The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1917-08-04
A NEEDED LESSON.

with the clouds OF war looming darKIy OVcl
the country; with plots and counter plots against
the peace of our people; with food disturbances
in the large cities; and with the price booster
stalking abroad in the land, truly it is a time
when the sober sense of the American peoll lie
should be called into use.
But we are unlike any other people on the
globe. There seems to be something in the very
air we breathe that makes for a different out
look on life from that of any other country. No
other land can vie with US in the ~vastness of its
resources. The increase in our national wealth
during the last two decades would make Croesus
appear a piker, and beside our own magnifcence
the glories of Solomon are as the moon light to
the radiant orb of day. Our strength and our
resources are boundless and limitless.
But because of these very facts we find our
selves as a people standing on the very brink of
national disaster.
We are the most confidently careless people
on earth hence find ourselves now engaged in a
gigantic conflict and lamentably unprepared for
the task before US. What boots us that our re-
sources in men and material are so. vast? Those
resources as are the latent heat of the coal-un-
developed and unmobilized. A strenuous cam
paign of preparation is on, but the one absolutely
essential element-time-is in a great measure
denied US.
Then we are the most magnifcently wasteful
people in the world. Beside our national extrav-
agance the ~prodigality of kings is as pinching
be our undoing. Having by our own royal ex-
travagance consumed much, and by shipment
from the country consumed much more, we find
ourselves facing a demand for unlimited supplies
and with practically empty storehouses. What
matters it that other crops may be raised? That
same element-time-may be denied US ere the
~insistent demand is upon us.
The remedy? Several.
In the first place, export nothing that is urg-
emily needed in this country. But perhaps you
say that the European nations must be fed.
Granted, but are we under obligations to feed them
and let our own people suffer for food? And was
it by any act of ours that the bulk Of their men
are now fighting when they should be at peace
and producing? 1t is we'll to care for our allies
to the limit of possibilities, but our own interests
must take precedence.
Next, get after the price booster. If there is
any particular class of humans-if such they can
be called-to whom prison garb would be actually
becoming, is these gentry. Without mercy them
selves, they deserve none; without pity, they can
expect none. Void even of a sense of justice, they
should have melted out to them the Justice of ian
eye for an eye and a tooth for tooth"
\ Then let America go to work in earnest-work
with the soil. Let US not be satisfied with in
creased crops this season, but let US plan for even
greater increases for years to come, in order that
the nations of the earth may be fed and we still
have enough left for our consumption.
And when we produce it, let us conserve it
and not waste it.
If the experiences through which we are pass
ing shall have the effect of teaching US a rational
economy they will be well worth the price. It is a
lesson e need and should heed.
"a M n N b IA IA
DRAINAGE IN THE YAZOO DELTA.
In an extended article concerning drainage
being done in the Yazoo Delta, with splendid cuts
of canals and dredges in operation, the Manufac-
turers Record of July 26th says amongst other
things concerning the wonderful fertility of the
soil and the great benefits derived from proper
drainage that
"The price of lands in the Yazoo delta are ia,
below the normal value of lands in the United
States. The soil is as fertile as any in the world
The land in the corn belt of the Middle West
which is no more fertile, varies in price from $500
to $3.50 per acre and rents for Sc to SO per acre
In the cotton belt cleared lands that are valued
from $50 to 800 per acre rent for from SO to
SIP per acre. It is a known fact that these lands
produce more valuable crops than the lands in
the corn belt. There is no doubt that they will
, ultimately sell at a higher price than lands ir
the corn belt. Delta lands in Holland sell TO,
between 5000 and $1,000 per acre, and i nthe Valley
of the Nile from $500 to $3.50 per acre. The popu
t lation of the delta lands of the Mississippi River il
, Sc per square mile; in Holland, 400; in the Yang
tsze Valley, in China, 400; in the Valley of the
Nile, about $40. With equal fertile lands in thu
delta of the Mississippi River, there is no reasor
: why the population should not increase many
fold, and why the lands should not ultimately sell
for $500 to $500 per acre.,
J, There is no question about it. the owner OF