Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1916-10-05
SIGNAL SOUNDED ON
CANAL
K A@&H
FOR THE EXPLOITATION OF MIC.
slssIPPPs GREAT NATURAL
RESOURCES.
NO BETTER WAY TO PURPOSE
MlssissIppPs Centennial Exposition To
Be Held at Gulfport-AvtomatleaI;
Iy Becoming the Gateway to
the Orient.

Mississippi's seaport city automai
ically becoming the gateway to thu
Orient by the opening of the Panam,
Canal, the completion Of that gigantic
project would seem just the propeI
signal for a worldwide exposition O
this States great natural resources
Far too long has one Of the most Law
ishly endowed commonwealth in tn,
universe been known as lumber state
to the exclusion of other more perma
nent advantages. Now it is, full time
for recognition along more extended
lines.
The Southern counties of Mississfp
pi, if fully cultivated, might furnish
the world with canned vegetables and
fruits; the Delta's cotton. output, il
manufactured at home for export by
way Of the Canal, would give that fer,
tile region millionaire population
such as would make Wall Street seem
poor, by comparison; while the lime
land section in the northern and east
ern counties, teeming with the sweet
melilotus, might feed hungry CONT
.nent on beef and packing house prod
ucts. A growing sheep raising indus
try would add wool and suet to the
commercial output.
This and much more of possibility
is Mississippi's God-given wealth
which needs only adequate capital and
citizenship to develop.
A good business man advertises for
what he needs, and the wise business
heads who dominate affairs in Mis-
sissippi have chosen mammoth Cen
tennial Exposition as the advertise
ment best calculated to bring to this
State recognition from the right peo-
pie, who are needed here to help build
up the empire State Of the South and
the great manufacturing emporium Of
South Sea trade. Here in one we'll
chosen spot may the countless thou
sands be shown all fair Mississippi
has to offer. Cotton of the finest tex,
ture in the world; fruits, vegetables
and berries which command fancy
prices on Northern and Eastern mar.
kets; poultry that has never been ex-
celled anywhere; hogs that are worth
almost their weight in gold the best
beef cattle in the world; strong young
mules bred here in this State. Here
also may they learn of the tremendous
lumber industry and of the two thriv-
ing seaports through which Mississip.
pi exports more lumber than any other
State in the Union. Capital will be
quick TO see the enormous advantages
lying open for manufacturing enter
prices whereby all these prod !
lcts may be shaped for human
use at home at minimum cost
II manufacture and sent out |
through the Mississippi ports by way
Of the Canal for barter in Oriental
markets, thus putting an end to the
present wasteful policy by which Mis-
;issippi is selling the raw product to
outside manufacturers who reap all
he profits of commercial industry.
These outsiders are now sending out
III over the world the finished goods
which eventually get back down South
nd are bought by Mississippians for
n exorbitant price of which the re-
ailer, the jobber, the manufacturer
nd all their cohorts of agents each
ets fair slice.
Mississippi products for Mississip-
4, and Mississippi for Mississippians
yill soon be the slogan sounded from
Yellow Rabbit to Vinegar Bend"
nth warm welcome and free share
statehood for every new settler
Tho would enjoy the privilege of
art in the upbuilding of sovereign
tate that is foreordained to be the J
,ading commonwealth in the greatest
alton of the universe. Such is the
rimary purpose of the Centennial Ex-
osition.
No section Of the State, that wills,
Q it ever so remote, can miss it's
hare. The Nation, State, counties,
nd municipalities, are banding to-
ether in a supreme effort on this one
nndredth anniversary that will prove
4 eye-opener to our own people and
revelation to those from other sec
ons Of the country.