Birmingham state herald., 1896-03-01

fusion passed away and for the last three or four years, we are glad to say, mucn progress has been made in the direction of agriculture. A few years ago about nine tenths of the vegetables consumed in Birmingham were shipped here from Florida and south Alabama. Today more than half is brought in from the gardens and farms around the city. This Is as It should be, gratifying improvement, but we hope for still greater production in tho near future. With each interest aid ing and sustaining the other our city and country will both prosper
 We have in Birmingham every advant- age of building a great c.ty. Our ropuia- tion is estimated to be about J3,O00, ana peonle are coming here evrey day. TWO years ago vacant houses were numerous. At that time my firm, as agents, had on our list as many as thirty vacant houses and several unoccupied store houses. TO- day, with a larger rental list. we have vacant only one small dwelling ana not single store room.
 As a result of the panic Of 1895, ana there being so many vacant houses on hand our rents, which had preVlously been too high, dropped down to such low price as would not induce any one 10 ln- vest in real estate. The collapse came as a natural consequence of speculation, fictitious values and depressed condl- tion of business all over the country. Now business has revived very much,
  ment in real estate. This is no exeep- tonal instance. The experience of other. portions of the United States having demonstrated the fact that real estate is the last interest to improve after panic and general depression Some property in the city of Birmingham and suburbs can today be purchased for one fifth or less of what 1t sold for during the boom. Indeed, a large number of lots in a desira ble addition to Birmingham can he bought at $50 each, which sold as high as $1500 each during the period of high prices. Farm lands have not depre- ciated quite so much in proportion to these town lots, never having reached such high prices, but prices are so low now that rare opportunity is presented for investment, not only Immediately around Birmingham, but all over the mineral district of Ala bama, where we have home market for everything. The people who are engaged in manufacturing and mining are the buyers and consum- CTS.
 Our climate is unsurpassed, soil rich and produces corn, cotton peas, pota- toes oats wheat, tobacco, vegetables and semitropical fruits. Desirable lands sit uated a few miles away from Birming- ham, on or near one of our numerous railroads, can be purchased at prices ranging from $4 to $10 per acre. Lands very close to the city are held for bet ter price, as a matter of course, but some of these choicest lands, close to the city can be bought at astonishingly low prices.
 What we need is immigration and money to develop and improve what na- ture has done for us. Farmers in the north and northwest certainly do not un- derstand our situation, or they would come down In great numbers and settle on these desirable lands while they can be procured so cheap. We are told that they are prejudiced against our country, being under the erroneous impression that we have a sc<ly country and that the negro is in the way. It seems strange that they are not better advised. There Is no healthier or more Adelightfully watered country on earth than north Alabama. We have few negroes, but the majority of the population is white, law-abiding people, who stand with out stretched hand of welcome to our north- ern friends who will come and share in making this one of the most prosperous countries in the world. We want them to come not to speculate, but to improve and build up this section and reap heir own reward.