The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-19

prising and Progressive citizens Of Birning-
ham, and never let slip an opportunity
which might better the districts interests.
The company was formed nine or ten
years ago by the consolidation of all the
horse car lines in the city and number OF
the dummy lines running to the various SUI
burban towns. Since that time it has con-
tinued to grow and improve its lines and
equipments until 1t is now about as good
as any to be found In the south.
The lines the company now operates are
as follows:
| Ensley line, miles; electricity.
East Lake, miles; electricity.
South Highlands and Jonesville, 800 miles,
| electricity.
Elyton line, ITO miles; electricity.
Avondale line, miles; electricity.
Bessemer dummy line, 1856 miles.
| Powderly dummy line 790 miles.
"GoIden Rod Route"
The Ensley line, now known as the
| Golden Rod Route" SO called from the
| handsome yellow cars which run on It, Is
| becoming one of the most noted lines in the
| country, not only on account of its own
excellent service, but because of the great
industries which are being built along the
route. Ensley, at the terminus of the line,
seven miles from Birmingham, is known
| all over the United States for the new
| steel mills and the wire and rod mills which
| are now In the process of erection, as well
| as numerous industries and for the big iron
| furnaces, the bi-product coke oven plant,
| and other enterprises which have already
| been completed and are now in successful
| operation These industries have been de-
| scribed again and again, not only by the To-
| cal press but by all of the New York papers
| and other prominent journals of the north
In this way Ensley has come to be widely
known, and frequently travellers from the
north stop over in Birmingham for the sole
purpose of seeing the place. Only a week
| ago a party OF tourists from Boston tele-
graphed ahead before reaching Birmingham
asking that a trip to Ensley be arranged
for them. This was done, of course, and.
| they were heartily delighted at what they
saw. 1t was a revelation to them. Not only
did they compliment Ensley itself, but they
said that the service on the Golden Rod
Route" was as good as they had seen any
| where-a high compliment
The Ensley car line also runs directlv
through Pratt City, the most extensive coal
mining district in the south. Pratt is now
city of over 5000 Inhabitants, and Ensley
| IL has been only about a year ago since
Ensley began its real development and
| growth.
| The Route to East Lake
| The East Lake line, nearly seven mics
In length, runs up Jones' Valley from Bir-
mingham through one of the most desirable
residence sections of the district. 1t passes
through two large Incorporated towns
| AVOldale nd
Lake, cultured community which is amplv
large enough to be Incorporated. Most of
the residents living along this line have
their places of business in the city of Rir-
mingham proper, and come in from the SUI
| ourbs every morning. The entire run from
East Lake is only about 80 minutes, afford
| ing rapid transit to and from the city. All
OF these citizens are so closely connected
with Birmingham interests, and they are
| SO conveniently situated that the question
of annexing the territory between the CITY
and East Lake into the corporate limits of
Birmingham has been very seriously con-
| sldered during the past few months
Along the East Lake line there are also
number of very valuable industries; the
| Two city furnaces of the Sloss Iron and
steel company, the cotton mills, gin works
ana other Industries at Avondale and 1t Ia
| proposed to erect several other very notable
ones at Woodlawn.
East Lake is very handsome park and
| Is one OF Birmingham's most popular pleas
ure grounds. The state camp grounds are
OH the banks OF the lake. and encampmenss
are held there every year. Dancing and
summer theatricals in the pavilion, bathing
Doating, hshing and skating on the lake are
| among the popular amusements offered in
| this park
| East Lake is also the seat of two colleges
| which have reputation throughout Ala
oama Howard college, for young men.
| though number of young ladies also at
tend 1t, Is a very prosperous institution UNI
der the patronage of the Baptsts of Ala
| bama. The East Lake Atheneum for young
| ladles Is also an institution of a splendid
| reputation, and Is doing good work.
| Ihis line has double track it's entire
| length, and is thus enabled to give the
very best service with the smallest number
| OF delays. The cars now running on this
| line were put in operation In December.
and are exactly similar to those on the
| Ensley line
Bessemer Dummy Line
The longest street car line in the district
| Is the dummy line from Birmingham to
| Bessemer, nearly fourteen miles in length
| 1t connects the two largest cities In tho
| district, and does a large business, both
passenger and freight, between the two
places. Its trains are large and heavy and
make splendid time; fast as any of tho
electric lines.
AT Owenton, on this line, Is situated the
| male college of the Methodist church for
| North Alabama, which has been in sue
cessful operation since last October.
About four miles from Birmingham on
this line are situated the the state fair
| grounds, one of the best places in Alabama
for fairs and spectacular productions of all
kinds. mile or two further on are Haw-
kins' springs. Potter springs and Thomp-
| sons Spring park, all of them delightful