The Chronicle-star combined with the Moss Point advertiser., 1946-04-19
BY EoLLE ROBERTS

the Jackson County All Rally pa
rade in the downtown section FRI
day afternoon realized what an
important group Of future citi-
Gems we're on the march. Virtu-
ally all Of the youngsters rang
ing in age from 10 to 20 years.
are natives Of the county and
the verp fact that they are en-
gagged in All Club work indi-
Gates that their roots have grown
deep here and that they are like
~ to stay in the county the rest
Of their lives.
A glance at the 253ear history
Of the organization in Jackson
county and a talk with those who
have been active III the work fol d
good portion of that time brings
the realization that on this group
viii fall the responsibility of
maintaining and improving the
rural sections Of the county which
has always been and is the back
bone Of our rea
During the history Of All Clubs
here, u%ncounted thousands of boys
and girls have been members dur
ing their formative years and no
one can ascertain the total bene
fits they have received. 1t is an
unquestionable fact, however, that
parents have learned from their
children and the standards Of
living of the entire county have
been raised immeasurablv BY this
club with its equal emphasis
placed on Head, Heart. Hand
and Health.
This newspaper commends
the Pascagoula-M o Point
Chamber of Commences Retail
Division for the interest they
showed in this first postwar
rally. The piacards they placed
in business houses 10 welcome
the group TO Iascagoula and the
ice cream they furnished for
desert at the pscnic lunch shows
foresight we Believe.
Pascagoula and Moss Point
are in the urenviable position
of being fer led in" by the
Gulf of Mexico on the south
and the metropolises of New
Orleans and Mobile in close
proximity on ire west and east.
10 say nothing of the smaller
cities in betwee l. We are there
fore deprived o. the large trade
area that would make cities of
our size farm trade centers. if
we were located in another sec
fion of the state.
A walk fhrou Oh any of the
grocery stores here indicates
plainly that we are unique in
Mississippi in hat we need a
Balance Industry With Agri-
culture" progr I'm. For the most
part. we ee1 meal from Chica-
90. butter from Wisconsin. to-
matoes from Florida. honey
from Iowa-all products that
can be grown equally well here
and bolster our income.
: While our people upstate are
rightly trying TO indusfrialize
TO balance their m crop agri-
cultural economy. if seems TO us
that we might we'll encourage
our people TO grow the products
tina they eat. at least TO the ex-
tent that is practical for our
soil and climate.
The Mississippi State Forestry
people were in the county agfieul-
tural office this week discussing
with County Agent A. j. Frank
lin the alarming rate that land
was burned in Jackson County
during the fire season that is just
coming to a close. Mr.. Frank
lin was OF the opinion that If
something in the way Of a con-
certed educational campaign was
not instituted, the whole county
would be burned over and millions
of dollars in damages done to
Young trees within the next few
years.
While the discussion was I'm
derway, Miss Ruth Cain, the Home
Demonstration Agent. suggested
Fire Prevention Month "a be
observed next September, which
IS Just before the grass gefs dry
enough to burn uneentrolably
She suggested women's clubs and
the Ill group combining forces
with all other interested organi-
cations to sponsor the months
education.
Mr.. Franklin said that Al
Club boys in Jackson county
planted 25,000 young pines list
year as projects and that private
individuals planted another 300,
600. But this effort at reHof
estation is wasted unless fires
can be controlled. he declared. tad
added that education is the only
answer.
As this column pointed ont
out last week, TIE penalty fer
setting fires may be as high as
six months in i2il and a fine Of
$500.
But we raedily agree with Mr..
Franklin that education IS tie
only measure. If the penalty MS
raised to 4 life term IN jail 1ni
the fine to a million dollars. there
would still be those who would