The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-04

chester spinner than the contract of
Spectator to deliver the cotton.
'One of the things advocated by the
Farmers union is a greater proportion
of federal appropriations for agriculture
In recent speech In the lower house CT
the Congress, Chairman Tawney of the
committee on Appropriations said that Il
per cent of the revenues of the govern
ment went for military expenses, which
amounted to s43O,0O0,oO0 for that period
This: is 80 timessas much as appropriat I'd
for agricultural purposes This session
the Senate has passed a bill providi ng
for SO, 500. 600 to pay for few acres or
land in Washington TO give better view or
the capitol. This is the kind of reclama-
ton which Washington understands, ana
to improve these few acres the legisla-
tors are ready to give one-quarter as
much as given for agriculture.
Benefits of Drainage
'If the government would spend one
and a half million dollars year for II
years for drainage surveys and in open
ing waterways to the gulf twill make
available 25000,000 acres of Mississippi
valley land for cultivation and this would
be at a cost OF 70 cents an acre. This
average would provide 80 more farms for
81, 500 families or a million and halt
people 1t costs s35 an acre to reclaim
land by irrigation The states of Arkan-
sas, Missouri and Louisiana are begging
for money for reclamation by drainage
but the politicians at Washington are not
disposed to heed their appeals.
During the last five years 100000
Americans. principally farmers, have
left the United States for Canada and
they took with them $1,000 each. Can
adian officials. all of whom are TAX
In i'm In securing the
best class of farmers for their coun-
trl estimate that this year they Will
get 1900 American farmers and that
they will bring with them 10000, 900.
Nearly all we hear from Washing
ton is about military explorations and
unimportant political controversies.
There is no word of encouragement
for the development of the country's
resources. If we had men in public
life who would take the same interest
in working out these questions on u
pra ctical. common sense basis, leav-
ing off their TRADES against the rail
roads. TIL cir services would be of great
err advantage to the farmers ami con-
sumers. The kind of politics which
has been preached to the farmers Tor
20 years has kept the farmers from
advancing their interests and keep
ing pace with those who are organ
lied. To arrive at the nigh business
standard to which the farmers nre des-
tined, their business, like others, must
be conducted in the most economical
manner.
Farmers and Railroads.
"In proposing closer relations be-
tween the farmer and the railroad ]
know that some politicians will crit
icize my motives, but I appreciate tho
fact that in having business talk with
you 7 am talking to the largest pro-
ducers of railroad freight and it Is
to our mutual interest to talk over
things and know each other better.
1.-The farmers and the railroads have
something to cooperate with and sumo
thing to cooperate for, The products
and supplies of the farms constitute Al
per cent of the freight of the western
railroads. It Is to our interest to
work with you in lettering your mar
keting fac Titles. for the more pros
porous yo uare the more business you
have for us. In working out econ
omies the consumer is also benefited
First, let us eliminate the men who
talk radical ideas to foster hatred and
malice between thu producer and trans
porter. Taking your products from
your farms to the market and in aid
ing you to get the best prices are the
ways In which we can probably work
together. We do not need any mid
die agent. We can talk straight at
one another and save money by do
ing SO. In short, let us work to-
gether.