The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-02-09
BIRMINGHAM. ALABAMA.
its Phenomenal Growth and Prosperity -
4 crhtd Dcrenniai Celebration.

4 Grand Dcrenniai Celebration.
BrpurNGuAM. Ala. tebi1afY :. ispc-
cial. Arrangements are being made fo'
A grand decenniai celebration here
i'm the spring. Ten years baSe neatly
elapsed since began the remarkable
growth than has NaFned the eyes of TIE
world upon this miuefal district; and It Is
deemed fitting time n0w M nave celebia-
tion in cOmmemorati0n ofthe beginning OF
this new era Of progress. The assertion ~
yentured that no other section Of the coun-
try has made. within 40 short time. such
rapid progress in the Development OF as re-
sources.
4 decade ago Birmingham was but q
country town. striving tO assume city ways.
To-day she IS a city, the advantages OF
which are not surpassed in the South. lt
would be useless t0 attempt 20 enuinerate
the many advantages possessed by this
city; but suffice Il ~ say. tnat he VINO comes
expecting 90 lind city OF wooden buildings
such as -prang up iu the West during the
'g0ld fcNcf excitement VIII De agreeahll
disappointed. nnie-s ne Is an enemy 10 pro-
grcss and development, for he will alight
from the ears in what is conceded ~ be the
finest union passenger station east of the
Mississippi aud south Of the Ohio rivers, ne
will ride 10 good hotels. over wide streets
paved with granite. lighted by electricity,
aud traversed by horse aud steam-moior
cars and he will find that many of the
buildings would DO credit % some OF the
larger cities or the country.
In every stride forward birmingham has
been accompanied by the entire mineral re-
gIon Of Alabama. The developments Of the
past decade have surpassed the eNpecta-
tions OF the most sanguine. I'm these de-
velOpments the railroads have been no
small factor. The city of Birmingham has
at no tinie voted any bonds m aid Of rail-
road construction, Yet to-day she enjoys
most excellent transportation ncniflee.
The operations of the Richmond and Dam
vile. Queen and Crescent, and Louisville
and Nashville Railroad Companies during
the past ten years have particularly at
iracted attention. These systems have
gone steadily forward. acquiring mlnera
roads and constructing main ana branch
lines. until now their arteries Of transpof-
tation connect with innamerahle coal helds,
ore banks and Limestone deposits. Nor
have the Georgia Central and East lennes-
see, Virginia aud Georgia Railroads been
at all idle during these wears, for they also
have done a great deal in the upbuilding OF
this country.
More attention mas perhaps been bestoN- 70
ed upon the production Of iron than upon
ans other one ~ the largely diversified in-
dustres here. ln the building OF furnaces
the iron men Of this district have had the
advantage of the experience, running back
through n number Of years. Of the lennsyl-
yania iron manufacturers, and they have
been thus enabled 90 erect structures Of
modern design in every particular. lhe
furnace plants erected here within recent
Years, therefore. greatly snrpass the older
furnaces in the Pittsburgh district. Inc
wonderful development OF which we speak
is due. in great part 90 Northern men ana
money. While 10 is true that the pioneer
iron masters Of this region are Southern
men. yet it is true also that after successful
iy demonstrating that iron could be- pro-
duced here IN such figure rs 20 enable lis
advantageous shipment over the very uu-
mace Yards 0f the Pcnnsylynnia people,
these Southern men have been materially
aided By Northern capitalists in the further
development Of the resources Of this tfir.-
tory.
The people Of this section Of the country
welcome most heartily the influx Of North
eru men and Northern capital, which has
been steadily pouring I'm during recent
years. 10 is 10 De regretted, however, that
there are large number Of Northern men
who believe that sectional feeling eNr,ls ~
the south 10 such an eXteut as would cause
them 10 ne drtNfuDl NNInN iiitl Ni'hA ~
they were % come here. We are consiraiu-
ed To believe that these people have arrived
at their conclusions without mature consid-
GRAFTON and without the proper lights
before them; and we, therefore, refer
them 10 their friends and acquainlancos who
have already come South. IL is true that
sectional feeling does exist. 90 some extent,
in the sOuih-and it is quite natural that Il
should But we assert most positively that
this feeling Is perpetuated by a class OF
politicians who are ever maligning the
South her people, policy and institutions
and it is against this class OF Nofihernefs
only that we have auy prejudice.
To those people coming from north OF VI n
SON and DiXon's line. who are honest IN
their convictions, but, 40 the same time, re-
spectng the southern people as honest IN
theirs. the most cordial greeting Is extend
ed. The Northernpr is soon convinced after
his arrival here that the South II putting
forth her mightie@t endeaYOr 90 arrive at a
proper solution Of the several questions that
are now perplexlns .hcn far-secing bust
ness men predict that e.maryclous growth
and Development of which we are writing
will be continued through the coming de-