The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-07-09
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 Net increase, one year .. :. :. 1885, ACT, 900 That increase is sl2000. 900 more than all the gold we coined in 1860.
 In the four years 1901-04 inclusive the total value of the corn crop of the south was $1,2S7000,00O. Of the six crops named above the 1904 production was worth s14O, 100000 more than that of 1902
 But the south has other crops of large values outside of these and it's great staple, cotton. They are rice sugar to- bacco, sweet potatoes. vegetables, fruits and live stock products. The census of 1900 gave them as 4S4000. 600. They were probably $545,OOO,O00 in 1904, a gain of $61,- 000.000
 Outside of cotton. these figures give us, as the value of the souths agricultural products in 1904, no less than $10S5,0000O0.
 Independence day brought forth an in- cident to remind the world that there is still such 0 man as Alton B. Parker, and still such a place on the map as Rose mount" at Esopus. It was the reading of letter from the peerless leader of last November at Tammany Halls cele- bration The letter was received with all the outward manifestations of respect that are due when voice from the grave is heard. The ex-standard bearer warned Tammany that greed and overgovern- ment were neither new nor separable. The judge now is unmistably for the separation of business and politics. Pos sibly he Is drawing a lesson from the con- duct of some of his erstwhile campaign managers--August Belmont who combines politics with the subway, and Tom Tag gart who combines politics with his health and gambling resorts.
 Judge Parker had evidently overlooked the good example set by at least one Tam many alderman-Charles w. Culkin. Culkin resigned from the board recent ly, saying that he wonted to go into the contracting business and did not think he should occupy both roles at once. The other aldermen couldn't believe their ears If such wave of reform were sweeping over the city public life soon would be made unattractive. No, they refused to be convinced, because so many aldermen had found it so easy even dvantageous-to serve the city both as aldermen and contractors. One alderman has $15,CO0, coo worth of contracts l underway at the present time. One of Culkins colleagues says that his desire to become a contractor had nothing to do with his resignation. The colleague of- fers this explanations:
 "Culkln was in swimming a few Sun days ago and came near drowning. Just before they pulled him out of the water bis whole life passed in review before him and he resolved if he were saved he would never be an alderman any more."
 
 New York states agricultural depart ment is doing all it can to start moves ment from the cities toward the country. There has been much discussion of late among leading observers who say that the farms are being neglected and the last legislature passed law authorizing a remedial line of work on the part Of the state agricultural bureau. As a step in carrying out this law the commis- sioner has prepared a circular for dis tribution among town supervisors. It calls on them for the following information:
 The name of each purchaseable farm in the district and its distance from the rearest postoffice, the number Of acres it covers, the nature and quality or the soil the number of acres of meadow, pas ture and timber land the size and condi- ton of the farm house, barns and out buildings; how the farm Is watered' the kind and condition of fences, the price and terms and the numoer of the route, If the farm is on a free delivery route. The circular then says.
 This department desires that this in- formation will be In proper shape for publication and distribution with the idea of attracting people who are looking Tor land to devote to various agricultural ana horticultural purposes ana TOT summer homes for city people. The department also hopes to assist in securing agricul- tural aborers to relieve the serious diff flculty farmers are having in obtaining the labor necessary to conduct their farms.
 Many of our city residents are look ing for farms. and the cry is Back to the land" Many people in other states are looking with covetous eyes toward the low prices of farms in our state. and thousands of English. German Swede and other good laborers are looking for homes, however humble.
 This might be a good idea for other states if they haven't already taken it up.