The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-27
BETTER ROADS
 INCREASE TRADE Truck Farmers Are Getting
 Ready to Plant NEGROES HAVE INSURANCE Holiday Season Is One of Pleasure at cuba-Telephone Competition Is Promised By Meridian
 Concern.
NEGROES HAVE INSURANCE

Cuba, December 26.-(Special 1.-The gin- ming season closed here on the 18th inst, three weeks earlier than ever before The total number of bales ginned showed an increase of about 10 per cent as compared with last year, which was due to the im- proved roads out of here, as the crop in this immediate section was practically the same as the year before.
 Seed beans and peas are coming in now rapidly, and the farmers are moving them out promptly getting ready for another year. Green peas are in limited supply, the market for these seed running now around $6 Those growers who closed con- tracts last July for their seed are now congratulating themselves as all kinds are about $1 per bushel above the con- tracts made. More land has been broken than ever before at this season of the year, the farmers availing themselves of the excellent weather and the plentiful supply of labor. The success attending Charles Woods effort last season in sub soiling has led to a great deal of such working of the lands this fall. pr. J. A. Beavers, who made so much corn on three acres last season. has broken his corn ground IS inches with a new style blow recently introduced by the Interna- tional Harvester company.
 This blow and also a disc harrow, that is coming into great favor here. does ex- cellent work and saves one laborer, be- ing operated with two mules and one man. Dr. Beavers is planning his crops so as to get three on the same acre, his plan being to plant peas, followed by beans and then corn. J. H. Giles is experiment. ing with asparagus this fall to see If it can be made profitable.
 That the negro can apply the rule of self help to advantage has been illus trated in the case of their Mason and Odd Fellows association, which has paid out here over $500 in the past eight months for death claims. The local manager here, Ben Lewis, is a negro well thought of by the whites. He attends to the payment of all claims. making the collections of 50 cents per month for each member, which sum entities the beneficiaries to re- ceive from S10o to $500 in case of death. the sums being based on the length of time the policies are in force. Most of the negroes so far receiving benefits make deposits of same in the local bank, and appear to be using the funds to excellent advantage. The checks for death claims are all paid through the Alabama Penny Savings bank of Birmingham.
 The holiday season has been one of pleasure to the young people so far An exceptionally pleasant affair was given last evening by Dr. and Mrs. H. B. Ward in honor of their son. T. C., who is home fa, %ha ba Spf w a party by B. A. May, which was voted a success.
 Merchants generally report an excellent Christmas trede, much in excess of their anticipations. Sales were good and col lections for the week are reported as above the average It is doubtful if there was a single child here of any nationality that Santa Claus overlooked.
 The telephone situation may be enliv- ened here by the advent of the Home Tel ephone company of Meridian, which for years has maintained toll station here, but which Is now contemplating the in- stallation of a central office. They will likely make a material reduction in rates to which the people now object as charged by the Southern Bell people, claiming that it Is impractical to charge small town the prices obtaining in the cities. The southern bell Dcoi OpSAotiiP o SOAA tral office for more than year, rem dering good service
 Mrs. J. IT. Brown of Newton, Miss, is in town, the guest of Mrs. l.. Poole, and will leave for home Tuesday accompanied by Miss Brownie Poole.
 Miss Annie Phillips is in New Orleans visiting her sister, Mrs. J. J. krumm.
 Miss Sudie Sawls of Epes is the guest of friends here, and will participate in the Estes-Arrington wedding tomorrow night.