The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-01-12
A srArr rArn Musr BE HELD.

 The farmers of Alabama should hold a State Agricultural and Live Stock Ex- hibition next fall in Montgomery.
 Every man interested, directly or in directly. in these great pursuits should give it his active aid and encouragement. The time is ripe for 1t. The agricultural interest is not prospecting as it should. There is no emulation, or cooperation among the farmers. We are far behind less favored States in the live stock, dairying and fruit-raising industries. We are not diversifying our crops and making our farms self-sustaining. The partial failure, of a cotton crop almost parafyses our energies and leaves us in prostrate condition.
 More than a million of the population of Alabama are engaged in agriculture, and nearly all of the remaining eight hundred thousand are vitaIIy interested in the success of this basic industry. The people of Montgomery, the rail- roads and the corporations generally will, no doubt, literally assist in making such an exhibition q success. And why should not all the people Hf the State who are actively interested in her welfare also give substantial aid and comfort to an effort to promote the agricultural inter- ests? When the farmer prospers. all other interests feel the quickening pulse l of activity.
 The Commissioner of Agriculture Sl,n .4 l,t ako
 The farmers pay into this office for the | treasury of Alabama perhaps a hundred thousand dollars per annum, which pri- | marily was intended for their sole bene- | fit. If five thousand dollars of this fund | can be used to make an exhibit of the miles from our borders, can not ten 1 thousand dollars be used to encourage, unify and stimulate our people at home? | The lethargy that enwraps this depart- ment of our State government should be shaken off, and it should lead in every to an active competition with more pro- gressive communities
 Exhibitions of the States resources are all right and proper in distant cities. but the surer way to build up our State is to show the world that we are a pros porous, progressive people, and are mak- ing money from our farms; that We are improving our lands. diversifying our crops, becoming not only self-sustaining, but exporting some of the necessaries of life. Then will the outsider want to come in. The immigrant will knock at our doors They will rush to a prosperous and progressive State. but will shun a people whose industries languish. The way to do this is to get the people to- gether to provoke the stimulus of rival ry, to show the doubters what can be done on Alabama soil, to bring the pro- ducers in annual contact stimulating their pride and teaching, by object les | sons. the possibilities of Alabama farm- | ing.
 Many less favored States hold State
 Fairs annually. Two have been held in | Georgia the past year, and farmers in- | stitutes are held in nearly every county
 sioner of Agriculture, who is supposed to
 look specially after the interests of the | farmers of the State, and to handle the
 immense sum paid by them into the
 treasury of the State, to lead the way tc
 organize, arrange and see that a great
 exhibition of the States resources is held
 not only this year, but every year.