Huntsville gazette., 1890-08-09

Interesting Notes Gathered in
Many Alabama Towns.

ZAany Alabama Towns.
Editor Gazette:
Possibly a few facts as cleaned
them on trip through the State,
will be of interest to your readers.
| left Huntsville LAST "Wednesday,
and after short stop In d ecatur and
Birmingham, we arrived Admission
Thursday night. A short ride by
the Admission Dummy brought us to
Oxford, the seat of the Birmingham
District Conference. Here | found
about seventy-fve preachers and
delegates assembled. | spent one
day with them, and did my best, in
the way Of a speech in behalf of our
school at Huntsville, and when l
ceased, p1cket>books few open and
| came away with the sum of fifty
dollars, which they contributed to-
ward our school work.
Admission is one Of the booming
towns Of Alabama. The colored
people, from what facts / cMld gath
er, are doing better than in most
places. They are certainly doing
better than in Birmingham They
have there a company whose object
is to buy and operate real estate.
One. Of the finest brick buildings on
the main street Of the city is owned
by this company, and brings them
profit of sixty>five dollars per month
from rents.
! From all could gather there was
the most kindly feeling here between
the white and cOlored people. This
is largely owing to the principal
founder Of Admission, Mr.. Noble.
He was kind mara NOBLE man,
and to this day everything seems to
partake of his name and nature.
Oxford is small town Just three
miles from Admission, and connected
by dummy line. While here
was kindly entertained by Prof.
Greene, of the Baptist church, teach
or Of the city school. The colored
people here own some valuable prop.
erty and are building up and max
ing for themselves comfortable
homes. They have two grocery
stores in operation doing good bus
mess.
Leaving Oxford on Friday night,
| came down AZ miles to Childersburg
another new town just sprung into
existence. Business men and land
companies from Admission are pur>
chasing and building here. Much
Of the most desirable land at this
place is owned by the colored PEG.
pie, and lies next to the river. The
companies offered them two acres for
one if they would move to other
quarters, but they refused, saying
they feared there might be some
trick in it."
Saturday we came on to Opelika
and met the Dadevine Conference,
made another speech, took collec.
ton Of forty<five dollars, and to-day
| am planning another campaign.
The colored people Of Opelika are
showing some enterprise and thrift.
On one of the most prominent streets
Of the town there are two grocery
stores and hotel run by colored |
people in first rate style.
The election, up to this time, has
passed off quietly here, but every |
body stirred. Even the blind and |
lame were led and carried to the
polls.
1t is very gratifying to one who
travelled over this country five years
ago to mark the general improve
ment Of our people. There has been
q change for the better. The rough |
and rowdy crowd Of FIVE years ago
is now often relieved by the smiling
faces Of Sunday School children on
their way to the picnic. Now and
then parents with children neatly |
combed and dressed m;ngle with
those who travel and exhibit de-
cree of refinement and culture sell
dom seen ten years ago. So much
for the work of the toiling teacher.
So much for the patient labor Of the
faithful and true preacher. So much
for the wholesome counsel of the
good newspaper.
am glad to meet, now and then,
copy of the GAZETTE down here.