The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-01-25
1906 LOOKS GOOD TO
ALABAMA FARMERS
Seymour Has New Plan for
Diversifcation
MONTGOMERY COUNTY FAIR
Recent Reduction in Freight Rates In
Selma and Montgomery Territory
Means Much for That
Section.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY FAIR

Montgomery January A-(special)-
There is a feeling of confidence on the
part of the farmers and friends of the
farmers in this part of the state that
the new year viii be well with them in
every way. 1t is also regarded as pretty
certain that what lessons have been
learned in the past two years will work
out to great advantage to them in every
way. The impression is general that
there will be a reduction of the cotton
acreage over last year even, and not
few are expected to get down to at least
IS per cent from the amount In the year
1904. This is as much as the officers
of the Cotton Growers association have
asked of them.
Within a few weeks President w. II.
Seymour of the Alabama division of tho
Cotton Growers association, will have
begun a systematic campaign for the
diversification of the crops of the coming
year and the reduction of the cotton
acreage. He will have men in every
county to talk to and with the farmers
and interest them in the movement as
a whole 1t is pointed out that the re-
duotion in area and fertilizer last year
has been productive of high prices and
better conditions for the cotton raiser
than he has ever known and there is a
belief that he has gotten the idea fixed
in his head that less cotton gets as much
money as more, with plenty of time and
some lands for other crops. This is the
keynote of the situation. so far as the
work for the tillers of the soil goes.
Holding the Staple.
There is little said of the outcome of
the campaign for holding for Is cents
pound. The men who know about such
things simply say that the staple is being
held. One of the stock market men said
the other day: THE farmers have stored
the bales away and borrowed money for
two to three months. This looks to me
like they are just letting the price OUT
look take care of itself" President Jor-
dan has estimated that a million and a
half bales Of the crop Just gathered
are yet in the hands OF the men who
made 1t and Alabama certainly has its
share. The price may not go to IS cents,
but 1t will stay where 1t Is until there
are some figure like that or the owners
need the money, which is not now the
case.
Inquiry at the office of the state COM
missioner of agriculture secures the in
formation that fertilizer sales are below
the same month of last year and munh
under the year before. 1t is not yat
known how much difference there is. but
it is of enough volume to attract COM
ment
A State Fair.
There is every reason to believe that
there will be held this fall in. Montgomery
a state fair that will be in every way
creditabe The men behind the movement
have received such fattering encourage
ment that they feel sure that the people
of the county and section will make 1t
great success. Secretary of the Commit
tee Jesse c. Adams, has been very busy
for two weeks taking subscriptions and
a peep at the list has shown the names
Of rich men and generous sums, as well
as a long list of moderate amounts which
show that interest is general.
1t will be the intention of the promoters
to make the fair more of place for eX-
hibition of agricultural products and stock
than anything else. There has been a won
derful development within the past five
years In this part of the state in the
business of horse raising and truck farm
ing, as well as the growing Of fine cattle
and hogs. Poultry and pigeons have also
been grown so extensively as to become
a business of note There will be also
many exhibits from mills and factories
and it is expected that the industrial sec.
ton will contribute to the success of the
show, as it will have many things to APP
peal to the farmers and stock raisers
Rate Reduction.
Incident to the progress in this part
of the state is the fact that the railroads
have come to the rescue of the business
men in material reductions in rates of
freight. In many cases the recent reduc-
tons from Ohio river territory to trade
zones of Montgomery and Selma amount
to as much as $40 a car. They are on
such things as the general run of the
people need and have to use and will
have the effect of greatly cheapening the
price to the consumer This reduction has
been secured by quiet work on the part
of W. f. Vandiver, enterprising citizen
and wholesale merchant, and head of the
local freight bureau
These new reductions will give the
Alabama wholesale men the power to go
much further into territory outsiele of the
trade zones than mas ever been the case
before. 1t will make 1t possible for Selma
and Montgomery to sell goods far into
what other more favored rate cities have
regarded as their own ground. And the
result has been attained largely because
of the Alabama river, which has formed
q basis for the negotiations. The new
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