The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-18
ALABAMA'S INVITATION

The principle of tax exemptions is grad ually being discarded in the various states particularly exemptions as to new indus tries. Much to the surprise Of lawmakers, perhaps, it is found that the repeal of ex- emption laws have not appreciably affected the inflow of industries and new capital. It is gradually being realized that there must be a far more sound basis for the establish Nment of manufacturing and other plants than such fleeting attraction as tempo rary freedom from taxation. The funda- mental inducements to industry are raw ma terials, fuel or some economical source ot power, transportation facilities and labor Of these, the presence of labor is of lesser importance, because labor is mobile and is easily attracted to industrial centers. For example, one of the reasons given for fail ure formerly to establish textile mills in the south was lack of skilled lbaor. Now it has been shown that the opJection was not sound for two reasons. In the first place, unskilled labor can quickly be turned into skilled labor, if the native intelligence is there; in the second place, labor follows the opportunity for employment. The south has furnished an abundance of competent labor for the cotton and textile mills.
 When there exist in a given locality the raw materials, power supply, and transporta- tion facilities, suitable industries are bound to come in, especially if there is community effort to bring to the attention of capital and industrial leaders the local advantages. Once centers of any industry are es.ab- lished they become the nuclei around which other units of similar or kindred industries congregate. Thus certain centers are known for the manufacture of boots and shoes, others for farming implements, others for textiles, and so on. New industries of the same kind naturally seek centers already established in order to enjoy the mutual advantages thus afforded. s4
 In the textile industry in New England at this time there exists a situation of peculiar interest to communities in Alabama. 1t IS discovered that New England is too remote from raw materials to continue as the leader in textiles. Mill after mill is being removed to the south or else is establishing branches in the south. Already certain southern towns are becoming known as important textile centers. The trend southward is still Oll anu udS HOl yet SOt iilCo lull oWlHS. 4NON is the xime for those states and those local ities that afford good opportunity to the manufacture of textiles to advertise them selves and their advantages to the textile capitalists,
 If Alabama cities desire to share in this reinvestment of capital and to enjoy more fully their situation as producers of cotton, now is the time for them to bring them selves to the attention of textile manufac- turers. That is the way industria! comm-- mites are given an impetus towards their proper destinies. Other things being equal, industries are very humanly apt to % where they have been most warmly invited Others have found that such advertising pays. Doubtless Alabama can in the same man. ner increase and intensity her appeal to new industries and to the investment of new capital, an appeal founded not on vanish ing and temporary tax exemption, but on the basic attractions of raw materia, cheap power, adequate transportation, low export rates and a good supply of labor.