The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-10
FARMERS SUPPORT TOWN OF VINCENT Has Coed Schools And Good
 Churches PEOPLE ARE INDEPENDENT Credit System Is SuppIanted By Cash Trade-Shelby Is One of the
 Richest Counties In State
 In Minerals.
PEOPLE ARE INDEPEN DENT
BY WALTER HARPER.


 railroad crosses the Central of Georgia It is in Shelby county, one of the richest mineral counties in the state. T. G. F1orney is mayor. O. s. Land ham is city clerk. The members of the city council are J. T. J. Wilder, J. F. MeGraw, F. A German. M E. Vincent and J. D. Mastin. These officers also con- stitute the school board.
 The public schools of Vincent are kept up to very high standard and run for nine months in the year. The enrolment for the last term was ITO Prof. C. H. I F'lorey has just been elected principal for the next term. Prof. J. M. Rich Is the retiring principal. The teachers during the last term were Miss Lillie Raley, Miss Emma Meadows and Mrs. T. G. Florey.
 Vincent has an excellent school building. practically new and handsome Methodist and Baptist churches. Rev. A. C.. Swim dall is pastor of the Baptist church and Rev. R. Y. Hannon is pastor of the Methodist church.
 The Alabama Trust and Savings bank has a branch here with c. P. Willis in charge as manager.
 One of the head officials few days ago made the announcement that the
 
 ten branch banks in the group scattered over north Alabama. The branch rank ing first is located at Birmingham.
 Agricultural Section.
 Vincent is supported by a very fine agriculture section. About 5000 bales of cotton are handled here annually. The farmers this section are turning their attention largely to raising of hogs and food crops. The Coosa valley Is finely adapted to corn and hay as well as many varieties of vegetables and the farmers are beginning to realize the importance of other crops than cotton for cash re- turns.
 General Improvements in farm condi- tions are noticeable here well as in every section of the state.
 Long distance telephones connect almost all the towns of the county with Colum- biana and many farmers also have con- nection on the lines.
 As an indication of the improved condi- tions in the agricultural section around Vincent it Is pointed out that the peo- pie are abandoning the old time credit system and demand better quality of goods of all kinds, for which they pay cash.
 Improved Conditions.
 The establishment of a branch bank here has been of great benefit to the 
 and also in the matter of having avail able cash. It Is said that some of them find 1t cheaper to borrow money than to pay long time prices for supplies.
 However there are many farmers in this section who neither borrow money nor buy supplies on credit. By more intelligent management and intensive agriculture they are becoming independent and have snug savings in the hank to their credit J. F. McGraW, bookkeeper and general manager for J. H. Wilder, the leading | general merchant of Vincent, said: The l general improvement in the condition of 1 the people in this community for the past | few years is truly wonderful. Farmers Independent. "The farmers are becoming independent l and the old credit system Is almost a 1 thing of the past. This Is good not only for the farmer but the merchant as well. l The percentage of profit on cash bus 1 mess, of course, is not so large as on time business, but the former is much more satisfactory and in the long run ] more profitable. The prosperous farmer 1 brings the briskness of prosperity to every other business. There is more business and a better class of business.
 For instance, we sell better farming implements and more of them. Our trade l 1 and furnishings The people even in the 1 country supplying their homes with 1 the best furniture. We have hardly any l market for the grade of goods that was | sold few years ago. 1 'All this indicates the improved condi- l ton of the people in this community. "The farmers of this section are turn l ing their attention more and more to the l growing of those crops that not only im- l prove the lands but find ready market | All food products demand good prices and | the lands in this section are as fine as any in the state for this purpose. The next 10 years are certain to bring about 1 a most wonderful improvement in this section of the state as well as all oth- 1 ers"
 Fine Fox Dogs.
 J. H. Wilder one of the largest gener- 1 al merchants in this section of the coun- l ty, gets his diversion from business In l the raising and training of fine fox dogs. l He has one of the best equipped kennels l in the state and takes great pride in 1 his dogs.
 l He also has a large pen of fine young | foxes which will be turned into the woods when they are little older. They are 1 fine specimens of the cunning little ami l nal and MT. Wilder derives a lot of boyish fun from the training of them l He also has some fine blooded horses | in which he takes great pride. Though | MT. Wilder has here one of the hand l somest homes in this part of the state 1 he recently moved his family to Tal- ladega for the education of his older l children.
 Shelby County.
 Shelby county was established by act l of the first legislature of Alabama, Feb | ruary z, ISIS. It was named for Gen. l Isaac Shelby of Kentucky It has an l area of TIP miles, The valley lands along l the Coosa and the Cahaba rivers em- brace about BIT square miles and are very | productive.
 The coal measures of the county em- brace about 395. Shelby has some of the l finest deposits of coal in the state. There are also fine deposits of iron ore, lime 1 stone and marble.
 The county has unsual railroad facil- l ities. 1t is traversed by two divisions l of the Southern, two divisions of the ] Louisville and Nashville, the Central of l Georgia and the Atlanta. Birmingham | and Atlantic.
 The county is rich in vast natural re- l sources that have not yet been touched. 1