The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-09-22
OWENS TALKS ON
 SOUTH'S PROGRESS Southern Commercial Congress
 Doing Great Work GATHERING DATA HERE Will Re in Birmingham During State Fair, at Which sTime He VIII Have
 Good Opportunity to Study
 Alabama Resources
GATHERING DATA HERE

Dr. Clarence J. Owens, the well-known Alabanian who recently became commits sioner of agriculture and immigration for the Southern Commercial congress, Is in Birmingham and talks interestingly of his new work.
 T have just returned to Birmingham from Columbus, Ga, where I was sent by the Southern Commercial congress to study industrial and agricultural condi- tions," said Dr. Owens
 "The conference of the Southern Com mercial congress to be held in Atlanta October will be attended by a number of Alabamas most prominent business leaders.
 Governor Gray appointed a strong del- egation to represent Birmingham. The list includes the following progressive men; w. D. Jelks, Frank S. White Sr., Robert Jemison, Jr. R. S. Munger, W. A. Green, H. s. Matthews, John L. Raul, George G. Crawford. CuIpepper Exum, F. M. Jackson, F. F. Enslen, Ross c. smith, John L. Parker, Ben M Jacobs, A. D. Lightner and George A. Blinn.
 President A. H. Ford and Secretary Joseph B. Babb of the Chamber of Com merce have been invited by the executive committee of the congress to be present.
 The congress authorizes the statement that the problems of the south should be solved by the men of the south, and that only upon a common meeting ground where brain can touch brain, where pur- rx-ff common needs can be thrown upon united effort, will we work out as rapid a change in our conditions as our oppor- tunities justify. The Southern Commer- cial congress is designed to be this meet ing place. It is designed to be a confed- eration of all local southern commercial bodies and individual business institu- tions interested in southern progress: an extended chamber of commerce doing for a section of country what the local cham Der does for its community; q centralized source of information and inspiration for local organizations, a national office for each; cooperative bureau of assembling and circulating nationally the broad facts regarding industrial, commercial and az DEORTeSS south.
 The study which I have made of the Birmingham district has been reve lation to me. I have gathered facts and figures concerning Birminghams natural and acquired resources and will give the data prominence in the gen eral story of the whole south. Bir- mfngham has her needs and her prob lens, but her citizenship will In good time supply the needs and solve the problems.
 The officials of the Chamber of commerce and many representative bus mess men have heartily indorsed the work of the congress and have aided me in my work. In addition to the strong list of sustaining members of the con gress from Birmingham, have had the honor of reporting to headquarters the following men and institutions: Ten nessee Coal, Iron and Railroad com pany. George c. Crawford. president; Bessemer Coal. Iron and Land company, T. A. Weller, general land agent; Bir- mingham Realty company, J. c. Beatty, general manager Jemison Real Estate and Insurance company; Messer Real Estate and Insurance company; J. L. Yancey, Hill Ferguson, Hotel Hillman, H. L. Bailey, manager; T. H. Motion, Frank s. White, ST., R. s. Munger, Culpepper Exum, Alabama Consolidated Coal and Iron company, H. S. Mat thews, vice president; E. F. Enslen, F. M. Jackson, president Perfection Mat tress and Spring company.
 Tt Is my purpose to spend much time in Birmingham until the close of the state fair. The state fair will be great success, and will give me a splendid opportunity to study Ala bama's resources which will be ex- hibfted here"
 Dr. owens is a member of Zamora temple, Ancient Arabic Order, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and is comman- der-in- chief of the United Sons of Con- federate Veterans. has a strong rep sentation from Birmingham on his staff.
 He stated that the social and frater- nal courtesies which had been ex- tended to him by his friends made his stay in Birmingham a genuine pleas ure.