Birmingham state herald., 1896-06-14
AS SEEN WITH A KEEN EYE
Birmingham One of the Finest
 Cities of the Union.
HER GREATNESS IS PATENT
It Comes Upon the Stranger With Irresistible Force-So Says Colonel Benham, and
 Much More of Interest.

Col. George A. Benham, lawyer and journalist, of Boston, is stopping at the Morris. Colonel Benham has travelled all over the United States, having had occasion to visit the leading cities and examine their condition in his capacity as writer for the press on public ques- tons-especially those of an economic and industrial nature. Colonel Benham spent the winter travelling in the south, with headquarters in Atlanta. He is an expert writer on railways, having seen most of the leading systems of the coun- try, and has prepared several legal works. He has thoroughly done Bir- mingham, and his views of the city and it's possibilities are therefore worthy of much consideration. In conversation with a State Herald man Colonel Ben ham said
 'Birmingham is one of the finest cities I ever saw. It is admirably situated in the midst of a charming and romantic country and exhibits at once a broad and enduring foundation, an excellent super structure and beauty of development and finish. It likewise exhibits great inher- ent strength and wonderful possibilities. Few cities of this country show in the same degree as Birmingham the potent and fruitful results of the right applica- ton of trained intelligence to the agencies of work. And none exhibit greater natural resources, as indicated by the all persuasive, practical and tangible results. We may say that Bir- mingham is great, and people who have never seen the place may perhaps look incredulous. But once step within the precincts of the city or it's suburbs and the truth of the statement dawns upon you with awful reality We determine the relative character of a city as of an individual by the practical results at tained. Measured by that standard, the ait 1f fEY,a fpntr rl11y high today.
 'FWhat are the results which prove that Birmingham Is a great and progress sive city? They are patent to even the most casual observer. We look away on every hand and see the rugged hills and mountains that conceal boundless min eral wealth. We see a hundred trains bearing the crude products toward the places where the processes of reduction are undergone. We see the aWful belch- ing furnaces and hear the sound of mighty engines, forming and roaring and seething caudrons which resemble the yawning caverns of hades. We see the molten streams of iron-ineXhauSt1ble streams of wealth-fowing onward in an immutable course. We see other trains bearing the finished products to places of consumption. This Is the practical aspect of the place-the utilization of natural wealth through the agency of the blind forces of nature We see be- fore us proud city of broad avenues and tasteful parks lined with massive palatial structures of public or private character, and facilities for rapid transit and the expeditions dispatch of business These are the agences of administration. We see, moreover, handsome churches, schools and colleges, substantial resi- denceS and places of amusement and recreaton-the elements necessary for the medication of truth and justice, of useful knowledge, of rest and comfort These are the essential elements of mu- ncipal greatness and progress, and mo- where do we find them more happily combined or more highly developed than in Birmingham. The city, with its mag nficent public and private buildings, its great manufactories and unrivaled facili- ties for utilizing the boundless wealth al it's very doors, Is the best and most persuasive exponent of it's greatness, it's inherent strength and immeasurable posS Utilities.
 'To the northern visitor who has in- spected other southern cities Birming- ham is a decided surprise, and presents many features of real interest There is about it marked cosmopolitan spirit and an air of modern improvement. With the exception of Atlanta the city is the most distinctly modern and up-to- date city of the south. It is suggestive of many of the new and hustlng cities of the north, and displays that 'git-up- and-git-thar energy which has been so potent factor in the development of northern cities. People of the north think the southern cities are too slow and inexpensive; but Birmingham cer- tainly does not come within this cate gory.
 "One of the first things that attracted my attention on arrival-things which I consider good index of a city's char acter---were an elegant and commodious union passenger station, With excellent facilities for the expeditions handling of traffic, and a palatial hotel, Hotel Mor- ris. one of the most substantial and finely equipped hotels have seen in this country. The public and private build ings of the city display it's wealth in elaborate and substantial structures that exhibit the best possibilities of ar chtectural skill, good taste. beauty and practicability. I deem this tribute to an admirable public spirit
 ''I am pleased to find the city laid out along intelligent lines. it's broad and straight streets and avenues being very handsome, useful and of prime impor- tance in the orderly and systematic dis patch of the ordinary functions of life This feature is also conducive to good health. It has also been promotive Of rapid transit. I have seen very many excellent systems of municipal railways or electric lines, but for an elaborate system of inter-connectng lines ramify- ing the large area of the city and sub urbs. excellence of equipment and ad mlrable operation, I am inclined tc award the palm to the systems at Bir.
 
 of it's size in this country. The problem of rapid transit has been settled here 1T a satisfactory manner--for the present at least.
 ",The condition of the laboring classes here appears to be most excellent. They seem to have comparatively good homes plenty of work. substantial food and les' than the usual temptations to vice. Theil abodes are good and durable, and the-, is an absence of the low, poorly built hut: closely crowded together, often observa ble in other large manufacturing cen ters. There seems to be plenty of room for all in Birmingham, and no mear spirit prevails.
 "I am pleased to note the progress at tained by the negroes here-a degre, much in advance of that observed il southern cities in general, and that tn, old racial feuds appear to have been set tied, and the colored people have settled down to work and tacitly accepted thu existing order of things. They show goot