The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-20
This Determined By Chamber
of Commerce in the Meet
ing Last Night
LAND DEPARTMENT
WILL BE CREATED
Active Work VIII Be Begun in Brinr-
ing Desirable Immigrants Into
the District--DetaiIs of
the Meeting

AS result of the meeting of the
Chamber of Commerce last night. a
great electric sign will be stretched
across First avenue and Twentieth
street, calling upon the people of Biz
mingham to Trade at Home" a per-
manent land department of the cham
Der will be established, man will
be employed to draft and distribute
literature exploiting farm lands around
Birmingham, and to go after pros
pective settlers; $4,000 will be raised
to maintain the department
Serious doubt was expressed as to
the thoroughness of the recent census,
President Ford having sent out eight
men to make a test, and out of 1895
people 2eS had been missed or 121s
per cent. Without casting any reflec-
ton on the census officers he feared
that II great number of people had
been missed and thought that If the
census is not complete another should
be taken. committee was appointe ed
with power to investigate and act, con-
sisting of T. H. Motion, j. D. Moore
and M. p. Messer.
The report of the committee on rural
farming and its adoption represents the
crystalization of the ideas suggested al
cost of living and improve the labor
situation in the Birmingham district
1t is the great task which the Ford
administration set for the feature of
this years work
Adams' Report
The report was read by Oh airman
John H. Adams as follows:
Birmingham, Ala. May 10, 1910.
To the Chamber of Commerce, Biz
mingham, Ala:
Gentlemen-Your comittee on the
farm movement question having look ed
into the question of how best to ac-
complisli such movement for the good
of the Birmingham district beg to rec
ommend the following:
l. The employment of a suitable man
to draft literature exploiting the suit
ability of lands around the outlying
districts of Birmingham, jefferson and
adjoining counties.
2. In addition to the preparation of
literature such man will distribute the
same in the proper channels by per-
sonal contact with prospective set
tiers.
8. Your committee recommends fur
Their the establishment of a permanent
land department of the Chamber OF
Commerce for the purpose of provid-
ing the necessary lands for prospective
farmers and gardeners.
4. Your committee recommends tina
the Chamber of Commerce raise the
sum of $1,000 for the purpose of start
l. IL. ~ - l.. 49, =
the maintenance of the same for the
first year JOHN r. ADAMS.
Chairman
For Home Trade
7. Fl. Motion suggested that the legis
lature should furnish the money for
Immigration work, but John w. Sibley
John Fl. Adams, S. Heckinger and Mr.
Ford argued the great Importance OF
the work. Mr.. Adams called atten-
ton to the real labor situation in Bir-
mingham, that no other district is SO
badly harnInred and that other places
give moro attention to bringing in Ia
Dor
Mr.. Ford outlined the scheme; stated
that ne would appoint five committees
to solicit the subscriptions, and that
the burden would be evenly dstrib-
uted among all tn ose who should con-
tribute. The recommendations were all
adopted unanimously.
The report of Chairman r. w. Ew-
ing brought out very interesting dis
cussion. w H. Stockham said that
hardware jobbers have got into the
habit of going north, and as a result
the southern manufacturer finds it diff
ficulut to get a market. He thought 1t
should be made a matter of south ern
pride that a southern man should buy
things made in the south. and suggest
ed that the jobhers be asked as mat
ter OF policy to give preference to
southern made goods. Wilkerson ad-
vocated introducing the subject In the
schools and womer's clubs. appealing
to the patriotism of the school chill
dren and the ladies, but making 1t
the men that If they spend their money
here they will get some of it back, but
IL 1t is spent anywhere else 1t will be
gone forever.
President Ford announced that he would
put up the big electric sign and run 1t
for the chamber without charge, and his
proposition was accepted with a vote of
thanks.
Methods of bringing the subject before
the public were suggested by T. H. Mol
ton, John W. Sibey. Major F. Y. Ander-
son, ]. d. Moore, and j. v. Schaefer.
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