The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-23
DISCUSSES BLACK
 BELT CONDITIONS
T. J. Smith of Livingston Is
 Very Optimistic
BOOM IS ANTICIPATED
Farm Lands Being Settled Up and l. Placed in Modern Ways of Culti- vation--NOrthern Farmers
 Are Now Coming In

T. L. Smith, a prominent planter and business man of Livingston, was in Birmingham yesterday on personal pus- mess and while here visited several olo friends from the black belt who are, although removed from Livingston, stlll accounted among it's residents.
 He said that Livingston and the black belt was undergoing an awakening m almost every line of endeavor and that the present period of commerce and progress was not evidenced in any place in the state in a greater degree than Sumter county. He said that the promotion of stock raising and the bet torment of all agricultural surround ings of Sumter county was being taken up with remarkable results ana that eventually that section of the country would blossom forth under new conditions as few other sections. "The recent completion of the Ala bama, Tennessee and Northern railroad adn the impetus given farm lands by that line has done a great deal for that section of the country" said Mir. Smith. At this time engineers are working
 
 Illinois Central railroad, which gives additional encouragement to affairs In that section. In Sumter county I be- lieve along with a majority of per sons there that the Illinois Central railroad will buy the Alabama, Tennes- see and Northern railroad from that in dependent railroad giant, John T. Coch- rane, and enter Mobile through that connection. If that is done there will be a boom in south Alabama compar- able to no other section of the state.
 Many Causes of Activity
 "The construction of the Illinois Gen. tral, however, is not the only cause of the very active situation in that sec tion of the state. At Livingston we have transacted many farm land deals during the past few days that indicate strongly that alfalfa growers are be- ing attracted to our section of the state. We have caused the location there or several farmers from the western states. They purchased lands valued at about $50 to s70 per acre. The northern men say the lands are better and the investment lower than any where else and that the same great results that are obtained In other well established alfalfa sections may be se- cured In Sumter. In Sumter county the lands are cheaper and are as good as anywhere found.
 The soil that is adapted to the grow ing of alfalfa cannot be found any better developed than in Sumter county. Land Values Increasing "The influx of northern farmers and the truck growers that will eventually settle in our section of the country will give value to lands there that cannot be discounted. l believe that the farm lands of this state that can now be bought for s5 per acre up to $50 per acre or $75 per acre will be worth four or five times that figure within few years. The agricultural situation in this entire state is under going a decided change at this time, due, I have no doubt, to the fact that Ala bama cites are upbuilding and that a great tonnage of agricultural commo- dities are consumed in this section every month.
 Tn our section of the state truck farmers invade the northern markets far ahead of other growers in many lines and receive for them fancy prices and a great advertisement for thas section of the state. Taken altogether there is future for farm lands hera that cannot be misunderstood.
 Tn civic way our city of Llving- ton is going ahead. We have just com pleted the school buildings there cost ing about s100,000, and many other progressive steps that denote growt in civic tendencies that means fu- ture for Livingston along with the best smaller cities of the state."
 MT. Smith will be in Birmngnam to- day, perhaps returning to his home in Livingston this afternoon.