The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-09-05
M b N, w o M E N
 A ND T H IN c s

From the very start have been an advocate and friend of the open air market because it meant chance Tor the farmers to sell their produce and gave the housewives of Birming- ham the opportunity to get fresh home grown fruits and vegetables. 1
 There is no use going back to the time when "Jim" Weatherly fathered the idea or to trace it's evolution down to the present. A history of its persgrinations would show that in few brief years 1t had had many homes, but that there was no per- manency about any of them one trucker indignantly remarked l that at first they had ben put along side of the county jail, at last to be offered place in the Red Light dis trict; but that it was the latter which caused the truckers to at last get together and form an association and make arrangements for them selves at their present location on Morris avenue and Twenty-fourth street.
 | It was quite an undertaking to get enough to sign up to make the ven- ture, for no one knew just what the response of the public would be, but in few short months the lot select ed has proved to be wholly inade- quate, and the wagons have overrun the front and side streets to such an extent that already some of the prime movers are beginning to agi- tate to get East park for next sea- son unless the city erects q municipal market.
 It was therefore with great pleas- ure that responded to request to att tend the first basket picnic to be given by the Jefferson County Truck CTS association, which was held at Pinson on Saturday, and which was the means of drawing together in fellowship truckers with a scattering of dairymen from all parts of inn perial Jefferson. It was such an suspicious start that President Cor man says it will be made an annual event in the future.
 had the privilege of driving out with T. J. Jordan, special club agent, ! extension department of the state work, and by the way, there is a splendid lot of young men who are either serving Auburn, the state or Uncle Sam in carrying the new ag- ricultural gospel to the farmers of the country. Not only is this true, but some of the wide awake cham bers of commerce are getting &C., tive in a broad and intelligent way, as witness what was recently done by the Anniston Chamber of Com merce in carrying 50 farmers in cars through east Tennessee.
 The Birmingham Chamber of Commerce has always done it's part. The agricultural committee, headed by John H. Frye, with its special teams going into the surrounding towns and cities did pioneer work, and now H. l.. Brown, agricultural secretary of that body. Is marshall ing his forces in manner that is reaching into every nook and corner of the farm life of Jefferson county. His selection was a wise one, as he is an expert who has the confidence of the farmers as well as the busi- ness men.
 counted it real joy to be able to address the Jefferson County Truck Growers association at their first outing, and to give to them some of the practical things which I had found out on my recent trip through east Tennessee in regard to diver sification and marketing, and to com- pliment them on at last having got ten together in practical way to further their own best interests through cooperation in marketing their produce.
 
 for all. The spread was worthy in every particular, giving evidence that the housewives of Jefferson county had not lost their reputation as cooks. The games under the di- rection of Prof. w. W. Abell, physical director of the Young Mems Christian association, took in men, women and children, and old and young had hilarious time. Foot races, baseball and pitching horse shoes were the standbys, while the greasy pole was kept slick by the ambitious boys who were trying to pluck the five- dollar William from it's top.
 The most significant thing which I saw was the sprinkling of Italians with their wives and children, and | the friendly way in which they were being treated by their neighbors. I'll | long retain in my memory as beau tiful picture four young Italian wom- en seated on bench beneath a great oak, each young mother proudly holding in her arms a baby, little ones destined to become good Amer jeans.
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