The age-herald., 1898-05-10
AN ODD FIGHT
 IN HUNTSVILLE

Huntsville Is great old clty-quaint in many ways-yet one of the altogether most delightful of our southern cities.
 Essay 1t Is quaint because of some pecu- Iiarities of her citizens one would not ex- pect to find in a city of so much wealth and refinement Just now there is an intense fight being waged here that Is astonishing to every visitor to the city.
 It is ridiculous fight over an ordinance recently passed by the city dads prohibiting hitching to the court house fence. Like many of our smaller southern towns and cities the court house here occupies the central block of the business portion of the city. The block was dedicated as a park many years ago, and is beautiful square. Some fifty years ago it was enclosed by substantial iron fence, and from the day of it's erection until last Friday this fence has been used by the "country cousins as a hitching rack. As a result what could be made lovely park appears to visitors to the city as a country barn yard. But Friday was sad day for the wool hat boys. On about every other pannel of the fence was big sign which read
 $500 FINE FOR FETCHING TO
 THIS FENCE.
 There was consternation among the farmer boys. Old men who have lived in the county hereabouts for three score years were heard to remark that they were go- ing home and bring into the city whole regiments of their sons, grandsons and great grandsons, and that they would run the last of Jere Murphy's blasted blue coats" from the town.
 saa ss
 The idea that he was not allowed to carry on this lifetime practice Of hitching to the court house fence! Why, he would either have to pay ten cents to have his gray mule decently hitched at livery or he must need ride block further to find a hitching post! It would not be tolerated! Seeing the wrath of these gentlemen, the court of county commissioners was qulcfdy assembled This august body ordered Judge Stewart to lift the big iron gates of the fence from their hinges and let free to the world as a hitching yard this pretty park, which now serves as a pasture only for "Commodore Dewey the six-hand stallion that Charlie Lane has given to Ed Pulley, on which to make his race for state sem ator. But the judge, possessing the wisdom of the court, instead employees Oscar Hund- ley to prepare an injunction to be filed re- straining "Uncle Jere's policeman from the ..barbarous'' act of guarding the fence against the county mules. So here the matter goes.
 Why, it's hotter than Dewey's fight to- capture Manila and it's result may be as disastrous-to certain poiticians-for the move to clear the fence was made by the Village Improvement Society," having as it's members many of the most prominent ladies of the city, who have grown tired Of having to drive around an entire square on account of a blockaded thoroughfare, when out for pleasure drive. Injunction after injunction may be looked for in the case. Already, Charlie Lane threatens to carry the matter into the next legislature for adjustment But Charlie. think has a "sore toe." Several of the ladies have discontinued their subscription to his Even- ing Tribune on account of his bitter fight. But he dies game, and says he will beat Ed Pulley, John Wallace and Captain Lyle for the legislature if they don't declare themselves on the question of hitch or no hitch.''
 It's funny fight that has been equalled but once before-about ten years ago--when a similar one was made la compelling the farmer to haul his cotton ta the warehouse instead of dumping 1t in the street, as was once a custom I am betting on the src- cess of the improvement society. They are for progress and good appearances.
 
 When Huntsville settles her court house fence hitching questions and has removed all mule wagons and OK carts off the pulp lie square, it will be beyond doubt the prettiest little city in our state. She has more lovely homes, prettier streets and boulevards than any of our Alabama towns.
 As a rule her people are wealthy, and consequently most of them are content to live In peace and see the city's population remain at the 15,00O mark. But there are some hustlers here also, who are building factories and industries continually. One day she will be the unrivaled queen of the Tennessee Valley.
 There are always lots of visitors here, largely from the north and east. Hunts vile occupies the unique position of being both an ideal winter and summer resort. The Huntsville hotel-one of the hand- somest and best kept hotels in the south is now full of wealthy customers down south for the winter. The fame of this hotel extends over the entire country, and especially it's dining room, from the win- dows of which is a natural view which in Itself would give a weary man an appetite The fame of Monte Sano is world wide as A summer resort. But there are too many lovely places here to begin descriptive writing.
 EDWARD EUGENE KERSH.
 ABOUT FLAGS.