The age-herald., 1898-07-31

The story of the birth of the town and of it's rapid growth-of how out of the forest in a few short years has arisen the present city of COCO people establishes the title Marvel City, which, by com mon consent, has become Bessemers so- briquet.
 The present site of the city was owned by the Bessemer Land and Improvement company and the first sale of lots was at- tended by parties from Birmingham, Charleston, and New Orleans. The wild, speculative spirit, so common on such an occasion, was lacking. Most of the buyers were actual settlers and the balance bought with the intention of improving their prop erty Ever since that day when the infant city was launched on it's career, it has enjoyed a healthy steady growth and now stands the sturdiest youngster in the his tory of Alabama.
 Situated about fifty miles north of the geographical center of the state and about twelve miles southwest of Birmingham, Bessemer is near the southern extremity of the famous Jones' Valley, and-ta.-t the heart of the great coal apcsiion district of Alabama.
 With an altitude of six hundred feet above -tssc sea level, and with the perfect natural drainage afforded by two noun tain streams flowing through its limits Bessemer is exempt from the levers and other forms of malaria so prevalent in many parts of the south. No complaint has ever been made on the score of it's health and the death rate is as low as in any city of the size in the south.
 A striking feature of Bessemer is the num- Der of substantial buildings. The Charles ton Block, Grand Hotel, City hall, Rebie hall the two bank buildings and the Montezuma university would all do credit to a city ten times it's size and age.
 Municipal affairs are in the hands, at present, of republican mayor and board of aldermen-being the only city in the state enjoying that distinction.
 The water works, owned by the land 
 which flows through twelve miles of mains. The reservoir is now being enlarged and in a few weeks will include the wholesome waters of Moore's springs, an inexhausta- ble mountain stream.
 When the city was laid off, park reserva- tions were made at suitable intervals; many of these have been improved, and be- sides being ornamental, are beginning to be more and more appreciated as essen tials to the comfort and health of the peo- pie.
 As regards railroads and transportation facilities, Bessemer is fortunate It is situ- ated on the main line of the Queen and Crescent, the great highway from Cincfn- natl to New Orleans and is on the Birming- ham Mineral division of the Louisville and Nashville railroad. It is also the terminus of the Bessemer division of the Kansas City, Memphis and Birmingham, and the Georgia Pacific railroads. In addition are also the two dummy lines of the Birming- ham Railway and Electric company-one by way of Woodward and the other by way of Powderly.
 Reared upon an everlasting foundation of coal, iron ore and limestone, placed in such wonderful profusion and juxtaposi- tion, the projectors and citizens of Besse- mer have proudly watched the ediffices of their industry expand and grow. They have grown into such goodly proportions and are intrenched behind such impregna- ble bulwarks of advantage that they do not tremble with "every stormy wind that blows from the turbulent and treacher- ous waters of Wall street. They have grown despite the stringency of the money markets; despite the agitations of the tariff and silver questions; despite all the ugly premonitions of little statesmen and the fears of great ones.
 The great iron furnaces, coal and ore mines, "big" and little" pipe works, brick yards and saw and blaming mills have been, throughout all the perilous times of the last few years, ceaslessly puffing; not stopping for anything.
 With the return of confidence in our money centers, and the advent of the manufacture of steel in this section, the ponderous gates of commerce will be wide open to Bessemer. A new era Is dawning for the Marvel City" It will bring with its noon-tide such a mighty rush of busi- ness as pig ircs never dresm of.
 Bessemer Newspapers
 With the advent of the first settlers came the Bessemer Weekly. Its owner and publisher wm. H. H. Judson was also a considerable investor in real estate. At