The age-herald., 1901-06-20
SECRETARY HESTER
 ON COTTON CENSUS

concerning the general agricultural re- reports for the entire country MT. Powers took me through the bureau of agriculture of the census office and per mitted me to observe the twelve hundred clerks busily engaged in tabulating the reports from every county in the United States The methods employed insure re- markable results in thoroughness of de- tall The twelve hundred employees now at work are in contrast to the three hun dred or four hundred heretofore employed in similar work That fact will give a general idea of the great work the govern ment is doing for agriculture
 And found equally admirable methods employed and a correspondingly ample force at work under MT. North In the bureau of manufactures.
 "I consider my visit to Superintendent Merriam and his assistants to have been in the highest degree satisfactory. My main purpose, as 1 have said, was to en- deavor to hasten the publication of tho figures on cotton acreage, and these we shall have In November. But the other information 1 obtained and which have given you is of the highest importance, not only to the South, but to the entire country. It pleases me to give 1t all to you for publication, for the information is of great moment to all the people,"
 AS to Petroleum Discoveries. l p Asked if he would express an opinion as to the probable effect of the Texas petroleum discoveries on the cotton in- dustry, Secretary Hester said:
 "If the present promises as to oil hold good. 1t will give very great advantage to cotton manufacturing in the South. It will mean a new Impetus to the marvel ous material development now in pro gress in the southern States, and all sections of the South will be benefited, Just as the Birmingham mineral develop ment has benefited all.
 Believe me, the South Is absolutely | certain to be within few years the great centre of American industry-the real home of the greatest American pros perity Much as has been done, wonder | full as has been our progress, the South is yet in the simple infancy of It's as- sured greatness the mere beginning of it's surpassing material wealth.
 During the next twenty years the de- velopment of the South will be greater than in all It's previous history Within that time the South will be manufactur- ing the overwhelming bulk of cotton goods produced on this side of the At | lantic There need not be any doubt as to this-there isn't any doubt in en- frightened minds.
 ''The certainties of the south's near fu- ture stagger mere imagination | thought Texas oil would handicap the Alabama coal industry.
 "No-I can't imagine anything that could seriously handicap your coal indus l try! Possibly oil may in a way slightly confuse for a short time your coal trade, and I am informed that 1t Is believed to have already had some trifiing effect. But that does not call for serious con cern.
 There Is room enough and to spare for all Alabama coal and all Texas oil. The world Is the Souths market. the field for southern industrial and trade enterprise, and we shall find customers for all the coal and oil that we can offer.
 Louisiana sugar planters may, and I am informed they will. substitute Texas oil for Alabama coal, but that won't be 1 drop in the ocean in view of coming developments Birmingham will find oth- CT customers for her coal to take the place of the Louisiana planters.
 NO; Texas oil is no menace to Ala bama coal, so far as l can see.
 VIII Command Worlds Markets.
 When the Warrior river is finally op- ened, Birmingham will command the worlds markets in coal and pig iron, as well as In some of the products of pig iron. By that time New Orleans will l have fully completed its lake canal, gfv- ing an inland water route from New Or leans to within some twenty and odd | miles of Birmingham, and I wish to say just here that New Orleans Is eager to meet Birmingham more than half way in building up vast trade between the | two cities.
 "By the water route, cotton and pig iron from the Birmingham territory can be transported and delivered at the ships side in New Orleans at incredibly low l freight rates-somethng like B cents a ton on iron, I am informed. Can't every man comprehend what that means to Birmingham!
 Splendid Birmingham It is marvel amongst cities, the most remarkable of whcih I have any knowledge. It's pros perfty, It's growth, It's far-reaching devel- opment, are practically without parallel in the history of new cities.
 "Yet Birmingham has scarcely begun to grow That its near future will be splendid Is as certain as the near years shall come. It is but little village now compared to what 1t will be ten years hence, and it's progress of even the next five years will he so great that 1t will startle your own people
 'I shouldn't be surprised if early devel- opments will demonstrate that Brming- ham is built above an .inexhaustible store of oil. I shouldn't be surprised at any good thing that might come to Birming- ham. for if ever fortune smiled upon a city 1t is now smiling upon splendid Birm- 1 ingham."