The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-02-18
TO IMPROVE THE
 IDLE FARM LANDS State Commissioner Poole is Working for immigration ISSUES A CIRCULAR LETTER Many MilIiono of Acres of Idle Lands Can Be Reclaimed and Made
 Highly Productive by h.
 telIlgent Labor.
ISSUES A CIRCULAR LETTER
BY FrANK V. EVANS.

interested in the material development Of Alabama to observe that State Commits sioner of Agriculture Poole has awaken ed to the importance of strong move nrent for the inducement of immigration to this state, and is now taking active steps to make known the splendid in drcements offered by Alabama to the home-seeker and invester.
 In a circular letter to the landowners of the state the Commissioner calls at tertion to the fact that there are 12,- coo, 0O0 acres of idle land In Alabama which could be brought to a high state of cultivation, and that only fl per cent of our farm lands are improved He has formulated systematic plan of ac- ton, which is fully set forth in his he ofore published circular, and asks the cooperation of landowners in sim 1y listing lands with him that may be offered for sale, so that he may intelli- gently answer the many inquiries he is constantly receiving from prospective set tiers and investors.
 Work of UpbuiIdng.
 This action on the part of our worthy commissioner indicates that Alabama is, at last to begin work of up-building which has been long neglected, and which must now continue until the food-tde of Immigration turns toward this state, transforming the waste places into pro- ductive fields. Population will increase tv-ofold or llore, and the tax incomes so increase that the burden which now rests upon the few may be lightly borne by the many, and Alabama will take the high position inaustrically and socially that Nature which so richly endowed the state, intended that she should occupy
 The immigration wave is on in full force and the south is to become, the greatest beneficiary, If she will only awaken to the opportunity. A number of the southern states have regularly organized immigration bureaus, branches of the state government, sustained and controlled by the state. Alabama, as yet has none. notwithstanding the sev- eral efforts that have been made for sach an establ' ,hment. Why the legislature at it's last session discouraged the efforts of public spirited citizens to establish such bureau. is not fully understood; ; but certain 1t is that the sentiment of the people is now strongly awakened to the importance and value of immigration and that something is going to be done along this line. It is gratifying to ob- serve that our Commissioner of Agricul- ture has made the initiative move, for certain 1t Is that he will meet with most hearty cooperation by the people.
 Stimulating Effect.
 Commissioner Pooles circular Is going to have a stimulating effect. It will bring about discussion on this most inn portant subject. It will awaken indi vidual and organized effort, and a dis cussion of practical measures When in- l terest is well dffused throughout the state this interest will focalize into some organization. or some concerted move- will be effective.
 While the Birmingham district comes nearer, In Its diversity of resources, to miniaturing the state than any ether one part. every section of Alabama has it's peculiar advantages, and the states great versatility presents a power of ap- peal to all preferences of the immigrants. All sections of the state need more peo- pie, of the right kind. The field of use fulness Is broad and Inviting. An in- creased productive population would quicken the enormous resources of Ala bama. the undeveloped wealth, the po- tential opportunities, and make rich and prosperous this great state
 To be sure, there exists in the minds | of some a theoretical prejudice against immigration; but this present movement for immigration is not a proposition to swamp or supplant the present white l population. The movement for more cap ital and more people is movement for self-preservation.
 Basis of Wealth.
 Agriculture is the basis of Alabama g wealth--the hope of her future; and it | is a fact that many of our people have l drifted into the cities and towns from | the farm. or remained in the towns while the farms lay vacant. This is because. under the conditions which must con- tinue to rule as long as the white popu- | lation is so sparse and so homogeneous | as at present, small farming or diversi- fled farming can with difficulty be made | profitable, and is in itself unproitable owing to isolation and social dearth l It Is fact worthy of note that in this state the cities and manufacturing con- | cerns have sucked up farm laborers to an enormous extent; that sparsity of the
 farms has made impossible the rapid I transportation which many of the pro- ducts of diversified farming require; the
 want of variety in life itself. due to iso- lation as well as to the hcmogeniety of | such people as were on these farms
 everybody exactly alike, nc lights and shadows, everything colorless; the poor l educational facilities, the sparsity and | similarity of the people-all of t1ese have combined to make the lot of the small Alabama farmer a pretty poor one, l hence the attraction led him to the city. | Now comes the rebuilding and advanc- ing process so strongly promised by im- l migration. We must bring to our state | the Swede, the Norwegian the German, the Irish, the Swiss, the Italian, and others-all well selected and-and plant them everywhere among our people in | these agricultural districts; plant them in the small colony and on the individ- ual farm, for they will bring wlth them the immediate producing power, the new elements of blood, of interests and ten-