The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1919-04-19
LET US THINK TWICE.

From official notice appearing
elsewhere in. this issue of The Echo,
and, according to the April proceed
ings of the Board of Supervisors,
which also appear in these columns,
it will be seen the Board has ordered
an election to be held jointly with
The special election for judge of the
Circuit court, Tuesday. May 9th to
determine whether or not the res
pective Offices of county farm agent
and home economic agent shall re-
main in force
Why the Board has seen fit to or
der such an election; why the Board
has seen fit to recognize occasion for
such action we know not. Neither
do we know of any pressure has been
brought to bear urging the Board to
take such action. But we do know
20 abolish Mr.. French's Office and
shat of Miss Cirlot would undoubtedly
be taking step backwards. 1t woul6
mean Hancock county was retro
grading, while other counties in til
State were forging to the front i
the employing of these agencie
which are designed and do develo
the agricultural and economic inter
ests of our people in their very homes
We may as well abolish the publi
schools, since they, too cost none.
to run; the Office Of county superin
tendent of education; the county at
torney the county printer, etc, etc
We might abolish the road system.
The plea is, as we understand, thai
our taxes have been advanced to al
extent, and the theor.
is, that retrenchment is the remedy.
But why retrench in this wise? The
county farm agent and the home eco
nomic home agent are vital forces
in our progress and onward march
They are institutions for the home.
They are essentially constructive
and compelling forces; builders OF
our forces, elements of construction.
In fact they produce more and give
Us more for the money expended thar,
any other agency in the category or
public work They form an integral
part of the very fabric of our civil
and economic government.
Again: Hancock county pays only
a share of their salary. The federal
government pays the balance. In
the administration of their work they
know neither location, section or peo-
pie. They work one and for all-all |
and for one purpose. Additionally:
they bear much of their own expense,
Both must get about and over the |
county They furnish and pay for
their own transportation. True they
burn much gasoline, as some one
nas discovered (?)-but they pay
for it all.
Theirs are the only Offices in tbs
county the federal government helps |
defray the cost of operation outside |
Of SPECIAL school work.
We note both Miss Cirlot and Mr.. |
French make monthly reports; these |
reports are published in the official |
journal. Their work is an open book. |
It is open to inspection. Our obser- |
yation has been that both are doing |
much, Notwithstanding the work is |
but recentl-- inaugurated and only |
ilric--Iil.e all educational and con-
structiye work-will and can deter |
nine its value.
With our timber fast cut away, |
md, as the u. S. government las re- |
Gently given the information out, &C
,ording TO the daily press reports, |
,nly a period OF ten years remain he
'ore all timber will have been cut |
.way. Not a theory but q stark |
,onJ;slon stares the people Of Han |
cock county. With all timber cut |
away nothing but the soil will remain
md to till it will be our only saliva
ion. We must embrace agriculture !
and it's kindred pursuits. To prepare
or that eventuality there is no better
ime than now. And the L. S. gov
,rnment and the county authorities |
nave shown much wisdom IN estab-
ishing the work which some are ap-
3arently eager to abolish.
While The Echo by no means is OF
he opinion that the present mcum-
,ents are are inefficient, have failed
% produce results or calue received |
.or the comparatively infiniteslmal
amount of money appropriated for
;alary-we say, if such should be
he case do not obolish the offices,
,ut cancel the contracts and get 9TH
n people in their stead. But by no |
means IeL Us no. ny IScooI W OH III
pulse for retrenchment or false I'M
preston vote out Of existence two OF |
he most important Offices IN our
scheme of public economy.
It must not be done and we feel it
will be not.
,er of the northwest quarter and a |
strip containing five acres, more or
ess, extending north and south along |
he entire eastern line of the north |
west quarter of the northeast quar-