The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-07-10

immigration Bureau.
 Among all these the question of A bu- reau of immigration is possibly the most important. It is needed now to advertise the state and get it's great resources upon the minds of the world in such way as to attract a good and profitable class of settlers. The matter of selection is go- ing to be one of importance in the duty of bringing in new people, and there are certain delicate duties that will need the Discriminating hand of a good mixer and man of knowledge to work out. The state needs good farmers and laborers who will make the state their home and go to work with the idea of building and becom- ing permanent citizens. It does not need a class that will come here and work and stint and hoard all they acquire to take rack to some land over the sea and live he rest of their Ives. These never be- come valuable either as workers or citi-
 zens and In the long run will not add anything to the wealth or standing of
 .he commonwealth. A bureau of lmmgra- tion in charge of a man who has some
 knowledge in the handling of such affairs
 and the working out of economic prob
 lens would do the state a wonderful lot
 Of good in the opinion of many, and 1t Is going to be sought.
 Duty of the State.
 It is regarded by those who have given
 Il e subject thought that 1t is the duty of the state to do this work, and to look into peopling the waste places with a class cl residens that will add constantly to .he richness of the whole country. The r en who come and stay, fighting out the retarding influences and living down the difficulties; building school houses and towns and acquiring lands and houses for permanent estate. This class make for
 the betterment of every class of citizen ulai aira 4. ..lt II.
 stamina and tone that will make 1t a power in the family of states. To bring this about all realize that the state must do the work, and not a few think 1t Is best to begin 1t at once. With a well organized bureau and energetic men at the helm 1t is pretty certain that in few years there could be settled on the open lands of the territory q fine class of citizens To do this there would not be needed much money. No doubt
 5000 year would be more than ample to cover all the expenses of the office and
 the travel and still have plenty left to spend on advertising. The, legislature
 will find that there Is a well established sentiment for the department when it begins to work out the good things 1t will have for the state in 1907
 Insurance Laws.
 Insurance laws are needed that will pro- l teet the companies from incendiarism and
 make 1t hard for a man to burn his place. l or carelessly let 1t burn and keep out of | the pententiary. Some of the states have | this kind of regulations now, notably l North Carolina, and they make it much more economical for insurance patrons by reducing the rates than are enjoyed in Alabama.
 It is necessary now to make it safer
 for the underwriters in the state. follow ing which they will be forced, whether they desire or not to reduce the cost. If law can be passed that will reduce the losses by carelessness or intention 1t will be up to the companies to make re- ductions in cost, which they will no
 doubt be glad to do. The present laws along this line are inadequate and have
 not been effective in keeping the rascals from burning their property. Several arrests have been made since it's passage but it has never been found to reach the spot At the present time the fire com panies are paying the state well for the right to do business. the receipts being over eighty thousand dollars last year. and they have right to ask that such laws be passed as will assure them of protection against unrighteousness in those who desire to convert property Into cash. at the expense of the fire com panies.
 McDavid Goes to Point Clear.
 State Insurance Commissioner E. R. Mo David and family will leave tomorrow for Point Clear, where they will spend a week. MT. McDavid will spend week examining the two local fire insurance companies in Mobile. the Stonewall In- surance company and the Factors and Traders Mutual. Mrs McDavid will have as her guests at Point Clear her sisters. Mrs C. E. Zuber and Miss Evan Owen of Birmingham.
 MT. McDavid is very proud, as an Ala bamian, of these two Alabama companies and the success they have made in writ ing fire risks They pay from ten to twelve per cent a pear besides carrying large amounts to the surplus funds. They have each now about s100.0oo ahead. Their success has demonstrated the ability Of local companies to live.
 MT McDayid would be glad to see many companies. both fire and life. or- eanized in Alabama. They make money
 this is shown by the record of these ana
 the Atlanta Birmingham. They invest their money at home and the people of the state get the benefit of it. They are necessary to the cheapening of the rates in the long run, too.