The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-07-01
For the Good of
 the Community

NA/ lAI ldT-fodcn1ng oIIocCS one SCrOKo
 W ofthe pen may have is never realized until something occurs to bring home it's importance.
 In 1912 the Alabama Power company was prepared to introduce the nitrate industry into Alabama. The state legislature passed necessary enabling acts and con- grass realizing the importance of the new industry to the country, passed an act authorizing the company to do certain things. President Taft vetoed the bill in 1912.
 And with his veto the development of an industry essential to the winning of the great world war was prevented The war came on and the government had to spend millions of dollarsto create an essential in- dustry which, however, could not be got ready before the signing of the armistice.
 Nitrate had to be secured, in large part, at least from foreign country. And sup pose that country had joined the enemy. Can you imagine the predicament of this country?
 The Alabama Power company, the first to engage in generating hydro-electric power Tn Alabama on an extensive scale, was prepared at the time of President Taft's veto to make large developments. It contemplated the building of power dams at certain places on the Coosa river, and If carried through it would have com- pleted navigation over the worst rapids of that river and relieved the federal govern ment of the necessity of building P of the low lift dams proposed in the river and har- Dor legislation, thereby saving the govern ment, according to estimates made in 1911, $5,315,000 <
 It would have enabled the Alabama Power company to enlarge it's power plant and to have engaged in the manufacture of nitrates, which the government had to undertake three or four years later under : war conditions.
 By vetoing the bill President Taft pre- vented the opening to navigation of a long stretch of the Coosa river and pre- vented the establishment of an industry which shortly was to become the depend ence of the United States for it's supply of nltrates for the manufacture of powder and other munitions. Further, it prevented the location in Alabama of new factories which would have employed skilled and highly paid mechanics and workmen.
 Alabama needs all of the industrial en- terprises she can get. The farmer needs home markets in which to sell his products. The location of manufacturing plant in his vicinity makes this market for him.
 The all-cotton crops in past years have been due largely to the fact that there was no market for other farm products. The farmer must raise that which he can sell. If grain and produce and cattle and swine markets are not available to him he must raise cotton which he can always sell, though not always at a profitable price.
 To induce the location of industries con- ditions must be made attractive. There must be equitable laws, accessible mar 2 kets, favorable labor and social conditions. and friendly relations between the manu- lecturers and the citizens.
 The farmer is vitally interested in the industrial development of the state; the manufacturer is just as vitally interested in the development of agriculture along scientific and profitable lines.
 Farmers in close proximity to industrial D1antS c9n hQ and 11S11a11v oro y,,.ocy>oyo,,c