History of Alabama and dictionary of Alabama biography, Volume I, Part 4

Author: Owen, Thomas McAdory, 1866-1920; Owen, Marie (Bankhead) Mrs. 1869-
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Chicago, The S. J. Clarke publishing company
Number of Pages: 756

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HISTORY OF ALABAMA

potatoes, 2,033,872. The production of rice was 222,945 pounds; tobacco, 152,742, and wool, 381,253 pounds; cotton, 429,482 bales; hay, 10,613 tons.

The number of farms in Alabama as shown by the census reports of 1880 was 135,865, containing 18,855,334 acres, of which 6,375,- 706 were improved and 12,479,628 unim- proved. These farms were valued at $78,- 954,648, and the implements and machinery used thereon at $3,788,978. The estimated value of all the farm products, sold, con- sumed, or on hand, for 1879 was $56,872,994. The relative importance of the various crops produced is indicated by the following figures: 511 acres in barley produced 5,281 bushels; 2,055,929 acres in corn, 25,451,278 bushels; 324,628 acres in oats, 3,039,639 bushels; 5,764 acres in rye, 28,402 bushels; 264,971 acres in wheat, 1,529,657 bushels. There were 2,330,086 acres planted in cotton, on which 699,654 bales were produced. On 12,916 acres, 10,544 tons of hay were pro- duced; on 1,579 acres, 810,889 pounds of rice; on 2,197 acres, 452,426 pounds of tobacco; on 43,256 acres, 3,448,819 bushels of sweet potatoes. The production of wool in the State was 762,207 pounds. Until the seventies, little or no commercial fertilizer was used. For the year 1879, the value of such fertilizers consumed was $1,200,956.

The census reports of 1880 show 157,772 farms in the State, averaging 126 acres each. The total agricultural acreage was 19,853,- 000, of which 7,698,343 was improved and 12,154,657 unimproved. The valuation of these farms was $111,051,390, and of their equipment of implements and machinery, $4,511,645. The livestock on band June 1, 1890, was valed at $30,776,730, the cost of fertilizers used during the year 1889, $2,421,- 648, and the estimated value of all products for the same year, $66,240,190. The acreage and production of the various grains for 1890 were: barley, 200 acres, 1,196 bushels; corn. 2,127,302 acres, 30,072,161 bushels; oats, 344,788 acres, 3,230,455 bushels; rye, 2,190 acres, 14,618 bushels; wheat, 39,641 acres, 208,591 bushels. The total area devoted to cotton in 1889 was 2,761,165 acres, on which 915,210 bales, or 436,555,170 pounds, were produced, an increase over 1879 of 18.5 per cent in area, and 37.74 per cent in production.

There were 223,220 farms in Alabama on June 1, 1900, whose total acreage was 20,- 685,427, of which 8,654,991 acres were im- proved, and 12,030,436 unimpoved. The value of these farms with their buildings and other equipment was $179,399,882. The rel- ative importance of the various crops is indi- cated by the percentage of farms deriving their principal income from each, as follows: from hay and grain, 4.8 per cent; vegetables, 1.1 per cent; fruits, 0.2; livestock, 5.8; dairy produce, 3.4; cotton, 63.6; from miscellan- eous sources, 21 per cent. The average num- ber of acres per farm was 92.7. The total expenditure for labor on Alabama farms dur- ing the year 1899 was $4,314,460, for fertil- izers, $2,599,290. The total cultivated acre- age was 6,792,368, and the value of all the

crops produced thereon, $70,696,268. The value of animal products for the same year was $18,196,689. The acreage and produc- tion of the principal crops were as follows: corn, 2,743,360 acres, 35,053,047 bushels; wheat, 123,897 acres, 628,775 bushels; oats, 216,873 acres, 1,882,060 bushels; barley, 273 acres, 2,400 bushels; rye, 1,708 acres, 11,123 bushels; rice, 2,329 acres, 926,946 pounds; hay, 85,353 acres, 172,908 tons; cotton, 3,202,135 acres, 1,093,697 bales of 500 pounds. The value of the livestock for that year was $34,408,932; of which $9,793,556 represents cattle; $7,906,121, horses; $13,- 104,642, mules; $488,299, sheep; and $2,887,- 230, swine.

