The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-01-02
GOVERNMENT IS
HELPING FARMER
Spends ,000'AnnuaIIy
In Experimentation
MONEY FOR INVESTORS
Large Sums VIII Be Paid Out During
the Present Month In Dividends.
Industrial Situation in
Alabama.

| gratifying 1t must be to farmers through
| the country to know that the United
States government is spending In the
neighborhood of s1S,OO0.Ooo every year on
experimental work looking toward In
creasing the yield and efficiency of the
farms Of the United States.
This money Is not expended in foolish
experiments. but all investigations are
made under the personal supervision of
experienced departmental heads. Secre-
tary Wilson is a practical man and re-
quires results from all lines Of inyestiga-
tion Every avenue OF trade is covered
because the farmer Is largely dependent
upon them for his success. His prosper
ity ultimately brings profitable results in
all other lines of business
Recently q railroad official said the
United States government could better
AFFORD to invest the cost of one battle
ship in agricultural experimental work
than to spend 1t IN increasing the navy.
A f1rst-class battleship costs about S9,OO0,-
600. Secretary Wilson decided that a state
ment ought to be issued telling about
the great work which his department is
doing. Copies of the report can be had
by applying to the department of agricul-
ture of Washington. This report tells of
only 20 bushels of potatoes to an acre.
and who dissatisfied, appeal to the agri-
cultural department for assistance and
advice. Both were given and now this
farmer is raising $50 bushels of potatoes
to an acre where he formerly could only
grow 20. The department supplied him
with seed and information how to best
prepare the ground in which to plant the
potatoes. This is only given as one of
many Illustrations to prove the efficient
work being done.
This month will see the largest dividend
disbursement ever made. The enormous
sum of over $225,000000 will be paid to
investors within the next four weeks. A
year ago they were s19s,00O,000, while In
1907 they were S220,0O0,O0O.
Railroads will pay to shareholders in
January a little more than 900, an
increase Of about s49, 900 over the same
month of last year, while stockholders of
industrials, mining and public utility con-
Germs will receive more than s61. 200, Co.,
a total of s1S3,o0o,00O in dividends. Inter
est payments will aggregate more than
S92, 900, of which $50, 600 900 will repre-
sent the fixed charges on the outstanding
railroad bonds, and $50, 900 interest pay
ments will be made on the combined bond
ed indebtedness Of the miscellaneous cor
porations of the country Interest charges
tory, and show to what extent the large
corporate concerns were forced to borrow
funds to meet maturing obligations dur
ing the pressing days following the panic.
prominent banker and industrial man
told me the other day he would not be
one bit surprised to see 250,00o,0o0 or
| even S265,000 600 paid out in dividends in
1911 juggling from the present outlook
| for the future.
Reinforced concrete construction is the
| coming substitute for lumber" said the
| head of one of the big New York con-
struction companies to me this week.
| eve see the advantages of the concrete
work everywhere. This Is well illustrated
| In the subways, where enormous pressure
! and constant vibration are present.
Lumber is growing scarcer every day,
while building operations are growing
In the Panama canal work concrete takes
the lead Last year 1t used 100000 bar
rels of Portland cement, while 10 years
| ago 1t used but 900 barrels"
| Consul Walter c. Hamm at Hull, Eng
| land sends word to New York friends
| that California oranges are unusually
plentiful in England at this time. He
| says large quantities of the Florida and
| Jamaica crop are coming in. Apples from
! the middle west are In great demand
l.
| far finer quality than any that come from
| italy or Spain. Grapefruit, he says, is
| little known In England, but he thinks
| the Pacific coast fruit men will surely
push this fruit into the British Isles.
New York and Philadelphia capitalists,
| 7 learn. are back of the big improve
| ments to be made at the Raccoon cotton
mills near Rome, Ga. The stewart-More-
head company of Savannah has purchased
| the plant of the Raccoon concern. and
| now a stock company will be made of It
| The companys plans are to be develop
| an available water power In the vicinity
which can be used to generate electricity
to run the mill It is also expected to
| have surplus power which can be sold
to nearby towns and consumers for light
| ing and other purposes. The changes
call for a boO0-spindle mill
| From the same source l find a new or
| ganization has been formed at Savannah.
entitled, the Savannah Hydro Electric
Construction company, which expects to
construct big plant on the Connoocehe
| river, 40 miles from Savannah. This COM
pany win start with capital Of 100000.
While making further inquiries about
these Georgia Industries, a Wall street
broker told me $4,000 cotton mill Ii
to be erected near the Star Thread mill
at Barnett Shoals, In the Oconeo river.
l .
1000 horse power hydro-electric plant 10
to be built on the Oconee river near Ath-
ems, Ga Capt James White and J. Y.
! Carithers are among the promoters who
have been negotiating with capitalists In
this city I understand the investment
will aggregate over 100000. Extensions
to the Macon street railway will be sup
piled with power from this new plant
Manager NJ. e. Gillett Of the Florida
Citrus exchange was In the city this
week accompanied by w. @. Temple q
large orant<e grower of Winter Park,
Fla, as the guest of A. H. Kay, general
manager of the Northern exchange. I'VE
came north to examine market conditions
and also to learn what New Workers
want, and the way they want it," said
Mr.. Gillett. I'VE have had some com plant
about the way our fruit arrives In the
northern markets, and we propose maxi
ing q comprehensive report to the grow
ers. visited Buffalo. Boston, Cincinnati
and other cities of the north. and every
where I was much pleased with condi-
tons. We are trying as an exchange
to prevent the shipment Of green fruit, but
we can only recommend and use our ut.
most endeavors TO abolish these evils, We
expect this years Florida crop WIN BE-
between $4,000 and 100000 boxes. Al
ready we have shipped over 100000 boxes
and the Independents have shipped about
1