The age-herald., 1898-07-31

chirt beds nearby are the most valuable in the state, and this product is being ship ped all over Alabama for paving and ma- cadamizing purposes.
 The water from Gate City's artesan wells Is especially fine.
 The North Birmingham Line
 On February 27, of this year. the Trac- tion company obtained control of the old North Birmingham dummy line, and began work almost at once equipping 1t as a twin road to the East Birmingham line.
 The North Birmingham dummy line was also built in boom days, just about two month before the East Birmingham line, although it had fared somewhat better than the East Birmingham line had done, it had never been decided success
 The Traction company began work on this line at once, cutting down the steep grades of the old road and laying an en- tirely new track of 60-pound rails. The numerous tressels which were formerly in use on this line are all being filled up. The dummy, which, until the electric cars are put on, is still being run, now makes the larger part of its 45 mile trip over the new track. The electric cars which are to be used on this road have already arrived in the city, and they are the counterparts of those in use on the East Birmingham line. The poles of the electrical equipment are now being erected, and the whole line will be in operation before October l.
 lThe North Birmingham Park
 This road runs through the residence portion of the city, across the beautiful North Highlands, past the big furnaces of the SlOSS Iron and atb industries al North Birmingham, on to one of the most beautiful parks around Birmingham. It is situated at the end of the line and is truly a beautiful spot. Stately trees cover the whole place, form ing delightfully."- cool and pleasant grove. Many consider the water of the North Br- mingham springs to be the best and cold est in the county.
 The Traction company will spend lot of money improving these grounds. All of their plans have not been perfected and made public yet, but enough is known to say that the parks will be made thoroughly attractive in every particular. A hand some pavilion will be erected before next summer, and numerous other improvements will be made. The park will be primarily ladies and chldrens park, and it will be fitted up with this object in view.
 The Loop" and Transfer Checks
 As has been stated in The Age-Herald before, this line will run it's cars into the city on it's own line down Twenty-third street, and out the East Birmingham line on Nineteenth street, forming a big loop The East Birmingham cars will also form a loop coming in by Nineteenth street and going out Twenty-third street This is done to save time in turning the cars around in the city.
 But one of the biggest innovations yet adopted by this enterprising Traction com pany was announced only in yesterdays Age-Herald. This will be system of transfer checks between these two roads and the Highland Avenue and Belt Rail- road. This will enable passenger to go from Gate City to North Birmingham or to Lakeview, or vice versa on a single fare of cents. This is a stroke of enterprise that well deserves the praise of the pub lie.
 Of course the Birmingham Traction com- pany is well organized. It's officials are men of experience and possess tremend- ous amount of energy and enterprise. The
 Following are it's officers:
 Alex T. London, President; John London, Secretary and Treasurer: G. M. Williams, General Manager, and George H. Clark, Superintendent.
 H. W. Emerick, master of trains, and J. J. Harden, master mechanic, as well as all the other employees in the mechanical department, men of long experience and ability.