The total number of farms in the State on April 15, 1910, was 262,901, an increase, as compared with the year 1900, of 39,681, 17.8 per cent. The total number of acres in farms was 20,732,312, of which 9,693,581 were im- proved; average number of acres per farm, 78.9. The total value of farm lands was $216,944,175; buildings, $71,309,416; imple- ments and machinery, $16,290,004. During the ten years, 1900-1910, the average value per acre of farm lands in the State increased from $4.84 to $10.46, 116.1 per cent. The number of acres devoted to the culture of cereals was 2,844,824; other grains and seeds, 190,884; hay and forage, 238,656; cotton, 3,730,482. The expenditure for labor on farms for the same year was $7,454,748; for feed, $4,041,486; for fertilizers, $7,630,952. The percentage of increase in lahor expendi- tures, was, as compared with 1899, 72.8, and in the amount spent for fertilizers, 193.6 per cent. The acreage and production of various crops for 1909 were as follows: corn, 2,572,- 968 acres, 30,695,737 bushels; oats, 257,276 acres, 3,251,146 bushels; wheat, 13,665 acres, 113,953 bushels; rye, 437 acres, 3,736 bush- els; rice, 279 acres, 5,170 bushels; peanuts, 100,609 acres, 1,573,796 bushels; hay, 238,- 656 acres, 251,403 tons; cotton, 3,730,482 acres, 1,129,527 bales. The total value of livestock, April 15, 1910, was $63,574,674; of which $13,469,626 represents cattle; $13,- 651,284, horses; $31,577,217, mules; $299,- 919, sheep; and $4,356,520, swine.

The approximate land area of Alabama is 32,818,560 acres. Of this area, 20,732,312 acres, or 63.2 per cent, are included in farms. The increase in improved land from 1900 to 1910 was 1,038,590 acres, or 12 per cent. The average size of farms decreased from 289.2 acres in 1850 to 78.9 acres in 1910. In 1910, 64.1 per cent of the land was in farms oper- ated by their owners, and 34.2 per cent in farms operated by tenants.

See Cotton; Livestock; Cereals; Agricul- ture and Industries, Department of; Agricul- tural Experiment Station; Farmers' Organiza- tions; Agricultural Society, The Alabama; Farmers' Alliance, The Alabama State; Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry; Agri- cultural Wheel, The Alabama; Farmers Edu- cational and Co-operative Union.

REFERENCES .- DeBow, Statistical view of the United States (1854) ; U. S. Bureau of the Cen- sus, Reports, 1850-1910; Ibid, Abstract of the

HISTORY OF ALABAMA

13th Census, 1910, with Supplement for Ala- bama (1913); Fleming, Civil War and Recon- struction in Alabama (1905), pp. 232, 710-734.

AGRICULTURE, BOARD OF. A State ex- ecutive board created February 11, 1911, "to have supervision of funds appropriated by this act for Farm Demonstration Work in the State of Alabama." The board consists of the commissioner of agriculture and indus- tries, who is ex officio chairman, the director of the Alabama Experiment Station, the pro- fessor of school agriculture at the Alabama Polytechnic Institute, and two practical, suc- cessful farmers selected by the other three members of the board. All serve without pay, but their expenses in attending meetings of the board are paid from the funds appro- priated. Regular meetings are held twice a year in the office of the commissioner of agri- culture and industries, and special meetings when necessary. The board has supervision of farm demonstration work in the different counties, and its recommendation of an appli- cant for the position of rural demonstration agent to work in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture is a pre- requisite of appointment. The sum of $25,- 000 a year, from the proceeds of the sale of fertilizer tags, is appropriated to carry on demonstration work, and is expended under the supervision of the board, which is re- quired to make a full and complete report to the governor at the close of each fiscal year.

Provision was made September 28, 1915, for organizing the boys and girls of Alabama Into corn clubs, pig clubs, canning clubs, and other forms of farm life clubs for the pur- pose of encouraging, interesting, and instruct- ing them in better methods of agriculture, homemaking, cooking, sewing, and gardening. To carry out the provisions of the act, the sum of $100 annually for the years, 1915, 1916, 1917 and 1918 was appropriated from the State treasury to each county which raises a like sum annually in the years named for the same purpose. The disbursement of these funds and the supervision of the organ- ization of the clubs are handled jointly by the State board of agriculture and the county board of revenue, or county commissioners, or other body having similar jurisdiction in the respective counties.

