The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1915-12-16


public schools of West Point, Miss
April 6, 1915.
, First to have a great highway built
| through the state by the War Depart
Jacksons Military Road"-ac-
cording to act of Congress passed
April I, 1916 Road completed in
1920.
First to establish state farms, to be
worked by convicts under state super
vision, thus protecting society against
criminals, at the same time inf1ictine
humane punishment.
First to have the name of one of her
citizens carved on tablet on famous
bridge-name of Jefferson Davis on
Cabin John Bridge, between Washing.
ton and Georgetown-built while he
was Secretary of War. 1851
First to provide for abolition of
Ubiquitous system of leasing convicts
i-proyided for by her constitution of
1890 d. 4. George, Mississippis great
constitutional lawyer leaving his du-
ties in United States Senate to frame
this constitution
First 10 advocate the establishment
| OF quarantine system TO prevent
spread of yellow fever-Dr. John W
Monette. of Washington, Miss, 1925.
First TO institute quarantine against
places infected with yellow fever
NatcheZ, 1S41
First TO establish an institution for
the blind-1S4S
First to establish an institution for
the deaf and dumb-lS54.
! First TO organize a State Bar Asso-
ciation-1S54
First to have Hall of F'ame-1903
J Firsc to place the portrait of pri-
vate soldier of the Confederacy in its
Hall of Fame
| First to legislate against dueling-
1887.
! First lead ever mined in Mississippi.
| First TO organize society for the
suppression of gambling-At Natchez
! in 1888; its president was John A.
Quitman
| First to furnish iron cast in her own
fOundrleS for erection of a large cast
, iron structure-"The Moresque Build
ing on Camp street, New Orleans.
erected in 1858, during the admins
| tration of Governor Melville The
iron was cast at the foundry at Holly
Springs, Miss. This building may yet
be seen
First TO have a financial scheme of
international fame-"The Mississippi
Bubble organized in 171S by one
John Law, backed by France, and for
time its success was the wonder of the
world This Bubble was blown up in
France and burst in Mississippi.
First to have a provisional Cover
nor appointed by Federal executive au-
thority-Judge W L. Sharkey. ap-
pointed by President Andrew John.
son, May. 1863
First to have Black and Tan Con
yention january 6, 1868. at Jack
son, Miss. A motely assemblage.
composed largely of carpet-baggers,
scalawags and negroes.
First to solve the problem of white
supremacy by law-The Constitution
of 1890 DISTINGUISHING the ignorant of
both races and placed state control in |
the hands of intelligent citizens.
First to have levee system-Act
Of Congress, September 2S, 1859,
First to abolish Imprisonment for
debt-January %, 1924.
First to introduce Bermuda grass
1906.
First to convert an old Indian trail .
into a famous road-"The Natchez
Trace established 1902, connecting
Natchez and Nashville, Tenn.
FIRST woman author of note-Rose
Jeffrey of Natchez, Miss, 1928.
First to remove the common law
disabilities of married women-Act
passed February Is, 1899.
First to apply the principles of pop
Gal. FOUR
ular government TO the judiciary
Constitution of 1892 provided that all /
judicial officers OF the state should be
elected by the people.
First to collect and classify its
archives-Great work of DR.. Dunbar
Rowland, director of this department.
who secured all transcripts of docu-
ments relating to the state from Amer
lean and European sources
First to suggest the preparation of
rosters of Confederate and Union SOL
diers-Bill introduced in Congress by
Senator A. j. McLaurin. 1903, This |,