The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1888-03-29
PENNsx1vArIA JoHNN4
Writes an Interesting Letter From Bir-
mingharn, Ala. -@'

| AAAes
BIRMINGHAM, ALA, March %.
!, DEAR DEMOCTAT!-As promised to
Write you from here it is about time to
proceed. Have been in the city twelve
| days to date and have labOred nine of
them. The average pay for moulding
runs from 1915 to SO per day. 1t is
one of the few trades that is free from
colored competition, at least in this
locality, and the Iron MOulders Union
deserves credit for the same. 1t wodld
seem strange to you were you to see
colOred stone masohs, bricklayers, car
penters, plasterers, painters, &c. So
you see they do the building almost
completely. The city claims 1900 OF a
population, which presume is correct
| Ghei city covers a great deal of territory
and suburbs in all directions, connected
to the city by dummy lines. All the
principal streets have one or two lines
running through it. For stranger to
come here and see for himself the fine,
handsome buildings going up must
come to the conclusion that this, nm
dOubtedly, in the near future, will be
! the greatest manufacturing city south
of Mason Il DiXon's line. You can
| travel in any direction aud the result
will be the same, iron furnaces belch-
| ing forth, clouds ofsmoke and bringing
forth large quantities of iron, which
they claim has been daily produced for
| $40 per ton, showing it to be a rival
of nc small dimensions to any part of
this country. Coal is in abundance and
| coke ovens are met with similar to the
Allegheny Mountains in Pennsylvania
There are several rolling mills in opera
tion; another under way. The
Wrought Iron Bridge Works, of which
former Canton man, Mr.. Phillips, is
superintendent, are Just starting into
new works; a safe works are building
now. Last week at one of the furnaces
they made successful run on steel and
henceforth will continue. Anything
in the iron line can be manufac-
tured as cheap here as elsewhere.
Stoves pay the same here
as farther north for mouldins.
AS to lumber, l have seen nothing yet
in that line to make much of an i'm
preston, yet other parts of the State
may be better supplied The country
| has rather barren look, as the soil is
a bright red, and when it rains one
thinks it is red paint, and if any gets
on your clothes it sticks closer than
brother. 1t rains quite frequently now
The weather is rather warm; some
fruit trees are in blossom and others
are putting forth their leaves, so that
by next Sunday one can sit in the shade
but not on the grass, for the country
fails to produce so common a
covering. Dennis Cary, a
blacksmith from Canton, landed
here last week. He expects to go to
work in day or two. There is but
one draw back to this place, at least
| think so, and that is the water. 1t is
very poor now and what it may be a
few months hence L can scarcely
imagine, but by the number of saloons
person would judge the natives let
the water severely alone. They tell me
the place is noted for fevers during the
hot months; so with that knowledge. [
will try and not let sold Sol" get too
far north before | emigrate. | have
not been able to find blue
label cigar in the town. have often in
quired, but always the same answer. A
great many New York cigars are to be
round here. One brand of X. of l.. is
advertised slightly. AS to advising
any one to come here, certainly would
not, as everything is high. Rents are
very high, and properties are still held
at boom prices, which must come down
nearer their actual value before long,
when the city will be benefited. AS to
living, it is very poor, as Southern peo-
pie are never classed among good cooks.
There are 5000 Germans in the place,
but as yet have failed to find any close
to the works who wanted to
keep boarders. Well, it is raining
witha vengeance, heavy laundering. BY
the papers | see that you ncr hern folks
were favored with blizzard last week
Well, here one hunted the shady side of
the street. Quite difference, eh! AS
have given you about all that would
interest, with regards to all,
| remain,
j. w. HECKERT.