The creation of this board was an effort on the part of the legislature to prevent the agricultural and business demoralization that it believed must ensue as a result of the rapid encroachment of the cotton-boll weevil in the State, unless the cotton grow- ers were instructed in the best methods of controlling the pest. It was believed that the farm demonstration work had been demon- strated to be the most effective means of dis- seminating the necessary information, and as a means of stimulating and more fully systematizing the conduct of that work, the board of agriculture was established.

See Agriculture and Industries, Commis- sioner of; Farm Demonstration and Rural Extension Work; Farm Life Clubs.

REFERENCES .- General Acts, 1911, pp. 14-17; 1915, pp. 943-944.

AGRICULTURE AND INDUSTRIES, DE- PARTMENT OF. One of the constitutional offices of the executive department of the State government, originally created by act of February 23, 1883, for the promotion of agriculture and industry. It is under the management and control of a commissioner, who must be a practical and experienced agri- culturist. He is elected by the people for a term of 4 years; no person not 25 years of age, a citizen of the United States 7 years, and of the State 5 years next preceding his election is eligible to the office; he is prohib- ited from receiving any fees, costs or perqui- sites other than his prescribed salary; he may be removed only by impeachment before the State senate, for wilful neglect of duty, corruption in office, incompetency, intemper- ance, or an offense involving moral turpitude while in office, on charges preferred by the house of representatives; he is ineligible to succeed himself; must reside at the capital during his continuance in office; and must keep his office in the State capitol.

His duty, broadly speaking, is to encour- age, "by every means within his power," the proper development of agriculture, horticul- ture and kindred industries in the State; to encourage the organization of neighborhood and county agricultural clubs and associa- tions and out of them a State agricultural association; to collect and publish statistics and other information in regard to the indus- tries of this and of other States; to distrib- ute seeds and plants; to investigate diseases of grains, fruits and other crops and their remedies, and the habits and propagation of injurious insects with the best modes of de- stroying them; to encourage immigration by means of published statements of the State's resources, available lands, and other induce- ments for settlement; to investigate and pub- lish reports on the subjects of grasses, livestock, poultry, fish, bees, wool and sheep, silk and its manufacture, and also upon the subjects of economical fencing, subsoil drain- age, and irrigation.

Fertilizer Supervision .- One of the most important of his duties is the supervision of the manufacture and sale of commercial fer- tilizers, including the issuance of licenses to manufacturers and dealers. He is required by law to publish each year a list of brands and analyses with the relative and actual value of each. Manufacturers are required to file full information regarding their fer- tilizers with the commissioner before obtain- ing license to transact business in the State. A tax on fertilizers is levied by means of the sale of tags, under the supervision of the commissioner, and from the proceeds the ex- penses of the department are defrayed. These tags guarantee the composition and quality of fertilizers according to analyses of sam- ples made by the State chemist.

The commissioner also has supervision of farmers' institutes and state soll surveys, and is required to encourage the holding of agri-

HISTORY OF ALABAMA

cultural fairs and exhibitions. The records of the former bureau of cotton statistics were turned over to the department pursuant to two legislative acts of February 9, 1915, but that work has not been further devel- oped.

Ex Officio Duties .- The commissioner has a number of ex officio duties. In 1885 he was designated as a member of the board of control of the Canebrake Agricultural and Experiment Station, in 1903, chairman of the State board of horticulture, in 1903, a mem- her of the hoard of control of the branch agri- cultural experiment stations, in 1903, one of the State hoard of registrars, in 1907, chair- man of the livestock sanitary board, in 1907, a member of the State forestry commission, in 1911, chairman of the State board of agri- culture, and as a member of the board of agriculture, in 1915, he was charged with sundry duties in the organization of farm-life clubs.

Establishment .- The department was first established by legislative act passed Febru- ary 23, but not to take effect until September 1, 1883. Until 1886 its headquarters was at the Agricultural and Mechanical College at Auburn (now Alabama Polytechnic Insti- tute). It was then removed to the capitol. The constitution of 1901 changed the title of the department, and also of the commis- sioner, by adding the words "and industries" to each.

