The Chronicle-star combined with the Moss Point advertiser., 1945-06-29
We Cant Give The State Away
IAN EDIToRIAL)

IAN EDITORIAL)
Developments in the case of the fragrant pollution of the
Pascagoula river by the Masonite plant at Laurel seemed to
be moving this week toward actual filing of charges against
this plant by the attorney general. Since this condition has
been going on for almost a decade, and since a specific state
law was passed in 1912 to prevent it, the attorney general ap-
parently had little choice but to yield to the weight of angered
public opinion ernanating from Jackson county and the other
counties whose river front and property values and country
side are being ruined, and to go ahead with actual prosecu-
ton. Attorney General Rice went on record with a public
statement in Jackson this week that he would call a meeting
of the district and county attorneys to draw up a plan of legal
action in the pollution case. The Chronicle-Star, reflecting
the public opinion of this area, intends to continue to focus
attention on this matter and upon all state officials who are
responsible for correcting this condition.
AS we study this case we begin to see that the people OF
Mississippi as a whole are faced with a serious obligation
of protecting their streams and their countryside The great
majority of us are firmly convinced of the need to bring in
dustrial plants into Mississippi to balance an agricultural
economy with some cash-money pay-rons. But along with
this zeal for industry must go our real concern for protecting
the natural resources Of our state.
There is hardly a wood or textile industrial process in
existence for which science has not designed methods of
waste treatment that will permit disposal without making
sinking canals of our rivers and killing all the fish. The
catch is that these processes cost a little money. But it is
little indeed when measured against the prosperity that
Mississippi raw materials and manpower and an official
cooperation enables these plants to earn in our state.
Furthermore, it is the direct legal responsibility of these
plants to take care of their waste. If a private individual
went into business and began to throw his sinking, poisonous
waste into another manufacturers back yard, he would be
hailed into court so fast it would make his head SWIM. Yet
this is exactly what is happening when the Masonite plant
up at Laurel ~consigns us every few months hundreds of tons
of polluted water and dead fish.
Does anyone doubt that Masonite has the money to
put in the necessary sludqe pits and treatment facilities to
stop this? That plant is making money in Mississippi
and its people receive better treatment here than they
know r. We have nesrd the opinion espresso. occasion.
ally that various plants had threatened to pack up and
move" if we bothered them about the little matter of pro-
tecting our countryside. Director Dearman of the Game
and Fish Commission tells US that many plants are getting
unreasonable about what they are demanding by way of
conservation exemption as the tribute for moving into
Mississippi and making money. One plant thinking of
locating in Jackson has recently asked that they be given
absolute freedom from the conservation laws for five
Years-along with tax exemption.
And we say that an outside company with such contempt
and disregard for our countryside and our living conditions
is not going to help us anyway. They are going to take just
as much as they can get, spend just as little as they can with
our local merchants and manufacturers, and send as much
as possible out of the state.
Our need is for plants that will respect the state that
treats them so Hospitality, and that have sufficient common
sense and business principle to send the necessary money foi
treating their wastes. If they have to hire some people to dig
sludge pits and erect treating plants, SO much the better
that means more employment for our people and more outlet
for our own products. I'VE are at the beginning of our indus.
trial history, and we must start on the right foot and insist
on these conservation measures, otherwise it will be forever
too late, and eventually the countryside that was handed to
us in trust will be turned into a smoky, foul-smelling area OF
barren hills and dead, lifeless canals. 1t is within the hands
of our elected state officials to permit this to happen. Their
record for prevention thus far is poor.
That is why it is of the utmost importance that we be-
come informed as to what is happening, and what choice lies
ahead of us, and that we demand of these officials that they
show the foresight and principle to protect our state. The
Chronicle-Star urges its readers to write to Governor Bailey
Attorney General Greek L. Rice, and Director w. F. Dearman
of the State Game and Fish Commission. 1t is within their
power to do something to stop the process of pollution
totally unnecessary-that is increasing every year on Missis-
lSippis rivers. 1t is the publics obligation to express its will
not to sit by moaning but doing nothing, while the thing hap
lpens before our eyes.
We want industries in Mississippi. We welcome them
with open arms. We give them a five-Year tax exemp-
ton. and where it seems advisable. we will give them a
plant. too. But we cannot give them Mississippi with a
little red fence around it because it is not ours to give;
it belongs equally to our forefathers and to our descen-
dants. and our own generation only holds it in trust. Co
operation is a two-waY process and these plants must
keep their part of the bargain. It would seem only a
matter of decencY that they do it without being required
to; but falling that. let US demand that our officers en-
force the law without alibis or hesitation.
been selected for the post but the rector will take over direction