The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-09-02
ON THE WING TO JASPER
BEGINNING TO TAKE ON THE AIRS
OF A CITY.
Prosperity in Sight and the People Happy
The New Cotton Mills VIII, In All Prob
ability, BE Completed by Jan. L.

correspondence OF ASe-He aid
Jasper, A,a., Sept. 1.-The Kansas City
leaving Birmingham for the West leads
Through ozia of the meet picturesque par-
tons CT the mountainous districts of Ala
bama- THE Traveller is hurled over gorge
and crag anil prec,rlee into quiet valleys
ami green pastures; thence again over
bridges thdt cpan dizzy dep his, where
crystal threads flow into the verdant
meadows.
Besides being rich in agriculture, tbs
Is ol1e of the busy cti-ns of the Blrmifg-
ham mineral G.stfct. Well-kept camps,
where The ''black diamond" is produced,
are frequen; scenes.
after leaving Birmingham I found
Walter Moore. who is maEager of one of
the largest mines of the district. ON the
way to lbs camp. In c5nveIsa ton, Mr.
Moore said:
Mckinley prosperity Is running over
us roughshod down here In tn coal mics.
The Ibse in wheat has advanced the price
of flour, ard yet we are forced to sell
it at the same price. All other articles
are high in proportion. The American
Pig Iron Storage and Warrant company
seem to be doing more flour.shlrg bust
ness than any one else ait khis time" With
this remark he motioned to their yards
running along the line of railway. "If
they continue 20 spread Their dom a in they
will soon cover all the idle property be-
tween Birmingham aLl Bcssemer. The
1,,;tx
dication of depressed condition"
MIR. Moo.c is enc of the best known
yourg men in Jefferson county. Promi-
merit in poll les and business His active
service to the panty in the last campaign
secured him the appointment of coal oil
inspector for the Ninth district and his
administra ton has been very popular,
50 far az his much mathematical duties
would permit.
On reaching Jasper 1 found those who
were disposed to take a more cheerful
view of the condition. And well might
these citizens feel encouraged, for there
is no town in Alabama that has made
a better showing in these latter years
of universal complaint. Three years
ago Jasper was dilaridated md eather
beaten village, supported by a few crude
iulIltS anu uldtNtlOptu
terests. There were then-only two brick
buildings in the town. Within that time:
the old traps have been torn away ard
in their stead erected fifteen handsome
brick and stone business houses, extend
ing over several squares.
This is due, in great measure, to her
enterprisiEg citizens, such as Musgrove,
Long, Crawford and other men of thrift
and enterprise.
One of the first gentlemen 1 met on
arriving here was Peyton Norvell, a
prominent member of the Jasper bar.
Mr. Norvell has abiding. faith in this Sec
ton, and believes that the Birmingham
district Will be the first to feel the reac-
ton from the depressed condition.
had an interesting conversation with
Thomas Long, who was instrumental in
locating the Cordova cotton mill. In
fact, it is said that his untiring efforts,
supported by such men as Brock Mus.
grove and others, are wholly response
BILE for this immense enterprise. The
mill will have a capacity of $4,000 spin
dies, and will doubtless be in operation
by January 1. 1t is the property of the
Indian Head Milling company, of New
England, and it is said that almost the
entire product of this plant will be ex-
ported to China on account of the SUI
perior quality of the manufacture pro-
posed.
A feature of this enterprise that is
worthy of note Is the fact that the fuel
for operating it's ponderous machinery
is mined from a five-foot seam of coal
within 80 feet of the engine rooms, at a
cost of so cents per ton. This same con-
Germ pays 81 per ton for coal in New
England, and their mills consume more
than twenty-five tons per day. This is
a saving of $3.50 to 500 per day for fuel
alone, not to mention their proximity to
the fieecy STAPLE.
Mr.. Long says this is the only instance
of such cheap fuel known to- the manu-
facture of cotton sheeting. The mill will
give employment to about 600 people,
the great majority of whom will be white
natives.
Jasper is delighted over this man.
moth neighboring enterprise.
Tomorrow I go to Sheffield, from
whence has already reached this section
the good tidings of her new life and
prospective enterprise.
AUBREY HARWELL
Omen all night. Slo.s Pharmacy.