The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-15

(Exclusive Service The Survey Press Bureau.)
 The negro in business has been making unusual progress. In 1911 the American negro, engaged in farming, lnerehandls- ing, real estate, manufacturing, iumber- ing, insurance, printing and puplishing, engineering and banking contributed over $70o 000,0c0 to the wealth of the nation. It has been aptly said that ''the race creates admirably; it gets Jeff in the dis- tribution." The problem of the negro in business is this: How to make the raw material produced by him not the end of his effort but the basis of his individual activity.
 Through persistence, initiative and CO., operation, thousands of negro men and women in all parts of the United States have developed small business ventures into substantial business enterpris es. They have saved and invested money carefully; they have put into their everyday bus- Hess life the wise suggestions given them by pr. Washington and other men who are vitally interested in the races well fare. Today the outlook for the negro in business is not only bright, biit aetu- ally inspiring. Negro men and women are quietly getting firm hold on tue essentials of success in business-the buying of homes, the extension of busi- ness. the opening of factores, he estab- lishment of banks and the better appre- citation of commercial pursuits.
 pr. Washington has emphasized the im portance of the 100000 negroes In Amer ica becoming the owners and users of their share of the 270,000,0o0 acres of un- used and unoccupied land i'll the south and west. He declares that if white men can establish and operate saw1aills, coal mines, brick yards, lime lIilas, and other enterprises so as to secure wealth and happiness. he can see no reason wAy the negro should not engage in similar work and reap some of the benefits which come to those who own, develop, manu- facture and trade in the natural resources of the country. He declares that In at least 25 places in the south and west ne- groes may build towns and cites slmilar to Mound Bayou in Mississippi ,.nd Boley in Oklahoma. To carry on this construc- tive work negro men and women from the colleges and universities are needed. To increase the business strength and h. fluence of negroes. men must organize, locally, in the state, and ill the nation By the side of the teacher and the min ister there must stand in helpful rela- tion the independent farmer, the real estate owner. the manufacturer, the mer- chant, and the banker.
 
 according to pr. Washington. tor scot additional negro dry goods stores, 5000 gro cery stores, S560 drug stores. De0 shoe stores, 1500 millinery stores, and s0o0 negro banks. Development and activity In al' these lines" according to Dr. Washington,
 does not mean that we are to be commer- cialized as a race-to be merely breaG- winners, hewers of wood and drawers of water. It means that we shall be pro- ducers of bread, owners of bread, manu- lecturers of bread, dealers in bread, c's that we shall gather wealth from tue bread business. which can be turned into the highest and best things of life. We are to be owners and users of wood Sa a way that will bring to us happiness. usefulness and prosperity.
 A few experiences given in breast outline will suggest the uphill struggle chat the negro in business has had. t. w Green of Fayette, Miss, the largest negro tax payer in Jefferson county. began work at slO a month. At the end of 10 years ne was earning $6O month. He became an independent farmer. Now he owns io1 acres of land, so head of stock, carries SlsOO worth of insurance osl ms house, sl1 GOO worth of insurance on his life. erl- blows 70 working people, and has property holdings worth $s0.000 at least. This col ored man began his married life with few possessions-a pair of shoes worth Sl.5C A sl0 suit and wedding clothes worth Sl2. Green, who was left an orphan at the age of 1s has, at the age of 4s, become wealthy and independent fnruier. Who
 will harvest this year well over sooa bush- ! els of corn and at least 49 oaies of cot ton.
 David Nelson of Little Rock. Ark, owns 4o0 acres of land and is worth Soo,cel When he was emanicipated he did not have a dollar. Today Nelson raises on
 his farm apples and peaches. German