Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1888-05-05
BIRMINGHAM.


ISOLATION recently made to Birming-
ham opened the eyes Of the majority
Of them to wonders Of the Magic City
which they little dreamed were in
existence. Leaving Memphis at
1890 o'clock Sunday morning April
ODD the party had pleasant all day
run over the Kansas City, Memphis
and Birmingham Railroad, Mr..
Charles Jones, the General Passenger
Agent, and Mr.. II. ID. Ellis, the
Travelling Passenger Agent, both ac-
companying the party. This is
new road, just opened last Novem-
Der, and is probably the best built
road in the South. For greater
part of the distance between Biz
mingham and Memphis, the road ira
verses a section of country rather
thinly settled as yet, and undevelop-
ed, but new towns are rapidly spring
ing up all along the line, which offer
favorable openings for business en-
terprise. The run of 2j1 miles was
made in ten and a half hours, putting
us in Birmingham at nine o'clock,
p. m. The party on reaching Bir-
mingham took the dummy line for
Lakeview Hotel, a most inviting re-
sort fol- the traveller, located amidst
picturesque surroundings two miles
from the city. A restful night was
spent there in pleasant rooms, and our
party returned to the city the follow
ing morning much refreshed. Board
ing the cars Of another dummy line
between ten and eleven O'Clock, we
were rapidly transported to Ensley
City, six miles from Birmingham.
Ensley is new town of $500 inhab-
itants we were informed, and has one
of the largest and finest furnace
plants in the world. One furnace is
now in blast and three others are rap
idly approaching completion. The
second one will be "bloWn in" now
in few days. The cost of this plant
when completed will be about 81, 250,-
600, and it will produce twenty car
loads of pig iron per day.
After spending an hour looking
through this great enterprise, the
party boarded special train provid-
ed by the l.. & n. Railroad Compa-
ny, and landed next at BeSsemer
distant twelve miles from Birming-
ham. The growth of Bessemer has
been more marvellous even than Bir-
mingham. One year ago it was
barren wilderness. Today it has
three thousand inhabitants and a
number of fine brick buildings
which would be creditable to any
city. Vacant lots in the fire limits
are held at $50 per front foot, and
still rising. The Debardelebcn roll
ing mills are located there, and will
be one of the largest and finest plants
in this country when completed.
The party next visited the ore beds,
and returning, reached Birmingham
about 3 o'clock p. m. In every direc,
ton from Birmingham the smoke
stacks of iron furnaces and great
manufacturing enterprises reach uI
into space, and our party visited but
a small per cent of them. If we re-
member correctly there are twenty.
four iron furnaces alone in and around
the city, to say nothing of other great
industries, and the place for miles
around is encircled and girded by
railroad and dummy line tracks as i
in the meshes of spiders web.
Cities are like individuals. Some
OF them are born great, some achieve
: greatness, and some have greatness
thrust upon them. Birmingham en-
: joys the unique distinction of al
r these elements Of greatness. Its pri
mary element of greatness of cours,
is inherent in the illimitable richnes
e Of the surrOuning mineral deposits
5 while one after another of grea
trunk lines Of railroads open life-giv
ing arteries to it from the markets O
f the world. But Birmingham's chic
c source of greatness is not in thes,
natural and circumstantial gifts, no
9 yet is it due in a superior measure, a
our protectionist friends would max
. believe, to the tariff. To the brazil
f and Drawn of the men of the South
D and chiefly its young men, more thai
f to any fortuitous combination of cir
cumstances, is due the credit for tn
proud preeminent position whicl
Birmingham occupies in the cluste
, of Southern industrial cities. BIZ
: mingham has not been developed a
: many believe with Northern an