The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1913-12-12
THRIFTY CENTER
Of BUSINESS
Encouraging Report Of Race
Progress In South.
SPIRIT OF COMPETITION.

Remarkable Advances Made by tndivId.
uals In Montgomery Interestingly
Told by Traveller In Quest Of Facts
About Conditions a. They Actually
Ars-Work Of Local Organization.
by RALPH w. TYLER.
Montgomery, Ala.-A visitor to this
conservative city. where jefferson Da-
Wis took the oath as president of the
Confederacy. is struck at first with
how Tar into the background Of the
past the Negro has pressed the then
status Of his condition, Then the citys
colored Inhabitants were either housed
in master owned shanties or the ser.
wants quarters Of ''the big house" To
day they are either housed In comfort
able cottages or commodious residences
which they themselves own.
Then the problem was one which the
abolitionists Of the north were trying
to solve. Now 1t is a problem the Ne
groes Of pretty Montgomery are solv-
ing themselves. Another thing which
impresses the visitor to Montgomery Is
that the apparent conservatism. char
acteristic Of the city. among our people
- quickly dissipated when you men,
tion the city Of Birmingham, for It is a
matter OF confident belief with them
that they have achieved and are
achieving more In the way of material
progress than their fellows over in the
"Pittsburgh Of the south"
This rivalry existing between these
two cities makes for greater progress
among the people OF Montgomery.
Montgomery's 10000 population 10
about equally divided between the two
races. The city lies in the cotton belt
Of Alabama. and cotton growing would
be a lost art were it not for the colored
laborers. ] took a drive and, lest you
think the race here are not progress
siyA will state my drive was in
handsome touring car owned by Ne
GRO. was shown the beautiful homes
owned by our people and had pointed
out to me several hundred cozy mod
srn cottages owned and occupied by
colored citizens.
The colored people OF Montgomery
are making remarkable progress, and
the local Business league here is ac-
tive In fostering and extending busi-
ness establishments among the race
the president Of the league. J. n. Faz
gain. being one Of the most energetic
men I ever met in similar capacity.
They have, real Negro Business
league In Montgomery, one that be-
neves Negro business league should
be no pent up Utica, but an instru-
ment to advance the race along every
possible worthy line. For instance,
the league here is active in its efforts
to improve the school facilities, the
crusade. the Hale In
irmary and the employment Of col
ored matr0n in the waiting room Of
the railroad station. ts.s-:
Among the business establishments
In Montgomery which are owned. con-
trolled and manned by our folks are:
Two bakeries, one bank. two butcher
shops, more than dozen blacksmith
shops. three well furnished barber
shops, one carriage shop. one jewelry
store, two motion picture theaters.
three very successful realty companies.
eight shoemaking establishments, SIX
tailoring establishments, one large
transfer company. two funeral direc-
tors. one up to date drug store. two or
three insurance companies. one cloth
Ing store, several first class grocery
stores, one harness manufacturer and
two wide awake newspapers. The
professional men compare most favor
ably with any In the country.
I was much impressed with one par
agraph In recent letter sent ont by
the Negro Business league Of Mont
gomery to every member Of the league
that 1T should be remembered that we
are building race within a great CIV
which is exacting and calls
for our greatest efforts as a people.
as many do. representative
and patriotic citizens" The league is
doing everything in its power to urge
members Of the race to learn the build
Ing trades In order that the race may
the trades. just as 1t mo-
nopolizes the domestic service. While
most Of the bricklaying and carpenter
work In Montgomery Is still done by
Negroes, II is observed that white men
plying these trades have begun to get
I foothold In that city and to guard
against the possibility Of the Negro be-
ing driven from the trades the Negro
Business league here is urging that the
race learn the trades
Some of the Negroes who have put
on the business map, who