Birmingham state herald., 1896-10-08

ed to communicate with the commission CT of agriculture for Alabama. and re- quest him to make personal trip during the coming winter into the states of the northwest for the purpose Of adVefuslng the agricultural advantages of our state; and if such a trip can be arranged, then this association to take such steps as it deems advisable to prepare or to aid the honorable commissioner in preparing the proper and necessary descriptive Htera- ture to be used on the trip
 In support of the resolution MT. Camp bell said that the former trip through the west, to his knowledge, brought many immigrants to Alabama; that the previous trip was made at the wrong season of the year to accomplish the best results. If the agricultural com missioner would go himself in the bleak winter months when the mercury is at zero, when he can find the people housed up in their homes and distribute his lt- erature, showing the mild climate and advantages of the south the results can not be computed.
 Centennial Exhibit.
 Major Burke made the following report from the committee appointed by the chair to consider the matter of an eX- hibit at the Tennessee Centennial.
 Commercial Association of Alabama: To the President and Members of the
 Your committee appointed to consider the matter of an exhibit for the state of Alabama at the Nashville Centennial, beg leave to report that they deem it of great interest and of the highest import ance to our state that such exhibit should be made, and to that end we recommend that the president and sec retary of this association correspond with all local business organizations on this subject and also with boards of revenue, county commissioners and city officials throughout our state, @rging upon them the importance of securing exhibits from evtry locality in order to make a creditable state exhibit and to secure subscriptions for said purpose.
 We also recommend that the president and secretary consult and cooperate with the members of the commission ap- pointed by the governor to take this mat ter into consideration, and to take such other action as may be deemed advisable to successfully carry out the desired pur- pose. We further suggest hat the presi- dent may, in his discretion, appoint a committee of - to aid him in this work, if the association decides to attempt to have an exhibit at the Nashville Centen- nial.
 Your committee agree that 1t is most desirable that the great state of Ala bama should be represented on so import ant and interesting occasion and we think 1t would show a want of enterprise to fail in the undertaking.
 M. c. BURKE,
 Chairman Committee.
 Report adopted.
 Letter from the Governor.
 The secretary stated that he had re- ceived a letter from Governor Oates, in which the governor stated that the state could not permit any funds for the exhib- it. The association called for a reading of the governors letter. which is as fol- lows:
 Montgomery, Sept "A, 1S96 MT. W. J. Boles, Secretary, etc., Birming-
 ham, Ala
 My Dear Sir: have your notice of the meeting of the Commercial club and re- quest for me to attend the same. am indeed interested in the general develop ment and welfare of our state, but 1t would be out of the question for me to at tend the meeting of the club on account of my official engagements. Besides this, my term will expire, and my successor will be the main man to consider 1t. l have appointed a commission to act in the matter. which may help out, on which I have named John H. McCartin of your city, I wish you would see him, and if he does not care to attend give me the name of some one who will attend and make good member. There is no money in it from the state. Very truly yours,
 ''' ''' VIM. c. OATES.
 Major Anderson's Forcible Remarks.
 Mai. F. Y. Anderson, member of the commission appointed by the governor was called upon to explain the duties Of the commission. He said that he under stood 1t to mean that he was to aid in ar ranging a display for Alabama at the Tennessee Centennial, and expected to get part of the funds for the display from the amount set apart for the use of the commissioner of agriculture, and had he expected no funds would be forthcoming from that source he should not have acted on the commission
 It seems from the reading of the gov ernor's letter that the display will have to be maintained by public subscription, as was the case at the Atlanta exposition. Major Anderson continued by saying that Birmingham bore nearly all of the ex- penses for the Atlanta display, and thought that other sections of the state should now respond 1iberally to the Gen. tennial display. He suggested that the black belt of Alabama should take big interest in the display. That pjarticular section of Alabama needs advertising. It is one of the best sections of the state, notwithstanding which the citizenship are leaving the country and moving to the cities, leaving only negroes to work the best places. while good lands are al- lowed to go te waste for the lack of preservation and improvement The black belt of Alabama needs a white citi- zenship to reclaim her lands and protect her agricultural interest, and If properly put before the northwestern farmers they would be only too anxious to take ad- vantage of the opportunities here offered | Relative to sending an advertising cal | to the northwest. Major Anderson said | he did not think the previous trip accom- plshed much good. It went to the cite: l and towns. and did not reach the eias'