Oxford eagle., 1916-06-15
MISSISSIPPI SOLONS
AND THE FARMERS
D, Herman J. s.,.rh ia Time. -Pie.yun,.

By Herman j. sstsrih ia Times PiesYune.
Commissioner of Agriculture
/ II. +. Blakeslee, Of the great state
of Mississippi, has come through
| his periodical tussle with session
of the General Assembly, and
seems content To declare the
/ honors even and the battle a draw.
The two main measures in the
direct interest of agriculture
which were enacted were the
statewide compulsory tick eradi-
cation law and the appropriation
for two lime crushing plants.
Commissioner Blakeslee opposed
the tick act, but he says that the
law is supreme and it will be en-
forced. so that the commonwealth
will be entirely free of the incubus
upon her cattle industry inside of
three years. He realized that the
tick must go if prosperity was to
come, he has been fighting hard
for the cause, and he only disput-
ed the measures wisdom because
| the counties have been doing so
well under the old plan. He
thought victory could be achieved
almost as soon under the local
option system, for the retrogres-
sive element was far in the minori-
ty in all but a dozen counties. He
is not at all lukewarm in the new
order because he did not have his
way and appeals for cooperation
among all the people to drive
every tick out of Mississippi. The
lime plants he halls as great
advance and as crowning the per-
sistent advocacy of eight years.
Mississippi has natural limestone
quarries and all her lands need
lime. Two years ago the Legis-
lature passed the act which would
facilitate taking advantage of the
natural gift but the appropriation
measure failed. This year mea-
sure and money both were forth
looming and the dream of the sol
enrichers will be realized. The
farmers will get their supply al
cost to the state. The quarries
will be operated by conyicts and il
i calculated that the ouside figure
that will have TO be charged viii
be sixty cents ton. The State
Railroad Commission has alread,
acted IN the farmers interests in
the matter and has fixed the rats
which the railroads may charge
for hauling the crushed stone u
the farm As half cent per TOT
per mile. The farmer who live,
a hundred miles from quarry
will only have To pay sl.I0 pei
ton delivered at his station, which
IS as cheap if not cheaper than the
cost anywhere in the country.
Another splendid advance step
was the creation Of a good roads
department. Mr.. Blakeslee had
recommended the addition of a
highway engineer to his forces.
bat admits that the ee;sss.tts ;;sss..r !. t..
bureau is better, and that his own
suggestion was born of the fear
that the Legislature would not
provide the larger facility. He
nov tenders cheerful cooperation
To the good men who have been
appointed.
- much for the right and
bright side Of the ledger. The
commissioner does not hesitate Ia
point out that there are matters
urged for the benefit of the farm
ers which the Legislature failed
To pas, and he believes that the
lawmakers made a mistake in that
regard. One was the refusal Ia
provide for coal oil inspection.
Most Of the farmers are barred
from electricity and gas and must
depend upon the oil and they are
entitled To all possible guarantee
that the supply they are compeIl-
ed to Use IS good and safe. There
Is even nothing 10 prevent the
shipping in Of oil rejected by
lolher states. He has been max
] tr.r 81. .