The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-08

subject" said MT. Jones. and Ala bama has the distinction of beginning l this work as state The travelling men can play conspicuous part in our agricultural development, and since | you are one of the greatest factors to create and maintain public sentiment as well as disseminate information, l appeal to you for your CO., operation. 1 l"The federal and state governments, 1 as we'll as other factors, have prose- cuted a vigorous campaign for diver sifcation of crops and laid particu lar stress on production, neglecting largely the subject of markets. And, yet, this latter is of paramount im- portance. Personally, think if prof itable market for products grown in Alabama was a reality the problem of production would solve itself. In other words, the Alabama farmer can produce more than he can sell under present conditions
 You are probably asking yourself, what this has to do with a salesman. feel sure that the salesmen of Ala bama have it in their power to cor rect this thing, for they can advise the merchants that if farm products are assembled in merchantable shape there is a profitable market for the same. At the present time in almost
 
 loads of ear corn would glut that mar get and, yet, with just little fore thought on the part of the merchants, that same town could ship daily i've car loads of corn. For a small invest ment, a power corn sheller could be installed and that community offer real service to it's farmers.
 "This same thing is true of hay. Ala bama has probably seen the last of cotton seed hulls for feeding, as other industries have claimed them for the lint at a higher price. It is up to our merchants to produce a substitute. If the proper machinery is installed to grind up our wild hay, you have not only cheaper product, but one that is more than double in feed value than cotton seed hulls. At the same time, you will have found market for product that heretofore has been a drug on the market. &
 By virtue of your vocation you not only have it in your power to reflect credit upon this organization, but to do real service for your state by dis pensing information on this subject in the several communities you visit in the course of your work. Impress the merchant with the fact that 1t is his duty to put into merchantable shape the products of the farm. "We travelling men frequently dis cuss freight rates, and it seems to be a general feeling that they are high. My observation is that many, many car loads of logs are being shipped out of the state My investigation is that a large part of these shipments go to Michigan and the freight rate Is $1. 60. Further investigation shows that the finished product of these logs is re- turned to us in the form of furniture, tool handles etc.
 Now, just suppose prohibitive freight rate was placed on logs What would be the result? The south has corner on timber and Alabama is es- pecially rich in hardwood. The result would be. those factories would move to the timber As a consequence high class labor would come With the fac tories, meaning more people to pro- vide for from the states farms The same condition is true on practically all of our crude products. Yet, the railroad commission is continually be- seiged with requests for a reduction of rates"
 MT. Jones told an amusing story of how he secured an interview with J. Pierpont Morgan.
 
 One of the best application getters ever, was uncovered by Frank Means Friday afternoon. when he secured the application for membership of Jim Landmann. The ink had not had time to dry on MT. Landmarks application before he turned around and wrote two applications on his own account, mak- ing a total addition of three members to the T. P. A. in 1essc than two min utes If MT. Landmann keeps up that stroke he will be elected national president of the T. P. A. next year.