The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-02

line Of work to another, even after hav-
ing attained success. / believe the rec
ords, If thoroughly analysed, would
show that this ambition to build some
thing. this longing to do things which
become visible to the eye, has more
often taken hold of westerners than
fasteners.
I we'll recall that Wigginton E. Creed,
who had built up a most profitable
practice as a San Francisco lawyer,
told me that by and by he had the
feeling that a lawyer did not create
anything in the sense that the railroad
builders, the industrialist and the bust
ness leader create things, and 1t was
this feeling which induced. him to ac-
cept the presidency of the Pacific Gas
and Electric company after he had
ceased to be influenced by any thought
of financial reward. And, it should
perhaps be added, Mr.. Creed has de-
rived more real pleasure from conceiv-
ing carrying out gigantic plans for fur
nishing California with power and
water and light than he ever derived
from winning law suit.
Judge Gary likewise attained early
and notable success as lawyer, but
he, too, found himself drawn toward
the industrial field, where wrestling
had to be done with concrete realities,
not WIN logic and laws.
1t was this same ardent desire to
create something that led to the incep-
tton anu successful development of per-
haps the most remarkable agricultural
feat In America, a feat which resulted
in the filling of nine out of every ten
cans OF asparagus produced in Ameri-
ca, to the production of millions of
bushels of potatoes.
Lee A. Phillips, son of the college
head, who had never had a days
schooling in his life, went to Los An
geles and started practicing law with
George l. Cocharan, now president of
the important Pacific Mutual Life In
surance company-with whom he is still
associated as vice president. The
young man did well as a lawyer. But
arguing cases did not satisfy him. He
wanted to get into grips with things,
ne wanted to create something; he
wanted to produce something
His first activity took the form of in
vesting all his savings and all he could
borrow in land in what is now the
west Adams street section. He paid
$175 an acre for 1t, applied himself dill
gently to improving 1t and today that
land Is worth $4,000 an acre and more.
His next important venture brought
MIN nothing but ridicule and difficult
ties at the start. He thought he saw
great possibilities in retaining neat
land around Stockton. This land had
practically no value. Starting with a
modest acreage, he, in company with
associates, whom he had persuaded to
come along, reached out and out, until
more than 10000 acres of this soft,
swampy land were made fit for cult
walton. By and by 10000 additional
acres were taken in hand. Finally, the
project covered no less than loo, 900
acres.
This land can now produce some
100000 bags of potatoes, more than
3,5OO,O00 bushels of onions, and as al
ready told, 80 per cent of all Americas
canned asparagus.
Mr.. Phillips declares that the chief
credit for this result belongs, not to
him, but to Shima, in some respects the
most remarkable of all the Japanese
who have ever come to this country
While Mr.. Phillips and his associates
were struggling along to get the land
into such condition that it could be
titled by machinery. this man appeared
and, taking a small piece, showed how
1t could be done most economically and
efficiently. Shima broadened and
broadened his operation until he was
raisinC as much as 1000 900 bushels of
vegetables IN single year. His profits