The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-11-22
SOUTHERN RIAL ESTATE MEN
 AND THEIR OWN BUSINESS

Ak4Nk 4AA&SA@> V " ~ - s~SSSAS&S~~
 There Is q period of intense activity in Southern real estate. Whether 1t comes quickly or slowly depends upon the men of the South. but its coming is sure. We think we can prove it.
 The coastal forests are bound to dis appear over large areas because the land can be used to greater immediate advantage. The acreage of the south is sl2, 100000. The farm area at pres ent used and. In some cases, mis- is I45,ooo, 900. This undeveloped con- dition, showing less than 25 per cent used. renders sure time of active de- mand for farm land; for the temper ature and rainfall over nearly all the South are the best general average of the United States.
 New England. with but few natural resources has, in it's comparatively smsI area, more manufacturing devel- opment than in all the Southern States put together emitting Missouri; e6, ,0o0.- 9Vo.e0o square miles! The manufac- turing activity of New England de- pends upon raw materials brought to 1t from distance. A large propor- ton of these raw materials are either grown or raised or mined in the South and Southwest The undeveloped man. ufacturing condition of the Southern States can not continue: for it has raw resources and immense power unused In its water-courses and In its coal mines. The safe deduction Is that Q period of intense urban activity in the South Is coming.
 The prospects before the South are therefore great because agricultural development and town development can be made to go forward together. enc beneftting the other. There are external influences also. drawing com merce Southward through the ap- preaching completion of the Panama Canal These external influences and the internal possibilities are so decid- ed. that 1t Is feasible for the business men of the South to plan for and to produce in the next five years. a defn- ite southward rush greater than the rush of Northwestern farmers to Northwest Canada and greater than any Western rush; for in the South are the resources. the climate. port open ings. rivers and existing railroads to justify q phenomenally rapid growth. The very first effect of that growth comes. to the hands of the real estate men. through the demand for houses. for building lots and for land.
 |. Now .cemes...t the,o Second Southern pConamercsal Gongress.s which Is nothing rnofe and nothing less than q simple co operative publicity move to arouse in the South a greater self-conhdencs and to arouse outside the South q de- sire to investigate. to Invest ana to settle. If you had our program you would find that 1t contains subjects which react immediately upon real es- tate conditions. Five do so specifically.
 First--.Neglected Agricultural op- rnrtunittes in the South."-Kion. Wiiief M Hays. Assistant Secretary of Agrt- culture: Hon. c. W. Koiner. Commits sioner of Agriculture for virgInia.
 second--"Opportunity for Southern Y,ropa ganda in the British Isles ana Europe ."---Mr. Thomas L. Field, Lon don, England. ties in the South. General Julian \. Carr, Durham, N. c.
 Fourth-"The Good Roads Movement in the South ."-Mr. J. E. Pennyback- er. IT.. Chief of Road Management once of Public Roads.
 Fifth-"Colonixation Opportunity in the South."-Mr. Hugh MacRae. VII. mington. \. c.
 TO this last topic we draw your close attention. You know just as well as we do that 1t Is practically impossible to place a lone settler Tn many of the rural regions or the south. We shall not mention the reasons here; they are known as fully to vou as they are to us. The way to ranid agricultural development lies In getting in groups of families to buy tracts having contact with each other. Such a group permits neigh borliness. school privileges. joint marketing and so forth. and such groups will come to prosperity. MT. MacRae is of an old North Carolina family and hls heart IS set towards a proper development of the South. He has made a number of successful ef- forts at colonization and will take the pubiic frankly into his confidence in the matter.
 A few words more. The Southern Commercial Congress took It's origin among Secretaries of Southern com. mercial organizations who were con vfnced that the most effective way for, commercial organizations to help their own towns was for them to become ln- terested in general Southern growth. Consequently this joint publicity effort was organized, and. in December 1908. publicly laid down the sure bases or greater South in It's unique eonve1- non here. IL is for no mans personal riorv or benefit--it Is for the whole South. No effort is made at this point to prompt specific buying of property ana thus conflict with any real estate efforta. We are for general public stx,. fo arouse general interest and in- c,,tr,es that will react to your bene- dt as. well as other mems. various cornrnercial organizations of the South are contributing $25 each to the ex- nanse of the meeting, therefore no Ice Ia charged for attending: nor IS at- .sndance restricted. The sessions are nnan to all who are interested. You are interested-ComeI
 There are two conclusions to this let- +er The flrst is this-If a brisk de- Tnard can be created for Southern isrds their value will rise. A rise ot s1 per acre will enrich the soutn soOo.'
 The second is this-You ought to be bere Decemher and to teach as well aa to learn by contact with other men s. ,,our Iira of business from all States ts tke south, to help work out an in' .a-ststa nublicity move to confound anS refute the hindering wrong im- -rss.tons that exist in relation to the south. to state what large tracts or ards are nIaced in your hands for d. .,t.,or or for ro,onization purposes.
 Come and strike hands with busi- ness men just as busy as yourself but ready to give time to plan and work ''for a greater Nation through greater South.
 John M. Parker. Preident. (Member of
 progressive Union. New Orleans