The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-07-02
IN HOTEL LoBBIES
AND ELSEWHERE

wealth of Alabama has once again came by
his own. Henry F. DeBardeleben has won
out, as the popular phrase goes, and this
instance the phrase will be more popular
than 1t ever was before. The financial
troubles of 1898 bore heavier upon Mr.. De-
Bardeleben than upon anyone else, for he
had vastly more at stake than any other
man. The misfortunes that attended that
crisis, which virtually closed most of the
banks of the country, and actually wrecked
hundreds of such institutions. Mr.. DeBar-
deleben bore cheerfully and with a wonder
full spirit of energy. He went to work.
literally, and has worked bravely and
faithfully. Now his reward is come, after
the toisome years. The chief part of the
possessions which passed from him in the
days of trouble comes back now in these
days of prosperity for the district, the for
tunes of which he has done so much for
twenty-five years to promote. He is now,
after the time of trouble, independent
again, owing no man anything, and being
far ahead of the great game of great bust
ness lives. Mr.. DeBardeleben was the first
man to bring large sums of money into the
district for investment, and it was he who
developed the world-famous Pratt mines,
which were named for the celebrated Dam
lei Pratt, founder of Prattville. He builded
and developed and came to be easily the
first of southern developers. His fortune
went away into the millions; but when the
crash of '93 came he was unable to protect
his vast properties, and SO he was forced
to surrender what his remarkable genius
had earned for him.
Henry DeBardeleben remains the most
striking personality in the material de-
velopment of Alabama. He is "big man.
in the broadcast sense; and, whatever his
business misfortunes may have been, his
name has been one to conjure with. He
was virtually the founder of Bessemer,
and his interests there have come back to
him. AS also his interest in Avondale, and
the Berney National bank, of Birmingham.
His extraordinary energy and remarkable
business capacity, together with his far
sghtedness and indomitable spirit of enter
prise, have brought him back to fortunes
door, and he has entered with honor and
distinction. Everybody in the district will
congratulate the Great Developer, who at
the age of 60, has an empire once more
spread out before him for his occupancy.
General Wheeler's remark to The Age
Herald's Washington correspondent, to the
effect that he has not made up his mind
respecting his proposed candidature for the
governorship of Alabama, is not quite en-
couraging to those journals and citizens
who have been urging his nomination
without his consent or knowledge" said
politician last night. 1.-THE convention is
more than year off, as the famous little
hero says, but the lines are at the point of
being laid. and the candidate of the organ
lied democracy will be agreed upon very
soon. There will be no dark horse in next
years convention. As many good citizens
as desire to get their names in the paper
as candidates can easily be gratifed. The
country papers are very generous about
that sort of thing, as they are about all
matters for the public welfare, and so any
man, within reason, can get himself men
toned for governor. There will be but
two real candidates before the state con-
vention of the democracy-Governor john
ston and the strongest anti-Johnston man
who can be agreed upon by the rank and
file of the party organization. Governor
Johnston must of necessity be a candidate
to succeed himself, for there is none other
who can hold the Johnston forces together.
Should he win the nomination, the same
influences which made that possible would
make it almost certain that he would con-
troll the legislature. That legislature would
elect him United States senator, but he could
continue to perform the duties of governor
until the 4th of March, 1901, or nearly one
III ri n he ordipa pilb m TOR ia1 tor,
Resigning then, the president of the state
senate would become governor. 1t is as
easy as falling off of log when it is easy
at all. General Wheeler must say yes or
no now. If his words in Washington mean
anything practical they mean no.
The decision of the supreme court in up
holding the Birmingham amendment to the
constitution of the state places the credit of
the city as high as that of any other city
SOUTH" said Alderman Henry B. Gray the
banker, heretofore chairman of the finance
committee of the city council. Proof of
Mr. Grays assertion is found in the fact
that yesterday Birmingham bonds were
held at 10S A year ago they went almost
a-begging at 60. "If the decision of the
highest court had been contrary to what
it was, it would have been disastrous to
the credit of Birmingham" continued
Banker Gray. "As it stands, it brightens
the entire situation and makes it not only
possible for the city to pay its Obligations
but will enable it, within a short time to
provide an adequate sinking fund, and, be-
fore long, probably to refund the debt. The
debt with accumulated interest amounts,
in round figures, to s1,s0O,O0O Speaking
roughly the increase in revenue this year
will be about. $50 900: and that will put the
| citys finances at ease. The main thing is,
| the city's credit has been restored and Bir-
mingham can hold up its head amongst the
| highest cities"
"a year ago I was offered 100000 of the
| Birmingham bonds at 60, and I could have
| got them a margin of ten dollars on the
hundred" said a leading business man. ct
| didn't take the bonds; and it makes me
| mad to reflect that for each ten dollars put
up 1 could have earned forty-eight dollars
in twelve months"
1t is generally understood that one Bir-