The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-22
How One Man Changed Sen timent Around Crystal
 Springs
TOMATOES BRING IN
 STREAM OF DOLLARS
Alabama and Jefferson County Have Much Greater Natural Ad- vantages Than This Mis-
 sissippi Community
Ax A.C. HOLT

Owing to the low prices existing in the cotton market some time ago there was considerable talk om crop diversitica tion; since that time. however. cotton has regained it's own, and Is now selling at good price. There has been very lit tie action.
 The following article will perhaps be of interest to the farmer who had contem- plated diversfyng his crop. but had doubts as to the advantage of truck farming over that of cotton planting.
 When it comes to taking care of their own interest, and having what they want the year round, Mississippi has every other section outclassed. The people down there are going right ahead with their own affairs. are staying at home and working, and working hard 10 hours a day and six days a week.
 When the boil weevils first made their appearance. and long before this time, the little town of Crystal Springs decided it could live and get along without the aid of cotton which had long since be- come q chronic habit. and the pauper's nightmare to the poor struggling farmer of this section
 For the past s5 years fruit raising and truck farming had been taken up in a small way kind of side line by a few scattered farmers. but they did not ac- complish much until northern man by the name. of John Day sold out his pos sessions in Michigan and came south and located at Crystal Springs.
 Means Limited
 Days financial means at this time were limited, and he could not be overchoice as to the quality of land he bought, and therefore purchased a place of very little apparent value But Day was an ener- getic, hard working man, and it was only a short time until he had his place in good shape, and things on the hum. He first went in for stra wberries and peaches, and some tomatoes. buN he real ized such handsome returns on his toma- toes that he stopped the strawberry and peach culture and went into that of toma- toes alone on more extensive scale' add ing many other varieties of good selling and good marketable vegetables to his list.
 It is claimed and do not doubt 1t, that at the beginning MT. Day cleared $lOoO from one acre of tomatoes.
 From this time up to the present day truck farming became general and has lncfedStu lTbIu year tO year uitt it iioS reached tremendous proportions. One days shipment last season ran up as high IS 70 cars of tomatoes alone. The season lasts about eight weeks. The Crystal Springs tomatoe is very large and smooth. and of very fine color and flavor. There is always ready sale for them In the northern and eastern mar kets at a good price.
 Tomatoes, beans. English peas, carrots. cabbage, and Irish potatoes are the prin- cipal truck raised having been tested out, and found to bring more satisfactory re- suits in various ways.
 How Railroad Aided
 The truck farmers were very fortunat in having such fine railroad Uhe Illinois CentraD to handle their product to the markets. In fact they would never have attained the great success which they dio without the assistance they received at the hands of this great railroad system.
 At first shipments were made by ex- press but this left little or no profit for, the farmer. Then the railroad manage ment took hold of the matter, and meet ngs were held with the truck shippers, and people in general. and a special rate was decided on, fast freight service waa arranged. large ice storage houses were built and Lake Michigan ice was hauled there during the winter and stored ready for icing cars for the following spring shipments.
 As a result of such extensive prepara- tions for truck farming, quite number of veneering mills have been erected at various places throughout the state one very large one being at Crystal Springs. which employs several hundred men and women the year round continuously. Dur ing this war these veneering plants have been the very salvation of many poor families in these sections. other industries having been closed down. These mills ran regularly.
 Jefferson C0unty's Possibilities Alabama and especially Jefferson county is splendidly adapted to truck and fruit raising. and should get started without a days delay. I have inspected some Of the tomatoes and other produce grown in this section, and it compares favorably in every way with the Mississippi prod uct There Is no reason whatever why the farmers of this section should not get into the truck raising business on large scale I do not mean 70 raise Just enough for consumption in the Birmingham dis trict. or for peddling purposes, but in car load and train load shipments The farmers in this section have ideal conditions in every particular; there is nothing lacking. It Is even better than has Mississippi, as Birmingham is about 800 miles nearer the eastern and northern markets. which would mean considerable saving in freight revenue, and the produce would arrive at it's destination in a much fresher and better condition than either the Mississippi or Florida crop. and agair competition Is here in plenty. and con tinues so all the way through. This higt class revenue freight Is eagerly sought after by all railroad lines and shippers would be assured of the best service. and and fast time at all times.
 As l have already said. Alabama and Jefferson county would have the advan- tage over other sections in many ways. The Alabama farmer is just as ener- getic and intelligent as any other far mer The people in Mississippi did not know what they had until John Day came south and told them, and showed them.
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