The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-24
WALKER FARMERS
 ARE YET HOPEFUL
But Continued Rains Do Great
 Damage
NEW ENTERPRISE
Mir. Hummel of Missouri Buys Prop erty and Will Build Hub and Spoke Factory at Jasper.
 Work Begins Soon.
BY FRANK V. EVANS.

BY FRANK V. EVANS.
 Jasper. June 3.-(SpeciaL) )-While the rains have been and are now un- comfortably incessant in this immediate section farmers are still hopeful for enough dry days to save the crops from total disaster, and to replant Only few fields have been abandoned in the bottoms, but there Is talk of blowing up some cotton and planting for late corn. Oats, which promised so well a few weeks ago have in many cases been laid low by the heavy rains and there is fear of difficulty in reaping. An encouraging fact is that there has county, and none Is anticipated this year.
 The streams are high and the roads terribly washed and many of them rem dered almost impossible. This will prove an impetus to the gool roads movement in this county, which is be- ing pushed with a vim.
 The petition to the county commits sioners for bond issue election Is be- ing signed by many people, and there seems now to be no doubt that the election will be held in the late sum mer. Of course the proposition has its knockers Just as all good move ments must expect; but the progress sive spirit will, no doubt, overcome all obstables, even community and fac tional jealousies. The rural districts of Walker are stronger at the polls than the townspeople, and they know they will be the greater beneficiaries if the proposition carries. The ques- tion to be submitted is whether or not the county shall issue it's bonds in the sum of $250,00e for the purpose of building and maintaining good and modern roads. There seems to be a desire on the part of the people to have the commissioners specify in their or der for an election when, how and where the money is to be expended. This will probably be done.
 None of the courts of Walker are in session this week, but Monday next is the date set for reconvening. Now should the sun shine out and the rains cease so that 1t will be possible for the farmers to speed the blow, it Is not improbable that the court will deem it proper to adjourn for a season. Jurors and witnesses who farm say that dry day will be worth $10 to any working farmer just at this sea- son.
 Recent successful raids by the county officials on the blind tigers at different points in this county have had salutary effect, as Is demonstrated by the fact that no new arrivals have been recorded at the jail for the past few days, and up to a late date they came fact. The Walker county courts have a way of taking quick action on these tigers, and many a one has been hustled off to the coal mines before he has had time to accustom him self to the meals and the rest afforded at the county jail.
 Jasper has just landed new enterprise which Is bound to rebound to the good of this community. There came to this town about two weeks ago a MT. Hummell from Missouri, and like all the wise men of that state he wanted to be shown He wanted a location for large hub and spoke factory.
 Mr. Hummell was welcomed here by a number of leading citizens and had point ed out to him the advantages of Jasper as a point for such an enterprise. 1t was made clear to him that. as a distrib- uting point, there was none better than this, because 1t is prominent as a railroad center.
 Forests of timber just suited for ma terial for his product, plenty of water and the cheapest coal on earth. Then the good health of Jasper was impressed upon his mind, and the welcome hand of this citizenship extended.
 MT. Hummell, after remaining here sey- eral days and making a complete survey of the field, made up his mind that this was the place, provided suitable close by site could be purchased Under the guidance of J. R. Kilgore on Saturday afternoon he had pointed out to him that plot on the Northern Alabama, Mobile and Ohio and Illinois Central railroads fronting the new Frank Evans road and just south of that highway. This pleased MT. Hummell, and he closed the deal, purchasing the plot of six acres from the Cranford company
 MT. Hummell proceeded at once to organize the Jasper Manufacturing com pany. without asking any local financial assistance. On Saturday night he left for his former home in Missouri, and with a purpose to return to Jasper in two weeks and begin the construction of buildings for his plant, which is to be large and modernly equipped.
 Thus Jasper wins a splendid industrial enterprise. which will give employment to large number of men and add ma terially to the citizenship at the same time giving strength to this business com munity.
 It. is confidently expected that this means the beginning of strong and vigor- ous industrial development here.