The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-03-20

fore the conference
  prosperity of the state in general and the Birmingham district in particular
 It is to be hoped that President Ford in starting his administration with this practical question will bring to it's sup port the same intelligent and efficient methods toward following it up to the de- sired ends that he has used so well in his other interests. If that is done he will aid in placing Birmingham in the very strongest position possible to be at taned in the field of industry, and give it supremacy beyond question in the world of iron and steel and their allied lines ot business.
 The agricultural and the mineral sec tions of Alabama should work together in the utmost harmony for the upbuld- ing of each, since each is dependant upon the other for the highest possibilities of either. With home markets the agri- cultural interests of Alabama can grow and prosper beyond compare. while food supplies furnished the industrial district from home sources will meet the prob lem of high living expenses and effect ually solve 1t, thus 1t will be apparent how clearly mutual is the relationship of these interests
 It is essentially practical and entirely within the scope of work pertaining to the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce should not permit public attention to be al. has been aroused to it's importance With such an organization behind 1t move ment can be launched that will soon have a response from even the remotest parts of the state and the people of Alabama will reap a harvest of wealth from, it that Is inapproachable from any other field or source whatever.
 And I wish our own people to reap that harvest and not others. as would be the case If we were now to import a horde of immigrants from any quarter to im- prove these lands To my mind the easiest way to obtain desirable immi- grants is first to get our own people to appreciate the value of this really price, less inheritance that they possess and then set themselves to the task of let ting the world know what it Is through practical methods. There should be ex- perimental farms established throughout the state. agricultural schools in every district, good roads in evry county and the best of educational facilities for the rural districts NfH
 It should be made clear to the world that these lands are more valuable from a oney-earning standpoint that those that are bringing so much higher prices elsewhere and when this is done 1t will require no effort to get the very best of immigrants to settle them, and our own people will receive a more adequate re- turn for what they possess. I speak ad- visedly I have tried both through per- sonal visits among interested classes in the north and by extensive exploitation in advertising to get these classes here and they were generally disappointed when they came because they found noth- ing which seemed to justify the claims that had been made The best plan Is now to show these classes. and when we do this they cannot be kept out, and that will solve the immigration and labor question at one and the same time
 This Is a work worthy of every loyal ron of Alabar1a and If our commercial bodies would frown down on so much political agitation and ask our leading papers to take up this practical matter we would have results that cannot now be estimated in value to Alabama
 It only requires intelligent leadership to bring this about.
 N. ?. THOMPSON.
 Birmingham, March 1s. 1910.