The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-08-28
Commission TALKS
ABOUT THE PLANS
Capitol Improvements Are Dis
cussed al Montgomery
lax VALUES INCREASE
Crop Reports Show That Rain Has
Done Much Damage In the Low
Lands-Report on Tai
Iadeea Books.
lax VALUES INCREASE
BY HERvEY W. LAIRD.

Montgomery, August 27.-(Special)-The
first meeting of the Alabama capitol COM
mission for several weeks was held in
the office of the governor this morning,
being called by Acting Governor Cunning
ham, to hear what had been done In the
matter of condemning property desired
by the commission for building and lawn
purposes. Attorney General Massey Will
son, who has had this matter In charge
for some time, reported that while no
papers had been filed, he had investi-
gated titles and had number of alb
stracts made, but had not yet satisfied
himself that he was well enough posted
to begin proceedings.
The following members of the commits
sion were present in the office OF the
governor this morning: Acting Governor
Cunningham, president of the commits
sion; secretary to the commission. Thomas
M. Owen State Auditor Thomas z.
Sowell; Attorney General Massey Wilson,
Secretary of State E. r. McDavid Treas
urer J. Craig Smith was the only mem
Der of the commission absent.
After reading the minutes of the last
meeting the governor asked IL Attorney
General Wilson had carried out the In
structions Of the commission In arrang-
ing for the condemnation OF certain prop
erty desired by the state for the pur-
poses of enlarging and remodeling the
capitol building and grounds.
Mr.. Wilson replied that he had gone
very deeply into the matter but not far
enough to justify the filing of condemna-
ton proceedings. 1t had been discovered
ua ri
the property that he was not quite salts
fled about. Some time had been spent in
looking these up and in further investiga-
ting possible claimants to the property.
lie had gotten along so well, however,
that he expected to be able to file papers
with the probate judge of Montgomery
county in a few days, seeking to have the
property regularly condemned to the use
of the state.
1t was also reported that some of the
property owners had made offers to sell
to the state but the commission decided
that none of these would be considered,
depending on the result of the condemna-
ton proceedings to point the best way to
proceed In the selecting of the property
There was an informal discussion of the
Improvements that have been suggested for
the capitol, and the talk of new buildings
that might be put up. The secretary was
instructed to proceed with his work Of
summarizing the needs of the various de-
partments and be able to report at later
The commission then adjourned snb-
ject to the call of the president.
Tax Values Increasing.
III the counties yet to be heard from
keep up the pace set by those which
/ have already reported the taxable value
] Alabama 10
least SlS'0OOOO0 in excess of what 1t was
last year. The likelihood is however
| that counties yet coming In will show
very much larger gains than those al
ready reporting. Out of twenty-one
counties which have sent In returns of
assessments only one, Morgan, has shown
a decrease. and this is accounted for by
the burning during the year of some val
liable saw mill property along the Ten
| nessee river.
These twenty-one counties are: Autau-
ga, Bullock Chiffon, Clarke, Crenshaw,
Escambia. Greene. Henry, Pickens, Sum
ter. Talladega, Tallapoosa, Dallas, Bald
win, Butler, Calhoun, Cleburne, Macon,
Mobile Morgan, Lasiderdale. All of these
except Mobile, Talladega, Calhoun, Laud-
erdale and Escambia may be classed as
strictly farming counties which get their
value altogether from the products of the
soil. Mobile is rich, of course, because of
its coast trade and large import and ex-
port business.
Lauderdale has some small factories
and one furnace, Calhoun two furnaces
and number of other iron making en-
terprises, while Talladega has a furnace
and number of cotton mills Escambia
has large number of lumber mills. Out
side OF these, however. the reporting
counties up to date are of that class
where the increase in value is a result
of the enhancement of worth of what
has been owned for many years, and not
what has been received from the out
side.
The total valuation of these twenty
one counties Is given at S107 091, lis, which
is an increase over the figures of last
year of s5,650.S7O. The average valuation
is $4,S92 4S7 and the average increase over
last year. $269,065. The maintenance of
this throughout the 67 counties (only 6
can be figured, as one was made last year
after the taxes were assessed) will give
an increased valuation for the state for
this year over last of $17,75S.290.
To Begin Soil Survey.
The determination of the government,
through the good work of the Hon. A. A.
Wiley, congressman from this district, to
make survey of the soil of Montgom-
cry, Wilcox and Pike counties, is a matter
of Importance to the farmers of Alabama,
and all who may want to come this way
to locate. w. f. McLendon, who is now
at Saginaw, Mich, will begin the survey
in Montgomery county October l. These
surveys are being made in many south
ern sections at this time, and are done
under scientific conditions. The soil is
carefully examined and its constituent
parts discovered. The temperature is
also taken and the amount of water to be
found all the time ascertained. After
thus determining 1t is classed by locali-
ties and registered so that man may
find out where is the soil he is DESTROYS
of securing For instance, If a man
wishes to find a place on which to raise
fruit, he will be able to locate 1t in a
section adapted to that class of product;
or he may find places Tor corn or grain
or what not, all of which illustrates how
valuable the survey can be made to all
who care to use it.
Crop Prospects.
Last Of the week reports from the va
rious sections of the state indicate that
cotton is really suffering in many places
because of rains. There has been al
most daily precipitation and the crops
of the low lands are cut off very much
The highlands have been more fortunate.
the water running off so fast that it had
not time to settle between the rows
and produce rust and rot to the low
hanging bolls.
State Commissioner of Agriculture
Poole being at the bedside of his brother,
who died ten days ago, had not time to
get out his monthly crop statement, is
sued on the 10TH 1t is known that he has,
however, in his office a great many let