In the construction of any building, highway, road, bridge, or other public work or improvement by the State of Mississippi or any of its political subdivisions or municipalities, only materials grown, produced, prepared, made and/or manufactured within the State of Mississippi should be used. Paint, varnish and lacquer shall be used which shall contain as vehicles tung oil and either ester gum or modified resin (with rosin as the principal base of constituents), and turpentine shall be used as solvent or thinner, all of which said products shall be produced in Mississippi. However, preference shall not be given to materials grown, produced, prepared, made and/or manufactured in the State of Mississippi when other materials of like quality produced without the State of Mississippi may be purchased or secured at less cost, or any other materials of better quality produced without the State of Mississippi can be secured at a reasonable cost.

The duty is hereby enjoined upon all public officers or bodies having the right to contract for the purchase of materials for any such public work to be paid for by the State of Mississippi or any of its political subdivisions or municipalities to faithfully observe the provisions of this section.

All contracts hereafter let to any person, firm or corporation for the construction or doing of any public work shall contain a provision enjoining a like duty upon the contractor with respect to the purchase of materials as would have rested upon the public officer or body letting the contract had he or it done the work and purchased the materials.

Nothing herein shall in any manner apply to any public work or improvement which will be paid for either in whole or in part by funds contributed either directly or indirectly by the United States.

This section is declaratory of public policy of the State of Mississippi.

The boards of supervisors of the State of Mississippi are hereby enjoined, in the letting of contracts in pursuance to Section 65-9-19, to use any and all low gravity oil from the various oil fields in this state in the construction, maintenance, and upkeep of the rural roads, and to faithfully observe the provisions hereof.