The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1889-11-08
The New South.

Beneath the bluest of skies. in the llgh'
of glorious sun, with winds tempered TO
gentle breeze, in an atmosphere or lie
and strength, Fort Payne is fast crOwdlne
herself into the front rank of southern cit
les. Her progress has been rapid, hel
growth sure and certain. The promoters OF
this enterprise. the men who have conceiv-
ed and put into active operation the plans
that are now yielding so rich harvest are
indeed careful builders. While everything
has been rushed forward with an energy
and vim peculiar to the New England bus
mess man solid Foundations laid in cours-
es of wealth, and cemented with lndomlta-
bile intelligence and skill, has been erected.
These men have not built for the day; they
have planned for the future. and the gener-
ations to come will glory in and praise the
foresight of the architects OF their New
England home in the South.
And Fort Payne is essentially New
England city-the very air is impregnated
with the push and energy Of Yankee land.
II can be seen in the active walks OF DuSl-
ness, it hoverS about the Industries or tne
city, it is seen in the quick, nervous man
ner of the residents. the modes OF life, the
talk of the streets, the style OF the build
Jugs, the dress of the people. an tel st4ty
h. which brooks no contradiction. 10 the
, SOutherner this is source of W0nderment
I and surprise-tO the NOrtherner it is home.
This is not city of words, it is place OF
deeds. 1t is a condition, not theory.
There is solid backing to- everything.
The city is founded on rock, not sand.
The city exists; it is not a house OF cards.
Jla npOnla Ia harn and the Mace is mol
an imagina V collection of lots on paper on
~. There Iare great natural sources OF
wealth, an linexhauStible stream OF treas
ure, formerly hidden beneath the weight
OF mountains, now discovered by man a, and
made sl6servient to his power. This
eG it d is now being ii gf6e sae
meg ~ ne People thrive.
Or Ian enjoy in Fort Payne all the adj
vantages, comforts and luxuries OF a
Northerh home. There is nothing wanted,
everything has been anticipated. A never
pure, clear and cold as it is in the Yer
mont hills. The force is great and hy-
drants are so scattered that ample fire pro-
lection is assured. Then, there are electric
lights, both arc and incandescent; excellent
telegraph and postal facilities; adequate
train service; the best hotel accommodations
in the South: many stores, wholesale and
L.
broad streets; pleasant homes; attractive
resorts; generous supply of fuel, coal and
wood; produce of all kinds a healthy eli
mate and work enough for all.
There are two Fort Paynes-the old and
dying town and the young and living city.
A place at one time of dual existence, now
being transformed into one common center
of good. Last February the new city was
bOrn,-today it is luSty child. 1t grew
faster in one month than the old place did
in century. and yet the opportunity has
always existed. Where eight months ago
there were but scarcely 300 people, there
are now nearly. 5000 and the city keeps
right on growing too. The growth, al
though rapid has been permanent. There
have been no sudden plunges and then drop
back-the movement has been healthy
one The people here have the utmost
confidence III continued prosperity; there
seems to be no fear of a reaction and the
probability is strong that the growth will
continue for many years to come.
Northern capital has made the place, but
the strongest argument for continued pros
perity seems to be IN the fact that Southern
capital is now being largely invested here.
AstOnished and amazed, the Southern peO-
pie gaped in open-eyed wonder at the
transformation being effected under their
very eyes; but in time their wonder
gave way, to dismay when the discovery
was made that the golden opportunity
which had been so long within their grasp
was being seized upon by strangers, vet
they were cautious, hesitating some time,
doubt and fear alternating; but they finally
realized that something must be done, and
today Fort Payne has no stauncher friends
or more liberal investors than Southern
men.
Fort Payne is the shire town of De Kalb
county. The Court House and County Jail
are here. Situated on the trunk line Of the
Alabama Great Southern railroad, almost
midway between Birmingham and Chata-
nOOga, it is the only place of any size for
stretch of $50 miles. The trade of the
country around is now diverted into this
city, where formerly other markets were
sought. The immediate vicinity of Fort
Payne boasts no extensive farms, but back
in the country east and west the country is
ably located in valley between Lookout
and Sand mountain ranges. These noun
tains are heavily timbered and in them are
mines of stone, coal and iron. The varie-
ties of timber in this section embrace chest
nut. pine, oak, walnut sycamore and
white wood. The latter is used extensive
ly for interior work; and it will take high
finish. There is great demand for lum-
Der, owing to extensive building operations,
and dealers are crowded to fill orders.
There are several mills here running to
their full capacity, and yet are unable to
meet the demand.
The water supply is obtained from two
living, never-failing springs. These
springs have daily capacity of $4,000
gallons. The water is pumped from here
to the mOuntain-side, where, at height of
210 feet above their level, a stand pipe has
been erected with capacity of 285,O0O gal
Ions. The water-works are equipped with
the latest and most improved machinery
and pumping apparatus. The buildings
are of brick and are well constructed. In
the same buildings is the electric light
plant, with one arc and two incandescent
dynamOs, operated by a rapid-running en-