The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-07-09
DEMAND FUR LABOR
 IS MOST PRESSING
Immigration and Industrial As-
 sociation Now at Work
GOOD RESULTS EXPECTED
Commissioner Ross c. Smith Outlines His Plans-Wil Have an Office
 In the First National Bank Building.

Ross c. Smith, commissioner of the of Alabama, the position to which he was recently appointed, arrived in Bir- mingham yesterday from Asheville, N C., where he is spending the summer. He will return to North Carolina today.
 MT. Smiths health has greatly improved and his friends here are congratulating him on his excellent appearance.
 "The Immigration and Industrial asso- oiation has a large and important work to do, said MT. Smith, "and 1t will spare no effort to fulfill its mission. The scarcity of labor in this state Is getting to be serious matter and I am directing my attention at the start to this question. Immigration societies in the past have sought to induce Individual farmers to come with their families and locate in the state. That worked very well in a small way, but what we need now is not only the agricultural class but laborers and mechanics. There is a demand for laborers by the thousand. We must get them in large groups. There is not saw iiill CoHCtIl llidt dOco iOt hONt iiSAii -' to 100 additional men to operate it's plant. Working Through Agents. "I am working through agents in New York, Boston and other eastern cities and am already beginning to have re- suits. I have succeeded in bringing twen- tv-fve men to Alabama for certain lumber company. At least 5o,oO0 workmen are needed in this state right now to keep up with the labor situation.
 "Our association will also give especial attention to farming interests and will encourage home-seekers who wish to ac- quire small farms. The Louisville and Nashville railroad has recently brought 7oi families to Alabama. numbering 2SOO peo- ple. These new corners have bought 34,773 acres of land Other railroad companies have done relatively as well in the mat ter of inducing immigration for the agri- cultural sections. And with a thoroughly organized system and intelligent and en- thusiastic cooperation on the part Of commercial bodies. we can make record within the next twelve months that will mean millions for this state.
 Cordial Cooperation.
 '1n my work will have the cordial CO., operation of the immigration committee appointed at the conference of representa- tives of Commercial clubs which met in Birmingham a few weeks ago.
 '"The railroads are doing their full share in this work of promoting immigration. They give cheap rates to all, who wish to locate in Alabama and in many other ways they will contribute to the work of filling up the state with industrious peo- pie.
 "The outlook for the immigration move- ment was never so bright as it is now The Immigration and Industrial associa- tion of Alabama was organized by the railroads operating in this state, and is being maintained by them MT. Smith will have an office in the First National Bank building. While he is directing the work temporarily from Asheville, he will have an assistant in charge of the office here. J. M. Thornton is MT. Smiths field rep resentative, and is now travelling over the state getting data to be utilized in the work of the association. He is a pros- porous farmer and is well known and pop ular.