When the department was first established the commissioner was appointed hy the gov- ernor for a term of two years.' In 1891 he was by legislative act made elective by popu- lar vote. The constitution of 1901 fixes the term at four years.

The salary of the first commissioner was $2,100 a year, which was increased to $3,000 in 1907. At the beginning only one clerk in the office was authorized, and at a salary of $1,200 a year. In 1886 a chief clerk at $1,500, and an assistant at $1,200, were au- thorized. The present office force is a chief clerk at $1,800, an assistant at $1,500, a ste- nographer at $900, a chief of the immigration and markets bureau at $1,800, a stenographer for that hureau at $750, and a chief of the food, drug and feed bureau at $1,800 a year. The commissioner and all his office assistants, except the stenographers, are bonded.

In his message of November 16, 1892, Gov. Thomas G. Jones called attention to the pos- sibility of the abuse of the "Farmers' Insti- tutes," authorized by law to be held for the purpose of "diffusing among the farmers of the State useful and practical knowledge rela- tive to agriculture," and recommended legis- lation forbidding payment of the expenses of holding institutes unless accompanied by the affidavit of the conductor that the addresses and lectures were confined to the subjects to which the statutes limited them, and mak- ing the violation of the statutes in that par- ticular an impeachable offense in the case of the commissioner, and a misdemeanor on the part of lecturers. He also recommended additional safeguards for the issuance of fer- tilizer tags and the destruction of those

remaining on hand at the end of the season, and a change in the provisions of the law with respect to the filling of.vacancies in the office of commissioner which, under the su- preme court's interpretation of existing laws, could not he done except by holding a special election. His suggestions with reference to the handling of tags and filling of vacancies were subsequently adopted, but nothing was done by the legislature in reference to farm- ers' institutes.

Food, Drug and Feed Bureau .- In 1911 the regulation of the sale of commercial feed stuffs was placed under the commissioner, and for the administration of the details of the work, a special clerk, at an annual sal- ary of $1,800, was authorized. In 1915 two pure food and drug inspectors, at salaries of $100 and traveling expenses, not exceeding $100 per month for each, were authorized. Feed stuffs are regulated by the use of tax tags in very much the same way as fer- tilizers.

Immigration and Markets Bureau .- The legislature of 1915, by act of March 5, im- posed upon the commissioner the duty of supervising and regulating the business of dealers in farm produce, and provided for the assessment of a license tax upon all such dealers. The same legislature passed a later law, approved September 29, repealing the first and providing for the organization of a special bureau in the department of agricul- ture and industries, to be in charge of a special clerk, or chief, with a stenographer, to look after the business of dealers in farm produce. When the bureau was established the work and records of the former immigra- tion commissioner, whose office was abolished February 11, were turned over to it, as was the registration of farm lands, and the whole grouped under the above title.

Immigration .- The act establishing the de- partment required the commissioner "to aid immigration by publishing each year such information as to the agricultural, mineral and other industries and resources of this State as shall be of Interest to those seeking homes in the State of Alabama." This duty still remains in force, with the addition of a requirement that the commissioner shall aid those "seeking investments" as well as home- seekers. In addition, the act abolishing the immigration commissioner, February 11, 1915, imposed his activities in large part upon the department of agriculture and in- dustries, and at the same time projected enlarged plans for encouraging immigration. In the execution of these duties, the commis- sioner has published a number of handbooks and other literature of a descriptive nature. He has also advertised the advantages and resources of the State by participating in State, sectional and national fairs and expo- sitions, and by occasional advertisements in leading farm and industrial journals.

The authority and jurisdiction of the de- partment have several times been brought into question. In 1884 the constitutionality of the act of establishment was itself attacked, but the supreme court held that the regula-

HISTORY OF ALABAMA

tion of the quality of feed stuffs, fertilizers, etc., was within the police powers of the State, and, as such regulation was a function of the department, its creation was not viola- tive of the constitution.

