The Press., 1889-11-28
< (Bbston Herald, Nov. 19th.) THE FAIR CITY OF FLORENCE.
One of the First of Southern ladustrlal Centres.


 A PLACE THAT HAS GROWN FROM A QUIET |. ooLLEGE TOWN TO HIVE OF INDUSTRY
 REMARKABLE DIVERSITY OF ITS RESOURCES
 AND EXCEPTIONAL NATURAL. ADVANTAGES
 IAN MvEsToR'sPARAD1sE.
 Two years ago the old Alabama town of
 Florence had 2000 inhabitants. To-day it
 has 5000 and over. That indicates that
 something has been stirring It was then
 an old-fashioned college town and county |sest, occupying pleasant upland site on
 the banks of the Tennessee river, inhabited
 by the charming sort of people naturally ing the mild and healthful climate of northern Alabama. To-day it is all that and something else beside, The beauty of site, the cultivated southern society, the delightful climate, are unchanged, but it
 has become an important and rapidly growing manufacturing town, with advan-
 tages such as only the wonderful south can show, and in such combination as can
 hardly be matched elsewhere. Up to 1887
 Florence had not changed much since the
 war, nor had it changed much before it.
 Its good people were satisfied with their
 lot. They were conscious, in way, of
 their advantages i'll, site and natural re- sources, but they had dread of the sort of hustle and hurry they had seen in the development of other southern manufac- turing towns, and feared to lose their dis tinctive character as refined seat of learn ing. But the trouble was, the rushing outside world would not leave them alone. Some lively men one day saw that, with the advantages of this great river, and the neighborhood of some of the best coal, iron and limestone deposits in the south, they could make the fines. quality of pig iron No. foundry iron--on it's banks and ship it in to St. Louis, their largest market, all the year round on steamers and barges for $1 ton, and so get the better O. Birming ham, which has to depend on railroads, to the extent of 8 saving of $1. 75 ton in freight rates. So they bought an old cot ton field on the bank of the river nearly opposite Florence, and laid out he city of Sheffield. TT
 When the people of Florence saw what was going on at Sheffield in the way of manufacturing they made up their minds that it would not be so very bad for them ofter all, and so they decided to yield gracefully to the inevitable, and accept the good fortune which. the course of southern development was thrusting upon them. And, indeed, their growth ln manufactur- ing has improved their social advantages, and has increased stheif importance, as an educational centre, for, in addition 10 their state normal school, their Florenoe college and their Synodtcal Female College, ar. engagements have been made for the lestabl lishment of a handsomely endowed Bap tist university. Florence is the county one of the best cotton growing regions in Alabama. The town lies on rolling plat eau, about I50 feet above the Tennessee r1yer, with beautiful wide streets, shaded by stately elms, ive-o oaks and gmagnolias. bordered by comfortable and handsome houses, with well kept grounds adorned with the luxufiant growth of flowers and shrubs that such climate produces. The remarkably oven one. The signal servlce records of the Florence of flee for the year from Feb. l, 1888, to Feb. l, 1889, show an average temperature of 67 .1o. The highest in 1887 was 97o, and the lowest 15o above zero; for 1888 the highest was 95 3o and the lowest 18o above zero. The town lies between
 THE TENNESSEE AND ITS TR1BurARY,~ Cypress creek. eay clear. rushing stream, which furnishes . sbeeutiful water supply sufficient for a very large city, and also fine source of water power, with opportun- ity for seven dams and 10, 800 horse power. The land slopes toward the river and the creek in 8 gradual slope, with perfect natural drainage, oI, the basis of which. with foresight which characterizes the new south, an elaborate system of sewer age is under construction. The streets and drives are as hard and smooth as asphalt, owing to conglomerate cement existing in great quantities, and making road con- struction easy; cheap and perfect The | roads ramble through fine country for pleasure excursions, and the | valley of Cypress creek forms beautiful | 1a' 'sffal park. -'
 Florence occupies an important position !