The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-10-25
WILEY SECURED SOIL
 SURVEY IN BALDWIN
Cerrespondence Between Congressmnm and Agricultural Commissioner
 Gives Former Credit for Accomplishment.

That the securing of the soil survey for Baldwin County was due to the efforts of Congressman Wiley of the Second District of which Baldwin County is part. is shown by the corr respondence that has recently passed between Colonel Wiley and Hon. J. A. Wilkinson, Commissioner of Agricul- ture and Industries.
 Before the State official went to Washington recently. to make the ar- engagements for the surveys in various counties of the State, Congressman wi. ley had secured the promise of the Washington officials that Baldwin County should be surveyed. Commits sioner Wilkinson was SO assured while in Washington.
 The correspondence between Colonel Wiley and MT. Wilkinson, which brought out this fact. is as follows:
 Montgomery, Ala, Oct, 2i, 19O7 Hon. T. A. Wilkinson, Commissioner
 of Agriculture. Montgomery. Ala.
 Dear sir--I have just returned home. after an absence of ten days, to find an article in The Montgomery Adver- tiser. which was copied in The Bald win Times, to the effect that you had arranged. at the instance of Hon Samuel c. Jenkins, to have . survey made of the soil of Baldwin county
 'Tf this be the whole truth, then I have nothing to add, except to say I am very glad; but, inasmuch as !, act- ing in the capacity of the representa- tive from the Second District, had already received positive assurances from the Agricultural Department. at Washington. to the effect that this survey should be begun and carried to completion at the earliest practicable moment even before you yourself undertook to cooperate in this conn A -r.N- ..V~ ra .a.An to have you explain. if you can, why my earnest and persistent efforts in the premises seem thus to have been so completely ignored. ~
 "Personally care nothing about the matter, but from an offiical stand point deem it only fair to myself that my constituents should not be left under the false impression that have neglected any of their interests. or that, perchance, it was on account of any of my shortcomings the fmpor- tant task of making a soil survey of Baldwin County had to be undertaken through the influence or agency of some other person than myself. IL Is but common justice that credit be given where credit is due.
 Kindly let me hear from you.
 Very truly,
 "A. A Wiley"
 The reply of Commissioner Wilkin- son was as follows:
 Montgomery. Ala, Oct. 2s, s-1s07. Hon. A A. Wiley, Montgomery, Ala
 Dear sir--I received your communi- cation dated October, 21st inst, in reference to the soil survey work that is being done in your Congressional District. am glad to hear from you, as 1t enables me to make this exDlana- ton.
 'sThe Soil Survey Law that was enacted by our last legislature. as you know. is a cooperative one. In order with the Bureau of Soils at Washing ton, I called on Professor Whitney. who Is at the head of this department as you know. and we agreed as to all details of the work.
 "As consequence. we have five soil survey parties in Alabama. with head quarters in this office. In addition to these, we will have another party who will soil survey all the soils of the nine agricultural schools. including q re-soi survey of those schools that have been surveyed
 "When in Washington and discussing the counties wherein we should begin work. Professor Whitney stated that he had already arranged with you to have Baldwin county surveyed and complete maps and bulletins made, and that this work had been done with you as Congressman from this district.
 He stated that similar arrangements had been made with the other Con- Rressman to work in their respective districts. Professor whitney requested me that cooperative with him and that our state work be a cooperative work with our several congressman.
 q am glad to state to you that the soil survey work of Alabama will be followed up by vigorous demonstration work and as you well know, this, as a cooperative work with the Congress- men and also with this department.
 Trusting the above explains itself, am,
 Yours very truly,
 "J. A Wilkinson,
 Commissioner of Agriculture and
 Labor"