Commissioners .- Edward C. Betts, 1883- 1887; Reuben F. Kolb, 1887-1891; Hector D. Lane, 1891-1896; Isaac F. Culver, 1896-1900; Robert R. Poole, 1900-1907; James A. Wil- kinson, 1907-1911; Reuben F. Kolb, 1911- 1915; James A. Wade, 1915 -.

PUBLICATIONS .- Reports, 1833-1914, 9 vols .; Bulletins, 1889-1916, Nos. 1-75; Handbooks, 1887- 1907, 7 vols .; Addresses, circulars, folders, leaf- lets, maps, etc., various editions and dates.

See Agricultural Society, the Alahama State; Agriculture; Agriculture, Board of; Cotton; Farmers' Institutes; Fertilizers; Hor- ticulture, State Board of; Immigration Com- missioner; Soils and Soil Surveys.

REFERENCES .- Code, 1907, secs. 14-79; Acts, 1882-83, pp. 190-197; 1884-85, p. 168; 1888-89, pp. 119, 729; 1890-91, p. 1213; 1892-93, p. 1091; 1896- 97, p. 1307; 1903, pp. 65, 78; 1907, p. 744; 1911, p. 14; 1915, pp. 76, 81, 239, 646, 767, 777, 944; Gov. Thomas G. Jones, "Message," Nov. 16, 1892, in Senate Journal, 1892-93, pp. 29-30; Steiner & Sons v. Ray et al, 84 Ala., p. 93; Campbell v. Segars, 81 Ala., p. 259; Clark's Cove Guano Co. v. Dowling, 85 Ala., p. 142; Johnson v. Hanover National Bank, 88 Ala., p. 271; Han- over National Bank v. Johnson, 90 Ala., p. 549; Lane v. Kolb, 92 Ala., p. 636; Merriman v. Knox. 99 Ala., p. 93; Brown v. Adair, 104 Ala., p. 652; Kirby v. Huntsville Fertilizer & Milling Co., 105 Ala., p. 529; Phillips v. Americus Co., 110 Ala., p. 521; Edisto Phosphate Co. v. Sandford, 112 Ala., p. 493; Furman Co. v. Long, 113 Ala., p. 203; Brown v. Raisin Fertilizer Co., 124 Ala., p. 221; Troy Co. v. State, 134 Ala., p. 333; Ala- bama National Bank v. Parker, 153 Ala., p. 597.

AHIKI CREEK. One of the western trib- utaries of Chattahoocheeiver. The name is Hitchiti, and was given by the people of that town. It is the Ouhe-gee of Hawkins. It is probably the present Ihagee Creek of Russell County. The meaning of the word is "sweet potato-mother," the seed sweet potatoes, "ahi," remaining in the ground until the new crop is grown to maturity.

REFERENCES .- Gatschet, in Alabama History Commission, Report (1901), vol. i, p. 391; Hawkins, Sketch

of the Creek Country (1848), p. 60.

ALABAMA, AMERICAN STATE. One of the states of the American Union; 22nd in the order of creation; formed under an enabling act of Congress, dated March 3, 1819, and admitted by resolution, December 14, 1819; seceded January 11, 1861; re- turned to the union in 1865, and restored to full rights as a State, February, 1868.

The state lies in the east south central division of the United States, between lines 30° 10' and 35° north latitude, and be- tween 84° 53' and 88° 30' W. longitude, is bounded on the north by Tennessee, on the east by Georgia, on the west by Mississippi, and on the south by Florida and the Gulf of

Mexico, its highest altitude is 2,407 feet, at Cheawha, Talladega County, and its lowest is 7 feet, at Nenemoosha, Mobile County.

Its political and judicial divisions are 67 counties, 35 senatorial districts, 10 congres- sional districts, and 21 circuits. The coun- ties are divided, for local convenience and administration business into commissioners districts, election precincts or heats, road dis- tricts, and school districts. Cities, towns and villages, as local municipal governmental areas are authorized. It has a grand total of 51,998 square miles, of which 51,279 square miles or 32,818,560 square acres, is land, and 719 square miles, water surface. The water power development of one concern only ( Alahama Power Co., at Lock 12, Coosa River), is 110,000 horsepower. In 1908 its swamp and overflow land area was 1,120,000 acres.

The coal production in 1918 was 19,184,- 962 short tons.

iron ore production was 5,574,624 long tons.

