The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-07-18
Vegetable Growing Communi-
ty Is Prosperous
NEW CANNING FACTORY
VIII Enable People to Dispose of Crops
When Immediate Market Is Not
Available-Telephone Sys-
tenn Spreading
BY WALTER HARPER
BY WALTER HARPER

Hol lettiIS udy pass WilHout Hdstei-
ing the preparation. And they are bet
ter for the effort even though the weevil
never arrives.
The sandy section lying just here is
the kitchen garden of middle Alabama.
1t is one of the most prosperous COM
munties in the state.
Its reputation for vegetable growing is
we'll established not only in the markets
of Alabama but in northern and eastern
markets as we'll The soil is exception
ally fertile and its adaptability to the
growing of garden truck is very marked
Hundreds of acres here cannot be bought,
at any price. They produce two and
sometimes three valuable crops every
year and the soil is easy of cultivation.
The corn and cotton now growing on
the lands are as fine as any I have seen
in the state and these crops were planted
after most profitable crop of vegetables
had been gathered. The planters here
are always sure of one good crop and the
rule is two.
The vegetable crop this year was off on
account of the cold weather In April and
la glut in the ma-ket that came just
as the bulk OF the Cuba shipments was
sent out. The crop that should have
netted $4,000 brought $4,000.
Build Canning Factory
One or the disadvantages that has been
in the way of a more successful handling
of the crop will be eliminated this year.
The crop Is perishable and must be
handled the moment it is gathered. II
there is a glut in the available markets
much of the profit is lost.
To overcome this and create home
market a large canning factory Is be-
ing organized and will be built at once.
The organization was perfected last Fri
day and the building of the plant will
begin in the next two weeks. One hun
bred and fifteen truck farmers In the
community have taken stock in the en-
terprise which speaks well for the bust
ness judgment and public-spiritedness of
these people. L. Poole. mayor of Cuba,
was elected president of the concern, and
Frank Mcdonald of Huntsville will be
general manager. Mr.. Mcdonald is one
of the best canning factory men in the
state and is young man OF dnusual
enterprise and business ability.
The factory will be built on the most
modern plans and the canning of syrup
and sweet potatoes will be made a speci-
atty. 1t is the intention of the planters
here to substitute sweet potatoes for
cotton as a second crop Ribbon cane
grows to perfection here and the man
ufacture and canning of syrup will be-
come leading feature when the boil
weevil interferes with the growing of
cotton. Indeed 1t is the intention of the
farmers to abandon cotton anyway for
more profitable CROPS
Vegetables Wasting
Fruit and vegetables are going to waste
In the fields and orchards for lack of
profitable market and inability to pre-
serve the products
Cuba has a population of about 700
people and is one of the most substantial
little towns in the south. The people are
easy-going, thrifty and prosperous AL
most every man In the town and entire
section has a snug account to his credit
In the bank. AS an evidence of the gen.
eral prosperity of the community 1t is
cited that the Bank of Cuba paid 100 per
cent profit for last years business. 1t is
said this bank holds a larger cash re-
serve than any other bank of it's size in
the state.
The capital stock of the bank Is $15,-
00O During the first five years follow
iIlS It's ibdHlAdtioH III the BUCK
holders were paid $500 In dividends. w.
K. McGowen is president. A. L. Vaughan
is vice president and s. C. Ward is
cashier.
Town OnicfaIs
The officers of the town are as follows
Mayor, L. Poole; mayor protein, T. p
McGowen; secretary, w. A. Waddell;
councilmen, T. P. McGowen, W. P. STALL
worth, w. s. Daniels, G. w. McElroy
and W. A. Waddell
During the present administration the
indebtedness of the town has been re-
duced from $3.50 to $1100 and the bonded
indebtedness has been refunded at a
lower rate of interest and two school
bonds retired. 1t is the intention of the
council to reduce the rate one mill this
coming fall, and some time in 1911 to
ebert half-mle of street
The town has a good public school
system with an averkge attendance of
1885, Prof. ]. Williams has been elected
as principal for the next term. The
teachers already elected are Miss Annie
Ria Davis, Miss Mary T. Brock, Miss
Fannie Rainier and Miss sallie Smith.
The present school building is a COM
modious frame structure but plans are
now developing for the erection of a
brick building with all modern con-
veniences. The trustees of the school are
w. E. McGowen, A. L. Vaughan, w. G.
MCDANIEL. ]. F. Allen and T. P. Tate.
EnterprisinE Newspaper
The town has an enterprisIng news
paper, the Cuha Enterprise, that Is do
ing much to build up the section and
especially in the elevation of the ag-
rcultural interests. Thomas Kirk is the
editor. He is given the hearty support
and cooperation of the enterprising cit
liens of the town and community.
One of the striking features of this
section is the warm sympathy that ex-
lists between the Alabama Great South
ern railroad and the people.
The shippers and the road officials seem
to understand each other thoroughly and
have due regard for the interests of each
other.
The b,ildng of 81 miles OF rural tele-
phone lines to every section of the coun-
try has done perhaps more than any
other one thing to improve the general
condition of the people and make the
growing of truck profitable. The sys-
tenn is complete in every respect and the
service all that could be desired The
bank officials tell me that the rural tel
ephone system has done more than any
other one thing to increase individual
bank deposits and increase the perma-
nent prosperity of the people.
Rural Telephones
A telephone line has just been COM
pleted to Yantley In Choctaw county
Just across the line from Cuba. This,
by the way, is the only telephone or tel
egraph connection that Choctaw county
has with the outside world. Butler, the
county seat. is absolutely without con-