The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-11-20
LOOKING TOWARD THE SOUTH.
Was the Natural Place for American
 Home Seekers.
 BY ALLAN NICHnV aON

<AAA<AN NAShOLSONS
 Yes, the people of the entire coun- try are now lookink toward the South and the immigration movement that has set in can never be stopped"
 The speaker was Col. M. V. Rich ards.
 Do you know him?
 He is a man of fine physique, about six feet tall In spite of his arduous duties. his face shows that heenjoys life and health, as we'll as work. In conversation 1t soon becomes apparent what a wonderful knowledge he has of everything pertaining to this great Southland-her soil. her climate, her mineral resources, her water powers, the advantages she offers to manufac- turers, to home seekers-all these he has at his finger tips And when you see him slightly close his eyes, purse his lips, and drive his right fist into the palm of his other hand. you may know he has scored a point, not so much in eloquence, though he is fluent speaker. as in impressing a truth, plain. practical reality
 The very evident spirit O fsincerity is one of the keynotes to Col Rich srds's success as Land and Industrial Agent of the Southern railway, for, as he says, he never tries to get a man to go into anything that will not be for his good. but when he knows 1t is for his good, then he is going to do all he can to convince him of 1t.
 Though born in Iowa, Col. Richards is by temperament Southerner his parents having moved from Virginia just short while before his birth. In way his whole life has been wrapped up in developing a new country, he having been in the real estate bust, ness with his father before going with the Baltimore and Ohio railway six teen years ago. when he organized the first Land and Industrial department ever operated In connection with a rail- road and for the past ten years, he has been at the head of the same depart- ment in the Southern railway. with headquarters at Washington, D. C.
 In the course of recent conversa- uon with the writer. he gave so many good suggestions that may be of value to dlHerent communities In the South that they are now reproduced in sub stance If not in exact words.
 Said Col Richards:
 You want to let the people of the North West know that kind of country you've got, and the best way to do 1t Is through your local paper Don't at tempt a special edition. They are all right in way, the pictures look pret- ty; but they are lots of trouble, and people who receive them realize they are Intended to make the best impress sion possible, even perhaps. at the sac rifce of truth
 Use just your ordinary issue. I can furnish you a list of the names of one or two thousand persons who have made inquiries about the South. Have first, say, special article on farming and farm lands Mark 1t with a blue pencil and mali the paper out. stamp ed marked copy The person who gets 1t may have d friend in the South some where, and will more than likely think it Is from him and will therefore read it. The next week publish an article say on stock raising. or investments, or educational facilities, or climatic advantages, and mail a copy each week to the same persons. the idea being tn impress upon them the name of your town and the resources you have, so that when they think of the South they will think of your place. But of one thing be carefud. If there hap pens to be a negro killing or any thing rather sensational, don't send your paper that week. for it will give the people a mad idea of your sec tion, especially when 1t concerns the