The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-03
HOBDY TALKS OF
 PEOPLES PLUCK AlbertviIle Better and More Prosperous Than Ever WORK SINCE THE STORM Agricultural School Is FIourishing. Practically Half of Towns Pop
 Iation Is Connected With
 Agricultural Work.

Less than six months a go Albertville, a little north Alabama town in Mar shall county with a population of 1750 souls, was almost wiped off the map by one of the most disastrous cyclones that has ever visited this section. But thereby nangs a tale. The town has been practically rebuilt as it was the day before the storm tn ough on a much more substantial basis. With but one rroba ble exception every house that has been built in the town is better and finer than it's predecessor.
 President J. B. Hobdy of the Seventh District Agricultural school located at Albertville, was in the city yesterday ol his way home from the farmers In- stitute at Auburn and talked inter esijnSly of the rebuilding and the future prospects of his town. He sald
 People Dsheartened.
 "For two or three days after the memorable storm early last spring it looked ss tn ough the little town of Albertville was doomed. All hope seemed to be gone from the hearts of the survivors. Homes and business houses lay in ruins. Members of fam flies were dead and many others seri- ously wounded. There were tears and wailing of despair. Every heart was numb with fear and the enormity of the disaster.
 a II uyad VI, izens were Americans and above all things they were men. With will every man and woman put their shoulders to tht work of caring for the dead and D aimed and at the same tlme scratch ing the wreck and ruin from the old home site king preparations for lte renewal of the home-nest. With every step of progress gained fresh hope was Inspired. The farmers in the surround ing territory that were not themselves injured came in and helped The en- tire country contributed liberaliy to the wants of the sufferers aud heiped rebuild the homes. The time came when alone and then they began to walk. Now they are running.
 Spirit of Optimism.
 To-day the spirit of optimism and vile is in better shape today than be- fore the storm. Were t not for the fresh made graves in the community and some who aro malmed physically the disaster would soon be forgotten only as an epoch in the history of the towns prosperity. Out of necessity there sprung a spirit of determination and energy that nas wrought wonders.
 "The building of wooden structures in the business section was prohibited after the storm and the result is a group of handsome and substantial brick and cement blocks that would do credit to any agricultural town in the state. There are three two-story brick business houses in course of constrIc- ton now and several have already been completed. Plans are under way for the huii ding of four or five others this fall
 Besides these the farmers union is
 
 stone warehouse that will be one of the largest and best in the entire north- eastern section of the state.
 Commercial Club.
 An enthusiastic commercial club has been formed which includes in its membership practically every business and professional man in the town The principal thing for which the club is working just now is the building of electric light and water works plants. No definite plans have been formulated but the people are going after these improvements and tn ere Is hardly any doubt but that they will be accomplished ill the near future. The question just now being considered ana investigated is whether the town shall own and op- crate these plants or whether they shall be owned and operated by individual corporations.
 "The principal factor in the prosperi- ty of Albertvi!le outside the state az. ricultural school is a ,arge territory of profitable small farms. The ma jority of the people of Marshall county arc white people and most of them own their own farms, which, as a rule are small and well cultivated. Nearly all of the farmers have small bank ac- counts and are independent Albert vile has two good banks which are largely supported by the farmers of the county.
 "Tha Albertyilln 1ruck Crowers' as sociation was organized this year and the result of this operation in the matter of shipping and handling pro- duce has been very satisfactory. The operations will De largely increased another season. Julius Lumpkin is Lilies is secretary and treasurer.
 Principal Products.
 "The principal products of the asso- citation are Irish potatoes, cabbage. to- matoes and onions Peaches are also being grown to some extent and tho results are very encouraging. Straw berries are also being experimented with.
 .Jjles Bros. have established a car- ming factory in the town and preserve much of che fruit and vegetables pro- duced by the association and others. This gives tue members ready mar lxer at home for their i.roduce.
 .Tands Tn the vicinity of Albertville have advanced in the past few years from $1O and $15 to s75. $10o and in