The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-02-17


heturta ana distributors lee "a ere.
fact thaG e has not so much az begun
70 approach ultimate or maximum de-
Hundreds Of thousands Of acres 6f
land are being denuded OF their TIM
Der and these properties are being
cleared and brought under cultivation
as rapidly as labor, capital and other
requirements permit. Members Of the
Southern Aluvial Land association, with
headquarters at Memphis, own more
than one million acres Of cut-over al
luvial lands IN Southern Missouri, Ar
kansas, Tennessee. Mississippi and
Louisiana And yet this organization
embraces in its Membership but a small
percentage OF owners Of such lands,
These properties lie largely In the val
ley Of the Mississippi and its tibu-
tafies and have been enriched not only
by the leaf mould which has accumu-
lated during countless ages, but also
by the fertile soil borne down by the
flood waters Of the Mississippi and de-
posted thereon for a period that must
Be reckoned on in asons.
William s. Mitchell, until recently
treasurer Of the Federal Land bank,
St Louis, declares these alluvial lands
are the richest and most productive
in the world in their natural state"
Labor Supply and Cost.
Labor in Memphis Is relatively large
aS TO supply and equally relatively low
as to cost. There are approximately
$4,000 skilled and mechanical laborers
in Memphis, while the number of'com-
mon laborers is around 10000. The
position as the most important railroad
and rivet gateway in the South bring
in considerable numbers OF transient
laborers OF the skilled and semiskiled
classes, while it's close proximity to such
a rich and extensive agricultural re-
gion insures substantial additions in the
way, Of common labor.
An M-American City.
The normal labor conditions in Mem
phis are said to be better than in any
other city in the South, Organized la
Dor admits that its scale generally Is as
low in Memphis as in any other city
Of equal size in this country. Common
labor is plentiful and Is obtainable on
as favorable terms 10 any other city
Of the same class.
One important fact in this connection
Is that practically all Memphis labor,
whether white or colored, is all-Ameri-
can. The population Is divided about
so per cent white and 10 per cent col
ored, and is IS per cent native born.
That e that there is not more
than 5 per cent of foreign labor element
in this city. Such conditions make for
loyalty on the part of employees to the
government and to their employers. It
likewise means the nonexistence of
separate habits, customs or practices
with which employers must concern
themselves.
Living conditions In Memphis are ex-
~ceptionally favorable. 1t Is one Of the
cheapest cash retail grocery markets in
America House rent is very reasonable.
On account of short, mild winters, far
less fuel for heating purposes is re-
quired here than in the North. Many
winters pass without any severe wealth
er. Home conditions approach the ideal.
The city has more space in proportion
to its total area in parks and parNways
than any other city in the South. Edu-
cational advantages are Of the best.
Several departments Of the University
Of Tennessee are located here. also
the State Normal school. Christian
Brothers college, a large Catholic in
stitution, is in the heart of the city.
There are 40 public schools, II of which
are for negro students. There are two
special schools for orphans and the
finest vocational school in the entire
South is located here. In addition to the
public schools, there are 10 parochial