The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-09

Montgomery, August S.-(Special )-ln the midst of all this talk about a possible deficit in the state treasury, and various sundry contests for political preferments, strikes and military service, the Alabama farmer smiles serenely and looks forward to the best crop that has been raised i'll the state for five years. There has never been a time in the history of the common wealth when the man who makes his liv- ing by the tilling of the soil was in such good fix as he promises to be at harvest time this year.
 The cotton outlook is decidedly good, both as relates to quantity and to quail ty and while the rains have been lacking in some sections to the injury of corn, 1t is a fact that more of that grain will be raised this year than ever before. It Is also fact that the maximum amount of hay and other side crops have been pro- duced in the present growing season.
 While this good condition might be al- most eliminated so far as cotton is con- cerned by ten days of unfavorable weather, the crop now presents a condi- tion that makes every man who has any thing to Go with it feel decidedly hope ful. The product is at least 10 points bet ter than it was this time last year, and in general condition it has the advantage Ol dDStDEG Ol dll ihSCNN tAOd- bles, and of being well cleaned and cult- vated. All these things are indicated by the early maturity of the plant, and the fact that a number of middle and south ern Alabama sections are already in with the first bale.
 Farmers Are Happy.
 Thus it is that while the politicians may be agitated and the industrial section dis f1rhad ba flr abla look the conditions in the face and feel no fears for the future. and they are preparing to meet and grapple also with their old time enemy, the demon of speculation
 The Alabama farmers have organized fully for the purpose of aiding each other to carry their cotton through the low price periods, and their leaders are going about over the counties urging that all raise enough food crops to make them in dependent of the wheat fields and the slaughter houses of the other sections of the country.
 It is so in addition that the banks are using every effort possible to advance the interest of the farmers, and it is now not at all difficult for the substan- tial planter, no matter how large nor how small, to secure enough to tide him over his difficulties.
 Building Good Roads.
 And while the subject of the agricultu ral section is up it will not be amiss to call attention to the fact that Alabama, perhaps more than any other southern state, is progressing along the lines of adequate highways for the transporta- tion of crop products from the interior to the railroad connections.
 Montgomery county has called meet ing of those interested in the subject, at
 will ka fOr-rf ad tn meet annually to study the best meth ods of road building and the most com prehensive ideas of this means of trans portation.
 Not so very long ago Milton H. Smith, president of the Louisville and Nashville railroad, had his subordinates in all the territory touched by his line send out literature and instruction in the science of building and maintaining roads. Ihis