Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-08-29

What can we do with a billion dollarse
II this sum were at my disposal for the
promotion Of the welfare OF the ten
southern states south OF the Ohio and
east OF the Mississippi river. l would
place 81. goo. 0O0. eco to the credit OF cap
ital account for the avOwed purpose OF
providing the NEEDED expenses OF the
fern. Iessening the high interest rates
which the farmer now has 10 pay, and
diminishing tenancy. The next $780,
00O. 200 would be used for the building
OF 10000 miles of sand clay roads an
nually at cost OF S2,5Oe PEI mile In
the nrst year interstate thoroughfares
could be constructed connecting the
rural districts and the centers of ae-
tivfty I'm every state. The third $780,
100000 would be used for the purchase
of implements and farm equipment. The
crying need of the south today is crop
diversification. This cannot be accom-
plished until We secure enlarged equip
ment for the farm and the varied as
sOrtment Of implements necessary to
properly plant. cultivate, harvest ana
care for diversified crops. The fourth
500. 0O0. 900 would be devoted to the i'm
provement of our live stock This would
cradle US TO bring in one million pure
bred animals a year at cost or SlOO
apiece. and il would only be COM
paratively short time until the scrub
When We think OF the progeny OF 9
cow which cost SIT in the third genera
t.on being worth S142.5O for beef, We
can appreciate what il means to. the
south to improve the grade and char
acter of her live stock The fifth $780,
100000 would be devoted TO farm build
.ngs and better rural homes With this
sum OF money 10000 modern homes at
S2.560 apiece could be constructed.
one thousand FIVE hundred dollars should
go into the house and its appointments
and 81 900 into barns and other neces-
Sary outbuildings- When this is done
the country becomes an ideal place in
which TO live and the country home
source Of pleasure and pride and not
place of drudgery to the housewife as IL
is too often at the present time. Thirty
tive milliin dollars a year should be
spent for improved seeds and plants so
that production may be standardized In
other words. we are growing now sew
eral hundred varieties Of cotton AS
matter Of fact. they should probably all
he eliminated save half dozen OF the
best. When this is done thousands of
bales Of cotton of a given standard
could be produced in any one cOmmuni-
~ at an advance in price to the farmer
and a substantial gain to the manutac-
turer Thirty-fiye million dollars should
be used for the development OF perma-
neat fertility problems through the es-
adjustment Of crop rotations The waste
due to the one-crOp system is incalcula-
BILE. IL will continue just long as
the present system OF practice is fol-
lowed.
There should be 500. 1000. 900 spent for
rural schools for the encouragement
and advancement of rural people. With
this sum Of money 10000 consolidated
schools could be erected annually al
cost Of $4,000 piece. A handsome
and commodiOus brick structure could
soon be built in every rural section,
thereby providing the type and char
acter of instruction essential to bring
about the elimination OF the frightful
waste and loss which we suffer at the
present time. S1O.0OO.00O should be
spent annually for training agricultural
experts. This Is enough to develop 1000
new leaders a year and thus AFFORD an
incentive and opportunity TO the genius
Of the youth Of the south to prepare
themselves TO become home missionaries
of the most approved and reliable type
These men would find their opportunity
for leadership in the direction OF con-
solidated rural schools and in the re-
search work and extension service Of
the agricultural colleges and experiment
stations. 100000 should be set aside
annually for the employment OF addi-
1000 experts could be employed or
number greatly in excess of that pro-
vfded for in the whole United States at
the present time A county agent has
been known to save to his community
the equivalent Of $4,000 a year. This
is a conservative estimate. Imagine,
therefore, what could be accomplished
could 1000 experts be set TO work in
the area under discussion. 500. OOO.
900 should be devoted to the building
Of new churches and establishing mis-
sions. This would enable the construc-
tiCn OF 20. 900 churches in the rural dis
tricts each year, thereby bringing into
the life of the community the most
wholesome and constructive influence
the world had ever known. and afford
the country people the facilities for
worshipping God which they are now
frequently denied and which has been
one OF the primary causes of people
moving from the open country into the
city. 100000. 900 should then be saved
and used TO liquidate debts and to aid
in the development OF a rural credit
system where necessary.
II is needless to point out that this
distribution Of wealth is logical, though
some might place the expenditures sug-
gested in a different order. The fact
uppermost in the mind OF the writer
has been that an infant must be fed,
washed. clothed. housed and developed
into worthy manhood. In other words,
il is necessary for US. first, to provide
capital and equipment before we can
hope TO have the benefits which the &C
crued wealth enables US TO later enjoy.
Now. let Us consider a moment in con-
clusion what the saving OF a billion
dollars and using il as indicated above
would accomplish. First OF all, il seems
clear to my mind that race would be
SeveIoped rooted in the soil because