Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-08-08
Visitor at st. Clair Springs.

ST. Clair Springs, Aug. Z, 1896.
To the State Herald:
If man, with money, had done the
1.-THE that nature has for this place it
would be a resort surpassed by few in
the interior sunny cline. The broad, UNI
dulating park, thickly set by nature with
the most beautiful, outrageous trees,
of thirty-two varieties by actual count
just made by the young men here, the
delightful walks, the easy eminences and
picturesque surroundings, make a scene
att active, If not inspiring; and the cool
springs of red, black and white sulphur
and freestone waters, which rise in the
vale coursing the park, together with the
pure atmosphere, give assurance of re-
newed strength and health to the visitor
weary and weak of the cares, tolls and
excavations of home and business. Long
fellow, in the Song of Hiawatha," made
famous the beauty of the Falls of Mime
haha. The writer thinks there is even
more to sing of in St. Clair.
The visitor, for the first time, naturally
inquiries why the place of such adj
yantages has never been perfectly i'm
proved and developed. The familiar an
swer is, that a former proprietor was
peculiarly indisposed to improve the
property himself or dispose of 1t to 9TH
ers for that purpose and rejected several
offers at large prices. 1t Is understood
the present owner, who recently came
to the possession, is willing to sell at
reasonable price.
Located about thirty miles north of
Birmingham, one and half miles from
st. Clair station, on the Alabama Great
Southern railroad, over an almost per-
fectly level road, which could be cheeply
macadamiZed and made few minutes
drive (as well as an excellent bicycle
course) it is not improbable that many
persons in Alabama, who would like an
interesting and healthful home place OF
summer resort, can be found who, made
acquainted with Its advantages, would
become interested in the acquisition and
development of the property. 1t is be-
leved that several hundred could be OBJ
tanned in birmingham Montgomery, Sell
ma. Mobile and other points, who would
be willing to contribute, by the purchase
each of a share of stock, to the creation
of o fund necessary for the purpose.
Nature seems to have specially de-
signed site for large hotel. The vain
genius of man could not, to its own con-
tent have conceived a better. The build
ing would stand upon an easy eminence
and face the spring vale below about 800
yards or less distant. 1t would be shaded
by trees of magnificent beauty. To the
right, near by is an immense spring,
from which by artificial, perhaps hy-
draulic, pressure the building could be
abundantly supplied with water for all
except drinking purposes. To the rear,
by a sharp decline, the drainage and
below and be carried beyond influence
upon the guests.
1t is not questionable that the cost of
Improvement now is a very large per
cent less than when other summer re-
sorts in Alabama were improved. Local
mills would furnish, upon the ground,
the plain lumber at SIS per 1000, and
planning mills near by would furnish, in
large part, the dressed lumber at CORE
spondingly low prices. There can be no
better time for the cheap development
of the place Contributors of the charac-
ter suggested would make their small
contributions, not with the view of Pc
euniary profit, but to establish desira-
BILE and beneficial place for the annual
coming together of friends and aequaint-
ances throughout the state at trifiing
cost of transportation, and rates OF
board within the reach of all who desire
a summer resort. Rental income suf-
ficient only for repairs and taxes would
be demanded, the rest to be given to the
guests in cheap rates of board.
To the writer a place like this is more
desirable than a distant resort where we
go, at large expense, and then meet only
strangers whom we never saw or expect
to see again. How much better to save
the expense and be with great family
of acauaintances and friends. The writer
expresses the wish of all who come, when
he does his own, that competent hands
win take hold and carry out these sug-
gestions. j. B. f.