The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-01-03
SOME WEEKEND GOSSIP
FROM THE STATE CAPITAL
BY HERVEY w. LAIRD.

be developed will be the preliminary
work for conference of business men
in the interest of school progress of all
kinds. A meeting will be held in Biz
mingham within the next thirty days,
at which a number of men not identif-
ed with the school work but interested in
educational progress will get together and
formulate a plan for a conference of bus
mess men to be held some time during the
spring. 1t is well known that Alabama is
now appropriating large sums of money
for Schoo. purposes, and there is great
need that it be distributed to the best
advantage In order to bring about such
a condition it has ben found necessary
to interest all classes of citizens in the
actual work of the schools of all classes
In all communities. 1t is expected that
at this conference the question of edu-
catonal progress will be taken up and
discussed from the highest of the colleges
to the most insignificant of the district
schools.
There are a number of questions which
will enter into any movement for school
progress at this time. Notable among
these is a suggestion that the work of
the University and at Auburn be combin-
ed under one general head. The idea does
not contemplate the abandonment of any
of the units of either plant. but rather
correlation of the whole under one head
to be called the University or any other
name that seems best. 1t is argued that
with the splendid building that are now
being erected at each place that the
work could be divided so as to make the
two Institutions serving In unison of vast
benefit to the youth of the state There
, has been no definite plan proposed, and
in fact no discussion of it in any general
way. and whatever may come out at any
meeting must yet be formulated in defin-
lite proposition.
, Farming Progress.
Commissioner of Agriculture Wilkinson,
as noted above. has already begun cam
paign for diversified crops and a reduc-
ton in acreage of cotton. Next week he
will start out on trip over the state ac-
! companied by experts, and will argue this
suggestion in every county that he is able
to go to. In many of the counties the
soil survey has made 1t possible to tell
just what crops will be most profita BILE,
and during the year it is hoped that land
owners will be induced to plant crops
which reports show are most available
to the soils that they own. 1t is antci-
pated that out of this sort of ar
rangement the total output of the state S
agricultural products will be largely in
creased in value, even with consdera-
BILE decrease in the output of cotton. Mr..
Wilkinson appreciates that Alabama must
/ begin to feed itself If it ever expects to
attain that prominence as an agricultural
state which its resources demand.
Another item of farm progress is the
campaign being made by w, H. Seymour
for a better understanding of the corn
crop and the adoption of such methods
as will largely increase its growth For
quite awhile government officials have
been at work with the state department
of agriculture with a view to increasing
interest in corn culture 1t Is believed by
men who ought to know that Alabama
can be made of the leading corn
states, and If this is done 1t will mean
the saving of millions of dollars which
are sent out of the state for grain and
meat alone. Taken as whole there is
every reason to believe that Alabama Is
/ going to show its heels to a number of
other southern commonwealths before the
year 1909 gives place to the first decade
of the present calendar. Its citizens are
optimistic, cheerful and progressive. 1t
has more money in bank, and more prop
erty valuation than was ever dreamed 1t
would possess at this time, and it's con-
servative people are confident enough in
the future to turn that money loose in
all sorts of development and commercial
, enterprise. The man who has kept tab
! on the growth of the country says that
the rest of the south will pull off it's hat
to Alabama before the present year draws
to a close.