Birmingham age-herald., 1895-02-03
ALABAMA.

For the Age-Herald.
 ''Alabamal Alabamai
 am dreaming now of thee,
 And see the trend Of thousands
 Coming from beyond the sea;
 As they mount upon the pillows,
 Steaming through the spray and foam,
 Wildly joyous of the irospect
 Of an Alabama home.'
 A prophetic assertion, hough too coin- cideut with cause and effect to be proph- ecy, made to me few days ago by Colonel Henry D. Capers, an eminent writer and statesman of Charleston, $. o., will be the purport of my greeting to my native state Alabama is the coming southern state.
 Alabama is the emporium of the coal and iron industry of the south ,and being in th g heart of the south it will soon be called upon to supply the demands of the south. The coal and iron abound in such large quantities as to defy any apprehension of ever being exhausted. And 1t Is so easy of access as to give 1t a premium of competi- ton over other fields of Supply. Further more, the juxlaposition of the coal and iron makes the melting of the iron ores less ex xpensve than most other iron works. It is said that the Woodward furnec near Bessemer, are most conveniently situated to the coal, iron and other supplies or any furnaces in the world.
 The forests of Alabama are source of great wealth and superiority over many other states. did not appreciate the mas. sive, grand and useful timber of Alabama until 1 crossed the plains and mountains of Georgia from Rome to Augusta, which are only scantily patched with shrubby timber, and the southern part of South Carolina is but little better. I haven't seen a re- spsctabIe tree since leaving Alabama.
 The level sandy plains and cypress swamps of this section present the eye with no resting variety nor woo it with fasci- nations of picturesque, changing scenery. Often 1 wonder how people who do not live in Alabama can appreciate Bryant's poems, which are full of the grandeur of the 'tpathless woods.'' 1 long again for the the murmuring streamlets of Alabama and hallows them with poetry divine.
 l have often wondered why South Caro- lima charged no fee for marriage license; but while riding over these monotonous and seemingly bottomless sand roads of this section with some amiable representa-. tive of the fair order of heart entrappers, while endeavoring in vain to summons the ready command of some of Cupid's handy words of wooing, which in Alabama come so easily, l c0njectured that the state could not afford to discourage the marriage ties which here are so hard to tie. I would not insinuate that the young ladies here are less fair or sweet than those of Alabama. I can't say that until get within the pro- lection of Alabama. A secret which I would not have known iu Alabama is: It will take much manhood and patriotism for me to return to Alabama with whole heart.
 For South Carolnian to take a ride on the macadamized roads near Birmingham would make him think he was in paradise. Senator Mayfied of Bam burg, $. o., says he is coming 10 Alabama some time just to sec her roads.
 MT. George Bates, prominent lawyer of Barnwell, s. C., says that the decisions of the supreme court of Alabama have more weight with the courts of South Carolina tban those of any other state south, and Massachusetts more than any other north- ern state.
 Alabama is far ahead of South Carolina in the fraterDal unity and cooperation of the teaching profession. Here q teacher stands alone; in Alabama all are banded together, like the cedars of Lebanon, by the bonds of brotherly love and sympathy and are m utually dependent for the wisdom world of progress soon to be achieved by this, the most useful profession.
 From these and numerous other advan- tages and excellencies which Alabama afford are we not all safe in anticipating the fu- ture and saying, "Alabama is the coming southern state;" and realizing the truth of President Cleveland' 8 tribute: IA Alabama is the pire state of the south.''
 None arc kissed so fond by Heaven
 AS my fair dear native land
 Were hunting earth's best garden
 I would hunt thy wnsone strand.
 There the flowers bloom serenely
 In pure nature's home retreat; There sweet birds are joyous singing
 Weary feelin gs to defeat; / There each streamlet echoes faintly Woongs from the god of love;
 There maiden land reposes,
 Fairest meath the stars above.
 ANDREW M. MCCONNELL. Blackville, s. O..