit is re- turnable to Justice of the Peace Cade's court, instead of to the city court, where all the blind tiger eases have been tried. MT EVars is charged with selling booze" on hls own account. There is no doubt that MT Evars purchased a cask of whisky, in pints, from a Louisville house. That fact was brought out in another trial here day or two since In fact MT. Evars has never denied that he pur- chased the goods, but stated he did so in order to trap another party.
 The arrest of the detective has caused a good deal of comment, and his trial will be just as largely attended as have been those of several others charged with the same offense
 It may be that MT. Eyarg will be con- victed, it being stated by those swearing out the affidavits that they can prove at least one sale, but as there is nothing illegal in the purchase of whisky for one s own use, MT. Evars is not at all uneasy
 The February issue of "The Bulletin" is now being sent out from the office of the commissioner of agriculture Each month 10000 copies of this publication are distributed over the state, going direct to the homes of the farmers and others en- gagged in agricultural pursuits, stock raising, etc. "The Bulletin is distributed free of charge, and carries no advertis- ing matter whatever, giving the farmers eight pages of solid reading matter
 While the cost of the paper is not great the department is not able to issue more copies. For the first 1000 Commissioner Blakeslee pays $50 and $5 for each sub sequent thousand, so that S75 is the cost per month, save postage, which by spe- cial arrangement with the postoffice de- partment, is the same as for other news papers.
 The Gulfport and Mississippi Coast Traction company reports to the rail road commission that its receipts for the quarter ending December 31 were $4S, ,9O4 AZ; expenses $59, $40. .75-wherefore it found it. self S10, 4S62S to the bad,
 The 5000 members of the Farmers union in this state were supposed to gather at their respective meeting places today to discuss matters pertaining to farm life. The day was designated as 'Diyersification Day" and was intended to encourage the members of the organ ization to discuss ways and means rota- tion of crops, fertilizers, etc, looking to the advancement of the live-at-home idea on Mississippi farms.
 The sheriffs of the state are rather slow in making their settlements with the auditor for their January collections A small percentage of them having paid up on the 10th instant which was the last day under the law. So far 49 sheriffs have settled, so that 29 are yet to be heard from It was expected and pre- dicted that the January collections would reach $1,000,000. but in view of the fact that 49 counties have paid in less than half million dollars. there is small hope that the remaining counties will make up the million.
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