The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-27
UPL|FT MOVEMENT
 STRONG IN STATE Advantages Offered Farmers
 With Intelligence AKRON HAS PROSPECTS Junction of Two Important Railroad Lines Offers Excellent Opportunity For a Number of Valuable
 Industries.
AKRON HAS PROSPECTS
BY WALTER HARPER.

Tuscaloosa, May 26-(Special )-Some time ago published an article in which the annual drainage of wealth from Ala bama was deplored. It was shown that the people of the state buy more than they sell.
 This is a very unsatisfactory condition and should be remedied as speedily as possible.
 As take more personal and intimate view of the state and it's resources am encouraged to predict that conditions will be reversed in a few more years.
 The general uplift, especially in the ag- ricultural districts, is wonderful, and is gaining momentum every year. There is more apparent desire for improved methods and greater intelligence is evil dent over the entire state. The lands are being made to produce more per acre and the crops are being handled with more system and at greater profit.
 The outlook is encouraging. The ten dency is for smaller farms and intensive cultivation. Lack of reliable labor is partly responsible for this, but the ulti- mate result will be more than beneficial.
 There is a growing demand in almost all the counties bordering the black belt south of here for more small farmers. Intelligent white immigrants are given warm welcome and encouraged. Perry and Hale counties offer especial oppor- tunities in this respect.
 It has been demonstrated that the soil and climate in these counties are ad- mirably adapted to the culture of vege- tables and fruits. Many of the large farms are open for subdivision and offer superior opportunities for industrious and thrifty truck-growers
 At Marion I was told of one man who arrived in the town a few years ago with 25 cents borrowed money and a large family. He went to work industriously and today he can write his check in five figures without culver of the nerves.
 What this man has done others can do and will do.
 The general advancement Is not con- fined to agriculture. It is strongly ap- parent in all lines of industry, socially and educationally
 There Is a marked improvement all over the state. both in the towns and in the rural sections. Upon the efficiency of the states educational system depends the future prosperity and happiness of the people.
 Akron is town or place born of ne- cessity. It is at the junction of the Akron division of the Southern railroad and the Alabama Great Southern.
 Efforts to build a town here have so far been unsuccessful. It is so closely hemmed in by the Warrior river that it has practically no tributary territory. The lands are fertile and there are many successful farmers in the vicinity but not enough to support city. A few peo- pie have clustered here apparently to see the trains go by and watch the passen- gers transfer to and from the Southern division. Akron Is a buogbear to the travelling man who has to wait here for trains. A hotel and a few lunch stands constitute the towns principal industries.
 But Akron is an ideal place for the location of a cotton factory, oilmill, fertil- izer plant and canning factory. I take the liberty of making these suggestions for the people who are interested in building a town here. The railway facili- ties are good and the raw material is abundant in that fertile section lying south and east of the river.