The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-12

accompanied by District Agent Campbell and Rev. A. F. Owens, head of the Bible Training school at Tuskegee made an in spection of the condition of the people on the plantation in order to see what could be done to improve the living condition of tenants as we'll as to improve methods of farming As a result of the report of this committee, pr. J. H. Jones offered to furnish free of charge all the lime neces- sary to whitewash all the houses in the quarters, including the new church build ing. pr. Jones promised further to guar antee the salary of good school teacher to instruct the 100 children on the planta- tion. He has already donated the use of ten acres of ground which the tenants cultivated comparatively and made suffi- cient money on 1t to pay for the construc- tion of the new church building. Dr. Jones and the other white planters con tributed to fund to defray the expenses of the demonstration agents.
 A two days meeting for the benefit of negro farmers was held recently at Mp- lers Ferry Industrial school. The large platform of the chapel in which the meet ing was held was decorated with farm products, including corn, potatoes, pump kins. alfalfa, etc, samples of household furniture made by the students of the school, including rocking chairs made from barrels. a large kitchen cabinet,
 
 blacksmithing, plain and fancy sewing from the department of girls industries, including dresses, shirts and quilts and an exhibit of bread from the department of domestic science.
 After Demonstration Agents Simms and Campbell had spoken to the people, Judge William Henderson and Rev. White, pas tor of the Presbyterian church, made short addresses.
 MT. J. D. Carmichael of Sunny South, the white demonstration agent for Wilcox county, who took hard drive across the country to attend the conference, said he thought that the agricultural interests of the south depend largely upon the success of the negro farmer, and that he had made this journey to see what was being done for colored farmers in this part of the state. He spoke in high praise of the work Of Demonstration Agent Simms.
 At other places throughout the county meetings were held by demonstration agents in negro churches. One of the re- suits of using the negro churches and school houses in which to hold their meet ings is that the people are learning to connect education and even religion with better farming and better living.
 Judge William Hendersons plantation of 5000 acres is one of the largest and most successful in the south During his speech at the conference at the Millers ferry ScnOOl, Judge HenuefSon called on all of his renters. of whom about 75 were present, to stand up. Then he asked ev- eryone who had succeeded in paying out this year to raise their hands. Every hand went up.
 One of Judge Henderson's renters, AL fred B. Abrams, stated that he furnished himself last year. made 25 bales of cot ton, 400 bushels of corn, 100 bushels of po- tatoes. three barrels of molasses, plenty of food for stock, and had stored away 1000 pounds of meat. Five other renters on Judge Hendersons plantation fur nished themselves during last year and had made from IS to 25 bales of cotton. Several of these have money in different banks.
 Judge Henderson has been a great ben efactor of the Millers Ferry negro school, which is located on land which he do- mated for the purpose. That he has re- ceived a good return for his investment was clear in the intelligent and good ap- pearance generally of the farmers who attended the meeting, as well as in the good feeling that seemed to exist among them. A. F. OWENS
 Tuskegee Institute, February g. 1912