Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1922-11-23
Board Seeks Cooperation by All
To Assist Business and Forestry

In connection with its declared pur-
pose to work for the promotion and
establishment of agricultural extern
sion, forestry, public health meas
ures, workmens compensation act
and good roads in the state, the Mis-
sissippi Development Board an
nounces that it also is endeavoring to
bring about a greater spirit OF coop
Grafton between all interests for the
common good and seeking remedies
looking to the safeguarding and the
growth of business and rural cond1-
lions within the state. Agricultural
and industrial expansion should keep
pace with the other.
The expansion of banker or mer.
chants business is limited by the gen.
eral expansion of the community in
which he does business. No commu-
nifty, however, can expand while the
back country or county in which It
is located is retrograding, and the
expansion of the county is limited by
the growth Of the state. Putting it
the other way, the state cannot grow
if the counties are retrograding, nor
IL G.
trial centers or communities are ret
regarding; hence no business, wheth-
er it be banking, mercantile or any
other line, can grow unless the com
munity, county and state in which 1t
is located is advancing. The inter-
ests of all are interlocked one with
the other and all must work together
for their own and the general well
fare.
In South Mississippi it is said that
IS per cent of the business is predi-
Gated on the lumber industry. The
lumber industry probably may pass
out within a shorter time than many
foresee. Intelligent reforestation
will partially take care of the some
what distant future, but Mississippi
provide diversified agriculture and
industrial expansion to care for the
labor now in the lumber industry.
Otherwise every line of business will
shrink accordingly.
When the Time Comes-What?
When and how the crisis will come
is debatable. The certainty of it ul-
timately is beyond question, unless
measures of avoidance are adopted.
The investors, both at home and
abroad. feel that the principal OBJ
struction to Mississippi's welfare Is
the lack of appreciation of the neces-
sity for more capital and the proper
protection of capital now invested in
the state. The small operators, par
ticularly the farmers, are wastefully
handicapped by too narrow opportu-
mites. only small part of which is
due to management, the principal diff
ficulties arising from the unthought-
ed failure of the larger business to
cooperate with the small operators
and farmers.
These conditions are very much ag-
gravated by the nervousness of CAPT.
tai, growing out OF restrictive and
repressive state policies Capital.
therefore, to an. alarming extent, is
disposed to emigrate, but is more will
ing still to stand by and help develop
the resources Of the state if assured
Of safe opportunities and the protec-
ton afforded in other states.
If Mississippi permits her capital
to escape and her vigor to decline, it
will be difficult to rally. The capital
which developed the states natural
resources in the past can and will
remain and other capital will come
II shielded from a destructive policy.
II the thinking Mississippi men and
women fail to grasp the nettle they
invite the midnight hour.
The cities and towns must realize
that the development Of their back
country will in turn accelerate the
communities development and the
farmers and other citizens must real
ize that capital, industries and bust.
ness enterprises and centers are es-
ssntial to their progress. Hence, |