The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-15
SOUTHERN CONPERS
 WITH MACHINISTS
GENERAL REDUCTION IN WAGES IS PLANNED, DUE TO DE- CREASED EARNlNGs-THER ROAD WANTS COOPERATION.

In Washington today there will occur a consultation between the officials of the Southern railway and representatives of the machinists and other mechanics in the service of the road
 The subject under discussion is an order about to be issued reducing the salaries of the mechanics of the system to the scale that was paid about one year ago, when an increase in salary was granted Representatives of the machnists and mechanics in the employ of the Southern in Birmingham left the city for Wash ington yesterday.
 It is understood that the officials of the road will put before the machinists the exact condition of the road as to earnings, expenses, cost of improvement, etc, and urge them to cooperate.
 As is known, the Louisville and Nash vile, effective March 1, will decrease the salaries of engineers, firemen, conductors and brakemen to the scale effective March 1907.
 While it was rumored several days ago that the engineers might order strike to resist this reduction, it is now thought
 
 out authority.
 As is known. too, the Southern has reduced the salaries of it's line officials, and the Louisville and Nashville has re- duced the salaries of all employees who drew between s250 and $4O0 per month.
 It was announced yesterday that the Illinois Central had put on a passenger schedule between Haleyville and Corinth, Miss. One train leaves Haleyville at o'clock in the morning, and another reaches Haleyville at o'clock in the evening.
 The Illinois Central will effect an en- trance into Birmingham, it is thought. by April 1. The line will enter Jasper over the tracks of the Northern Alabama (the Southern), and Birmingham over the tracks of the Frisco.
 The inauguration of the passenger serv- ice between Haleyville and Cornth will make change in the routes of the mails, the mails being carried now over the Illi- nois Central instead of by rural route carriers.
  suited In marvellous progress. "The next year will find 1t still better" continued Dr. Wilcox. He submitted list of the different diseases as discovered by the Alabama experiment station in its plant disease survey.
 At the morning session w. c. Smith of Montgomery talked on Fruit Soils" He discussed the different varieties of soils and the problem of a sufficient amount of organic matter In them The question of whether cotton fields should be left bare during the winter was also handled by him.
 MT. Spith also referred to the mex plainable blight which is affecting the pear orchards of the south. Scientists offer us no encouragement and the best thing to do with an orchard when the blight attacks it Is to cut the trees down., c. H. Billingsley of Montgomery spoke on Fertilizers" explaining all the diff ferent varieties. Two hundred pounds to the acre Is too small a quantity of fertilizer to use,'' said MT. Billingsley. 'It should be from 400 to 600 pounds, but the farmer must be careful, as 1t is very fertilizers Dried blood was said to be probably the best fertilizer.
 Apple Orchards, Home and Commer- cial,' was handled by J. c. Miller of Rome, Ga, who urged that the planters of the south be more diligent in the rais- ing of apples. He said that the idea that southern lands would not grow ap- ples to a great extent was a wrong one; that 1t was possible to grow practically every variety and in great quantities. Lack of cultivation was given as a reason by him for the d1ng of so many apple trees.