The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-10-19

United States or one stream on the west
Columbia river at Priest Falls, Ore
The Tennessee river at Muscle Shoals
is the greatest water power in the coun-
try outside of Niagara Falls but projects
don't always go where they should, and
through neglect we may lose.
Government engineers, in their re-
ports on different sites, have recon-
mended that no other place but Muscle
Shoals should be considered, as 1t is
the only available site. Wi6 all
things in our favor, we yet must work
hard for the nitrate plant at Muscle
Shoals. At the gatherings in other
states at which 1 spoke, all seemed
willing to help us. But we need
money, and need 1t badly, to rush this
campaign and keep 1t going. Those
who are able should come forward and
work with the Chamber of Commerce
committee that has undertaken the
task of raising Alabama's share Of the
general fund. Cer;ainlv we ought to
do as much as outsiders
OFFER CHEAP MONEY
AT Cincinnati last week, after my
talk to the Investment Bankers in re-
gard to the nitrate plant and cheaper
money for the south, and Alabama in
particular, the individual members
were surprised to learn the many crops
that can be made here and the posi-
bilities of live stock farming, and in
timated they would have large sums
to offer soon. Bankers of Alabama
have offered to handle this money and
investigate each application for loans
before placing same for commission
Of 2 per cent the first year, provided
the money can be secured at per cent
for the farmer. Or, in other words, the
borrower would pay per cent on his
loan the first year and after that 6
per cent, keeping the money to 10
years. This would be no big profit for
Alabama bankers, but would carry ac-
tual expenses, and allow the tiller to
have money as low as per cent This
offer was very favorably received at
the Cincinnati meeting, and the same
proposition will be put before the
Farm Mortgage Bankers at Memphis
next week. at which gathering / will
speak Large investors In the north
always feared farm loans in the south
because they did not know the, charac-
ter of crops that could be grown. but
If the south will turn from the one
crop system of agriculture and go into
the live stock business and grow grain
and hay, the south can get just as
cheap money as any other part of the
nited States.
1.-The farmers of the south must wake
up and see in the boil weevl damage not
only the devastation of the crop, but a
great opportunity to take another form
of agriculture which Is more profitable
and carries with it plenty of credit and
low interest rates.
MUST HAVE BANK
Birmingham must have the farm loar
bank. will appear before the board ir
this city and talk for Birmingham.
will also stress the tenant farmers con-
dition in Alabama and the south. and
show what enormous interest charges hi
is now paying. The farm loan bank fol
Birmingham would be nice prize, but
the nitrate plant at Muscle Shoals would
be worth a hundred banks to Alabams
in comparison, as this government prop
osition virtually means the making of a
new Alabama, as far as agriculture is
concerned. Let's try and land then
both. 90
Mrs. Mathis goes to Albertville today
to speak on Preparation for the Boil
Weevil," and. the above propositions
Next week she Will speak at the live
stock show at Montgomery, and on the
18th and 27th will be in attendance a
the annual meeting Of the Farm Mort
gage Bankers of America at which time
she will endeavor to show where money
at reasonable interest rates can be safely