Only 35,220 acres of vacant public lands are now unappropriated.

In 1819 it ranked 19 in population, and in 1910 its rank was 18.

Its population density had grown steadily for each census from 1820, with 2.5 per square miles to 1910, with 41.7 per square mile. Its population is agricultural largely. In 1920, 1,647,621 of its people lived in the country, or were classed as rural, while 698,- 095 lived in cities or were classed as urban. In 1900 its native born population was 1,814,- 105, and its foreign born was 14,592.

For further and full details on the various topics and subjects connected with the history and progress of the State, see the title de- sired in its alphabetical place in this work.

See also Altitude; Areas; Boundaries; Capitols; Counties; Departments of the State Government; Lands; Population; Rivers and Harbors.

REFERENCES .- Census Reports, U. S. Geolog- ical Survey Reports; Mss. data in Alabama Department Archives and History.

ALABAMA - CONFEDERATE CRUISER. A vessel, to which the State name was given, and commanded during its whole history by Capt. Raphael Semmes, Confederate States Navy. Capt. Semmes had withdrawn from the Federal Navy, in which he held the rank of lieutenant, February 15, 1861, and had at once reported for duty to the Confederate au- thorities at Montgomery. He was commis- sioned with like rank, sent to New York to purchase stores of war, and, on returning, was placed in charge of the lighthouse bureau. He sought active service, however, and was ordered to New Orleans where he fitted up a merchant vessel, which was called the "Sum- ter" by Secretary Mallory. In 1862 he sold his ship, after an honorable service of several months. He was then promoted to the rank of captain, and was ordered to the command of a new vessel, called the "Alabama," which had been built at Liverpool for the Confed- eracy. Capt. Semmes reached the Azores, to

HISTORY OF ALABAMA

which the ship had been sent by a ruse, August 24, 1862. The description of the ves- sel as given by Semmes, "Service Afloat," is as follows:

"She was of about 900 tons burden, 230 feet in length, 32 feet in breadth, 20 feet in depth, and drew, when provisioned and coaled for a cruise, 15 feet of water. Her model was of the most perfect symmetry, and she sat upon the water with the lightness and grace of a swan. She was barkentine rigged, with long lower masts, which enabled her to carry large fore-and-aft sails, as jibs and try-sails, which are of so much importance to a steamer, in so many emergencies. Her sticks were of the best yellow pine, that would bend in a gale, like a willow wand, without breaking, and her rigging was of the best of Swedish iron wire. The scantling of the vessel was light, compared with vessels of her class in the Federal Navy, but this was scarcely a dis- advantage, as she was designed as a scourge of the enemy's commerce, rather than for bat- tle. She was to defend herself, simply, if de- fense should become necessary. Her engine was of three hundred horse-power, and she had attached an apparatus for condensing, from the vapor of sea-water, all the fresh water that her crew might require. She was a perfect steamer and a perfect sailing-ship, at the same time, neither of her two modes of locomotion being at all dependent upon the other. The Alabama was so con- structed, that in fifteen minutes, her propeller could be detached from the shaft, and lifted in a well contrived for the purpose, sufficiently high out of the water, not to be an impedi- ment to her speed. When this was done, and her sails spread, she was, to all intents and purposes, a sailing-ship. On the other hand, when I desired to use her as a steamer, I had only to start the fires, lower the propeller, and if the wind was adverse, brace her yards to the wind. and the conversion was complete. The speed of the Alabama was always greatly over-rated by the enemy. She was ordinarily about a ten-knot ship. She was said to have made eleven knots and a half, on her trial trip, but we never afterward got it out of her. Under steam and sail both, we logged on one occasion, thirteen knots and a quarter, which was her utmost speed.

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History of Alabama and dictionary of Alabama biography, Volume I, Part 4

Author: Owen, Thomas McAdory, 1866-1920; Owen, Marie (Bankhead) Mrs. 1869- Publication date: 1921 Publisher: Chicago, The S. J. Clarke publishing company Number of Pages: 756

Author: Owen, Thomas McAdory, 1866-1920; Owen, Marie (Bankhead) Mrs. 1869-
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Chicago, The S. J. Clarke publishing company
Number of Pages: 756