The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-05-24
A. C. FORBES CALLED TO HEAD
 OF COMMERCIAL ASSOCIATION
President Rice Did Not
 Stand Again.
Reports of Committees to Annual Meeting show Progress and Prosperity on Every Hand
 For Montgomery.

A. c. Forbes was last night at the annual meeting of the Commercial and Industrial Association of Montgomery chosen President of that body to suc- ceed Alex Rice, who for four years has been at the head of the organiza- tion.
 The meeting last night was one of enthusiasm. Over one hundred of Montgomery's representative business men assembled in the spacious meet ing room of the Association, and fols over two hours Montgomery's great ness was the theme of discussion
 Prosperity. prosperity, prosperity was the key note of the meeting. From every committee came the cheering news that in the srespctive lines of business and commercial enterprise as- signed to that committee for develop ment, the past year had been the ban ner year for Montgomery.
 Encouraging reports from the Com mittees on Agriculture and Banking, and brief address from Col. A. X. Wiley. Congressman from the Second District of Alabama. full of hope for the future, were causes sufficient for prolonged applause.
 The meeting was called to order at o'clock by President Alex Rice. He submitted his report on the work of the Association, which was generously received.
 Committee Reports.
 For the Committee on Advertising and Press. Leopold Strauss reported that on account of the hotel situation in Montgomery. the Advertising Com mittee had not seen fit to go to any great outlay of funds to advertise Montgomery, but since the hotel situa- nr ha1 .,1a fho Nt,1 had gone to work and in the near fu- ture would make themselves and Mont gomery heard from.
 M. E. Houghton for the Committed on Agriculture, reported that evidences of improvement in the agricultural field during the past year are appa. rent on every hand. Montgomery has long been the agricultural metropolis of Alabama and on its agricultural in- terests it's success or failure depends. The farmer. of Montgomery County is in better financial condition than he has been since the war. The change from low cotton to high cotton has revolutionized farming in Montgomery County. The agriculturalists are now buying improved farming implements, are spending more money on fertiliz- CTS, and have branched out into hay making, truck-farming and poultry raising. Thoroughbred cattle have been brought into the county and ir- rigation is receiving the attention of the farmers. An irrigated acre is worth $400 per annum, while an unir- rigated acre Is worth only a quarter as much. With the rivers and creeks of the county, Montgomery County could be easily and thoroughly irrl- gated.
 movement is on foot he said, to have 8 United States Requirement sta tion as well as a State station of the same character located in Montgom cry. The farmers are also active in securing a rural telephone system, good roads, extended rural free deliv- cry, and more extensive weather ser vice.
 Jones Told About Hotel.
 George w. Jones told the story Of how, after repeated attempts to secure a modern hotel for Montgomery with foreign capital, which at times seemed to be on the verge of success, the dream of Montgomery had been real ized and with home capital. The only modern fre-proof hotel in the State would be erected. Work, he said, would begin October 1. MT Jones's report was received enthusiastically.
 M. Cody. from the Committee on
 
 Montgomery are in good financial con dition, which he directly attributed to the good cotton and varied crops; $5, 000,000 is now on deposit in Montgom- cry, an Il per cent increase over last year.
 During the past year, he showed. d strong national bank has been estab- lished in Montgomery, a State banking law has been passed. whereby honest banking and conservative business Is assured.
 MT. Cody called attention to the pol icy of all Montgomery banks to be lib- eral in their dealings with Montgom- erians and still conduct the business in such a way as to be absolutely trust worthy to their patrons
 w. M. Marks. chairman of the Com mittee on Cotton Rate reported that the past year had been the most re- markable in the history of the Mont gomery cotton market since the war A better price had been paid for cottor and the fleecy staple varied in its price more than ever in its history. The lowest price paid for cotton was & 7-S cents, while the highest price paid was 16 1-2 cents. The average price wal II 3-16 cents. Montgomery's receipt: