The Charlotte Democrat., 1897-04-08
INDUSTRIAL AGENTS.
SECOND CONVENTION MET HERE
THIS MORNING.
Chief Industrial Agent Patrick Makes
a Practical Address Full of Useful
Suggestions.-Mr. Phenis Speaks
Tonight.


Tonight.
The second convention of the in
dustrial agents Of the Seaboard Air
Line met at the city hall Yesterday
at 1920 o'clock. The atten-
dance is very large, nearly all the
agents of the different towns along
the system being present.
Col. John J. Dyer, of Handsom's,
Va, was made chairman, and called
the meeting to order.
Mr. John T. Patrick, of Pine
Bluff, chief industrial agent of the
Seaboard, made the opening address.
He referred to the first meeting of
the agents at Southern Pines sixty
days ago, and he reviewed the work
accomplished since the former meet
ing. "The success of our work has
been far beyond what was looked
for. Individually some of the agents
express themselves as not being salts
fed with the work accomplished,
but the work taken, as whole, col
lectively, shows great deal has been
done. A number have formed CO
operative associations, and have Sc
cured the assistance of their towns
people in the work Of beautifying
their homes and communities. Many
trees have been planted along the
streets, so that they present great
contrast to their former neglected
condition. This is an object lesson
that will have its effect ON travellers.
Every shade tlee set out is worth 81
in the effect produced, and 10000
trees have been set out in the last
sixty days; and if nothing else has
been done good work has been ac-
complished
"The system is now having planted
attractive flower gardeus at each
station along the line; about fifty
stations have already been improved;
and the former unsightly grounds
will be beautifed.
'Eack small town should set apart
ten or twenty acres as a park; don't
wait until you get to be a city; land
costs too much then. This will
make an excellent picnic ground;
croquet and tennis grounds should
be provided and swings put up, and
this will soon develop into pleasure
ground. Have a special day in
which the country people and town
people will join, and mingle in
social intercourse. This would
result in increased business to the
town.
Il want all the unsightly weather
boarded houses along the line that
cannot be painted, whitewashed; we
want to have a general roundup the
fourth of July, by which time all
these buildings should be painted or
whitewashed." Mr.. Patrick said the
industrial agents should cooperate
with the farmers in the matter of
road improvement, and suggests
that the farmers work the roads one
day more in each month than they
are required Dy law.
He wants strip of clover and
grass some ten or fifteen feet wide
to be planted along the rightof way.
Farmers will be assisted by the
company in improving the land,
and may retain the produce.
He suggests that nut bearing
trees be planted on the streets; and
pecan trees will be sent out to agents.
He advocated the formation Of
children's leagues in the various
places, enlisting the children in the
work of town improvement
He said our money should be
kept at home by patronizing home
industries Patronize your home
papers; the more patronage they get,
the better service they are able to
give you, and the more they advertise
your town.
Don't expect the editor to do
everything free; keep a standing
write up in your home paper; let
each subscriber when he finishes
with his local paper mark some
special item in it, and send it every
week to some one person he may
select in the Northern States who is
thinking of coming South; and let
him write personal letter calling
attention to the paper and the town.
This will have more effect than all
the scattering literature you may
send out
The Seaboard has already estab-
1ished % of the 100 projected ex-
pertinent farms, on which have been
planted over 100000 fruit trees and
fruit bearing shrubs. $4,000 packages
of seed have been distributed, and
when the fruit season comes in there
will be travelling school of instruc-
tionto show the methods of can
ming, evaporating, picking, preserv-
ing and making jams and fruit but
ter by actual process. Ladies skilled
in this work will 60 along as teach
ers. The object of this is to show
our country people what they can
do on their own farms.
A road machine with full equip
ment is to travel at the same time
and show the improved methods of
making roads.
"If all these things are produced at
home it will withdraw a con-
siderable revenue that the Seaboard
now derives from freight or this
class of goods. But the manage
ment is not so selfish or short sighted
as to hesitate on that account. All
this will come back to us in another
way when the country is built u
and prosperous.
Addresses were also delivered by J.
K Hill, of Maxton; and by DR.
| Rrioht nf EIlauh horo Who oYnitad