The age-herald., 1898-07-31
up-to-date plant is being erected. Railroads

Birmingham has splendid railroad facili- ties and 1t is on account of their cheap freight rates that it's iron can be sold in Pfttsburg as cheap as iron can be manu- factured In that city. The following rail- road systems pass through Birmingham: The Louisville and Nashville railroad, ex- tending from Cincinnati to New Orleans; the Queen and Crescent, extending rom Cincinnati to New Orleans; the Central Of Georgia, extending from Birmingham to Savannah, Ga; the Kansas City, Memphis and Birmingham, extending from Birming- ham to kansas City; the Southern Railway, extending from Washington to GreenVille, Miss, and by it's Birmingham and Blocton branch from Birmingham to Selma, Ala {; the Birmingham Mineral road, controlled by the Louisville and Nashville, touches every portcion of the Birmingham mineral district Besides these lines, the Mobile and Ohio and the Illinois Central are also looking for an entrance into Birmingham, and 1t is thought that it will be only a short time before they will both be handl- ing their share of the districts wealth.
 All of the roads mentioned have splendid freight depots. All passenger trains en- tering the city use the splendidly equipped passenger station. All of them have gen eral freight agents and travelling passenger agents with headquarters here.
 Street Railroads
 Nearly every mile of Jones' Valley Is covered with street railroads and with their modern equipment afford quick transpor- tation between Birmingham and all Of her suburbs. In all, there are 102 miles Of electric and dummy lines running into the city
 Of this the Birmingham Railway and Electric company operates 63 miles. Their electrict lines are as follows: From Bir- mingham to East Lake from Avendale to West End, from the South Highlands to Jonesville, from the North Highlands to Powderly, and from Birmingham to Ensley City. Their dummy lines are as follows: One from Birmingham to Bessemer and another from Powderly to Bessemer, which is a continuation of the electric line which runs from the city to Powderly. This com pany has been spending q great deg Of money equipping their dummy lines ith electricity, and improving their rol ng stocks and road beds, and they promise to continue their improvements during the fall and winter. This company has capi- tai stock of $1 300 GOO, and employs over 5000 men its various lines.
 The Birmingham Traction company was organized only a short time ago, but it has already proved itself one of the most enterprising corporations in the district. It bought up the East Birmingham and the North Birmingham dummy lines, two concerns that were barely existing, and IS putting both of them on a paying basis
 The East Birmingham line, running rom Birmingham via Woodlawn to Gate City, has been equipped with electricity, has one of the finest 60-pound tracks in the south, and has the handsomest and most up-to- date cars in the city, if not in the south It was put into active operation on July 22 The North Birmingham line is being equipped in exactly the same manner, and will be in operation in a month or two This company operates twelve miles Of track, including both lines, and has about 10 employees
 T-l,o o,,1 Dalf raf " own about 22 miles of track, though the Belt line is not in as active operation as it was in former years. It makes big cir cult around the city, nearly twenty miles in length The Highland Avenue dummy line is about seven miles long, and is one of the most picturesque in the valley. It's capital stock is $1 100000.
 The Red mountain dummy line has not been in operation since 1895. It runs by a very circuituous route from the South Highlands to the park on the summit of Red mountain.
 Water, Gas and Electricity
 The Birmingham Water Works company, which supplies the entire city with its wa ter supply, has a capital stock of $600,000 It's plant, which is one of the most com plete in the country, cost about $,400,OO0 The water is brought from Cahaba river, about fifteen miles distant, and there Is enough of it to supply city of many times Birminghams size.
 The Birmingham Gas company, the sec ond of this cities quasi public corporations, has a stock of $500,000. Its mains cover nearly the entire city. Extended improve ments are now being made in this com- pany's plant.
 The city has, however granted fran chise to another gas co pany and v'ey are under contract to begin work before Oc- tober l. of this year.
 The Consolidated Electric Light company Is a tremendous affair, and has until the past few weeks been the only electric plant in the city since the numerous contesting companies were consolidated several years ago. The company has capital of $5O0,- 600. It supplies all the power used by the Birmingham Railway and Electric com- pany's lines, and besides, supplies all the lights used by the city and the residents of Birmingham. Except, of course, where private lighting plants are used.
 The city of Bessemer, twelve miles from Birmingham, has separate water system from Birmingham, with a S125,GO0 capital and an electric lighting company with a $50 ,000 capital.
 Telegraph and Telephones
 Both the Postal Telegraph and Cable company and the Western Union Telegraph company have large offices in Birmingham.
 The Southern Bell Telephone company is now erecting an entirely new system of the most improved telephones at cost of $75,OOO. It will be in operation within the next month or two. The American Long Distance Telephone company is now eX- tending its lines toward Birmingham and within a few months this city will be in speaking distance" with all the big cities of the north.
 THE SMALLER INDUSTRIES"
 The foundries, machine shops and boiler works that make the city and surburbs ring with the noise of. their hammers and machinery are perhaps as substantial in- dustries as can be found in this district. It is these the smaller industries, so- called, on which Birmingham must base all it's hopes for future greatness. Birm- ingham is already at the top in the pro- duction of raw pig iron and still it is not up with Pittsburg and other cities as a manufacturing center. It is only when the concerns mentioned below which turn out the finished products, have been multiplied by the score, will true prosperity have ar f0 An