The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-25
FARMER ERS GET BUSY CLEARING OWN LOT
Wanted Place For DiSposing Of Products And Now Fig-
 ure On Building

More than 100 farmers of Jefferson county were on hand Saturday morn ing with their implements and con- tributed a days work to the Jeffer- son County Truck Growers associa- tion in cleaning up the lot recently purchased at Sixth avenue and Twenty eighth street for the associa- tion's market.
 A letter was sent out early in the week by j.. K. Cook, business man agel, asking that they assist person ally to avoid the expense of having this work done by others.
 A tractor loanded by a Birming- ham firm was on the lot and before and stumps. Practically all the work was completed Saturday. En- thusiasm was shown by all the farmers present. It is estimated that a considerable amount was saved the association by their as- sistance in clearing the lot,
 Saturdays working as J. c. Low cry, county agent, described it, is typical of the spirit shown by Jef- ferson county farmers since the proj- ect of having their own market was first mentioned. Another example of it is seen, he said, in the plans for the poultry show to be held in Bir- mingham December Il to 14, lnclu- sive, at which some of the finest birds in the south will be exhibited The organization of several Four H clubs, stressing head. health, hands and heart, among the boys and girls of the county, for which Mrs. Pearl Crawford, home demonstration agent, is largely responsible, and the eager nes with which her plans have been carried out by the young people and their parents. are further indications of the progressive spirit of the rural population of the county
 o O O
 Erect Building.
 The lot 240x20o feet, for the Jeff ferson County Truck Growers asso- ciation's new market was purchased about two weeks ago. The market building will be 30X70 feet and will be built of brick or corrugated iron. Work on it will begin within a few days, it is thought, and the new building probably will be ready for occupancy by the first of the year. It will occupy only part of the lot and will be used as a warehouse for the things the farmers have to buy, which are sold to them through the association at considerably less than .market prices. such as straw berry5crates. market baskets and fer tilizers. It's estimated cost will be approximately s2.500.
 The remaining space will be divided into small compartments just large enough for a single wagon or truck and rented to individual farm CTS at a low rate for the display of their products. Although some .e-
 sc ft4fa plan of the promoters of the work to confine it as far as possible to wholesale deals. Representatives of Birmingham and out-oftown firms will be on hand to buy directly from the farmers or their representatives
 Jefferson county farmers have good reason to be enthusiastic about their several organizations, perfected largely througth County Agents J. l.. Lilies and J. c. Lowery, Mrs Pearl Crawford home demonstration agent, and J. K. Cook, business manager, their friends say. They have been saved many thousands of dollars in the purchase of their supplies and the elimination of middle men in the sale of the products from their farms. This saving has been shared by the smallest farmer as well as the larg- est. In the matter of market baskets alone, it has been estimated that $40,O00 has been saved; and ap- proximately 30 per cent has been saved on this years fertilizer Dill. O o o
 Benefit To All.
 Although the association was or ganized primarily to felp it's own members, non-mem embers have also been greatly benefited. Business firms dealing in farm supplies have been obliged to compete with the purchasing agents of the association, and to do this it was necessary to reduce their prices on these articles Tn the case of market baskets alone, this competition caused drop or 70 per cent in the retail price.
 It was only three years ago that the Jefferson County Truck Growers association ceased to be a vague plan and became a reality. Since them the farmers, as on Saturday. have had several opportunities to show their interest in the project. From their response. it is evident that they have heen definitely "sold" on the idea. Everywhere they have gone and whenever they have proposed new plan to be tried out, the county agents and others behind the move nent have met with an enthusiastic response.