Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1909-04-14

KIlfItEMI M rate between the United States an,
AIIlIEIU INA Great Britain went into effect she car
ll 81 Ill red many thousands Of letters to people
NflN RN llI this side of the Atlantic thres-fourths
III It-tH&3IIlL which were prepaid at the old 5cen
II II LSGGNN rate. when they might have gone for
VI lasTSAE9 cents The advent Of cheaper nterna
n -<gfU tionaI postage had been widely herald
II d. and it was thought that not D the United King
ON had missed the notification that the postal rate the
Unit d States had been reduced to cents ounce.
N tain that the English writers who have correspond
NJ IN America are people OF more than average ntelli
Yer e. but this did not save them from paying literally
wel the tremendous toll that ignorance takes from the
Neople Of all nations says Frederic j. Haskin.
Who is there that tell even approximately how much
contributes to the vast expenses OF running the United
ates governme lew people know that it costs
1000000000 year keep things going. but only once
b great while will you meet who give you
ny idea Of his contribution the fund.- Every time man
uys suit Of clothes made Of English cloth he pays
ain percentage to the operating expenses Of the
bent Did everybody get an itemzed statement OF cos
18th everything they buy. showing Just how much duty
here was on it. they would feel little personal in
hest in the big expenditures OF the and more
sAnical methods might be introduced in Uncle Sam
n hold
scaling down Of appropriations amounting to only
cent, and extravaganza costs the people than
h. would save them $500O000O year, enough to
every deep waterway in the United States in ten years
every man could look at the annual bion-dolar appro
iaon and know just what part OF it he would have to
onrbue, is safe to say that congress would be called
pom to practice reasonable economy in its administration
the affairs Of the big federal household.
Even closer home than the federal treasury there is
norance the part OF most people to how muchhe
contributing to the support Of the government and the
az their contributions are spent Ii is said that over
per cent OF the people can tell the the city
uny which they happen to lye his applies to the
If
merican Civic Association was recently invited to ad-
ess meeting OF taxpayers OF certain progressive
y behalf OF extended programme OF city improve.
ent When he arrived at the citys gates he met by
lelegaon from whom he aeked information about the
rate the Indebtedness, and the taxable values Of the
y. The nearest any member OF the delegation could
me to giving him the desired information that the
y very wealthy per capita has 10000 inhabtants and
III have many more in ten years.. The civic association
cial told them they need not be embarrassed not
ing abe answer his question, but that they no
rse off in that respect than other allegations had proved
be Yet these were the towns progressive citizens.
ho might have been supposed to know.
Competent authorities estimate that the animal unneces-
~ waste on the railroads Of the United States amounts
Anore than S300000000. Even that amount represents
earning power Of $5000000000 put on interest at S
cent Most OF this waste is contributed to the ignor-
ce and carelessness Of the stream Of foreign labor
into the United Staes to take the place OF American
road service other industry. +. H. Hartman
begun crusade against leaks on the big systems he
,tros and is spending millions Of dollars to few
ats here and there. He is working to standardze the
ire equipment in order eliminate the big expense Of
exchanging it and stop the waste OF repair shop bills
is authoritatively stated that than $lO0O0000O
ear right be saved to the people OF the United States
the substitutes OF producer-gas power tor steam
ere it could be done conveniently Yet the lack Of
wledge OF its proven advantages responsible for the
tnued installation OF steam power plants and
continued use in old ones is estimated that lacto
( requiring 600 horsepower can be operated tor $4,000
ear less when producer gas is used than when steam
yer is relied is further stated that 6000.horse
ker factory be operated at annual saving Of
900 by the use OF producer gas. Yet even this ad.
taQe is as nothing when compared with that which
hit accrue from general and proper appreciation Of
relative and ultimate cheapness Of water power as
ppared with all other kinds
he United States has engines with power equivalent
hat Of 26000000 horses Yet government invesrat-
declare that water wheels might be made to take the
e Of IS go per cent Of these, and that the simple
zaton Of the power OF the rivers would effect saving
ntold millions to the people. These investigators de.
that there are no insurmountabe obstacles in the
Of such conversion from steam to water power. The
cost would be greater but operating expenses infn-
less the saving being sufficient to pay least 80 per
on the investment.
Ack Of proper perception Of the advantages Of good
is anothe. costly ignorance the part Of the pub
The postolce department has made an estimate Of
Il could save it had good roads its mail routes
ehout The United States. It is figured that every
road in The United States made good road il
reduce its operating expenses S6.792O00 year.
n ii is considered that less than onehalf Of the roads
United States post roads, and that the travel Of
nail carriers does not amount to per cent Of the
on The majority Of our highways one will begin to
low much the lack Of information on the god roads
ion IS costing the people II the mud tax Of the post
department amounts TO nearly 100000 year, it is