Birmingham state herald., 1895-10-27
PROSPEROUS OPELIKA.
What the Little East Alabama City Has Accom- pshed During the Past Five Years.
 Her Many Advantages.


 Opelika, Oct. 25-(Special Correspond ence)-A visit to Opelika, the capital city of all east Alabama, just at this time will reveal to even the casual ob- server the fact that here the people are up and doing. They are making the very best of all opportunities as they come
 It is pretty asherally known, especially in commercial circles, that Opellka stood the panic of 1893 better than any other town or city in Alabama. From ths spring of 1890 up to the beginning of the year 1893 Opellka enjoyed an era of pros perity the like of which had not before been known to the people here. It was not boom, but rapid move up hill, based upon a firm foundation Hence the ability of the merchants, bankers and everybody generally to withstand the crash when it came. For many years the town of Opelika had been content to growl over local politics and some times fight little bit over the prohibition ques- tion, and no one seemed to realize the special advantages belonging to the place as commercial and manufacturing point by reason of it's splendid location and excellent surroundings. But in 1889 the people began to wake up and by the mid de of 1890 they were wide awake, up and doing, and from that on they have continued to march up hill, and today Qpelika stands along up about head with the smaller cities of Alabama.
 In this letter I think it not out of place to record a few of the things that have been accomplished looking to the upbuild- ing of this little city since the citizens began in earnest to reap the benefits of the advantages they enjoyed by reason of having cut their lots in Opelika I hall f.. of ha enterprises set on foot since 1S9O First was the establishment of g. system of electric lights for the city; then came a splendid system of waterworkS; follow ing In the wake of these came a mann moth cotton compress, which we are told handled near 100000 bales of cotton last season, and will handle as many this season. Then was organized the l.. P. Grant Land company, which placed upon the market several hundred beauti- full residence lots. resulting in the erec- tion of near 100 new residences during the year of 1891; about this date consid- erable interest began to be taken in the public school, and at once it began to grow. The new residences and good public school of course meant an increase in population, and during the fall of 1891 and the spring of 1892 nearly or quite 1000 souls were added to the population of the city. As a natural consequences new stores and new store houses followed the increase in population. Another impor- tant industry established during the pe- riod about which 1 write was the Opelika Touring mills, one of the finest equipped mills to be found anywhere in the coun- try. The Opelika Fertilizer factory an important industry, was also enlarged considerably to keep pace with the pro- gressive steps the city was taking. A daily newspaper became necessity, and was promptly launched. The Opelika Iron works was enlarged; so was the cab inet factory then owned by Messrs. Floyd 6 Stevens, and now owned and operated by MT. w. A. Andrews. l have men, tioned only a few of the things accom- plished during the years go, "91 and '92, which brings me down to the beginning of the panic year. During that year the wheels of progress continued to roll, but less rapidly.
 During 1893 but few enterprises were embarked in, but in 1894 things began early to do better, and just for starter a dummy railway connecting Opelika and Auburn was built and equipped. The new Cooped hotel, which would do credit to any city of 10000 people, was erected; new bank-the Shepard bank--was or ganiZed, erected a handsome building and opened business; ten or a dozen new store were erected, bringing us down to the beginning of 1895, since which time several miles of railroad between Ope1ika and Lafayette have been graded and operations set on foot to connect those two points by an independent line tra- versing splendid farming section, which, when completed, will add greatly to the commercial interests of Opelika. Messrs Hudman Bros have just com pleted. on the corner of Chambers and Jefferson streets, a two-story brick build ing-one of the prettest buildings to be found any where. MT w. A. Andrews, proprietor of the cabinet factory, and contractor, is just putting the finishing touches on the handsome two-story brick residence of MT. N P. Renfro. This res idence is simply a model of beauty, and while standing in front of it, on Coosa street, one can easily imagine himself admiring some of the choice structures to be found on Peachtree street in Atlanta or Twentieth street in the Magic City. During the period over which we have now come the trade of the city of Opelika has almost quadrupled. and the spirit of improvement and enterprise is plainly visible on every hand. But for fear of
 making this letter too long I would de- light tu tell of the men and the part they have played in bringing Opelika to the front. Some time maybe l will. To sum up Opelika is growing, her people are hustling and her future is bright w