The age-herald., 1899-03-05
HUsTLING DEMoPoLIS
The Town has Room to Grow andis Fast
 Building Up.

Demopolis. March 4.-(Special) )-The most noticeable thing about Demopolis is the remarkable regularity of it's streets and the absence of policemen On walk through the city not a man with club was seen' Evidently the unlawful element is not factor of this town, as is shown by the conspieous absence of blue coats.
 If Demopolis ever grows to be large city. which is not at all unlikely, no incon- yenience will be felt on account of crooked streets and other similar troubles which are usually experienced. The streets are laid out on modern architectural principles and no. deformities, such as sharp angles and warped thoroughfares tend to mar the symmetrical beauty of the town.
 The citizens undoubtedly have faith Tn the future growth of Demopolis, for they have left abundant room for new buildings which may or may not spring up.
 This pretty little city is situated in a tongue of territory lying between the Tom bigbee and Warrior rivers, both of which are navigable by the smaller crafts. As is the case with most of the towns in the black belt, Demopolis is greatly dependent on cotton for support, but numerous small industries have been started and in the course of few years the citizens expect to be entirely dependent of any one enter prise. Only yesterday the plant of the De- mopolis Cooperage company began opera tions and will turn out two cars of barrel heads and slaves daily. This will be great addition to the manufacturing inter- ests of the city A large force will be kept al work and the weekly pay roll will cause considerable expansion in Demopolis cur rency.
 The cotton oil mills is another very inter- ,1xr market for all the surplus cotton seed in the near vicinity. Numerous agents are kept the road buying seed for these mills which consume large amount daily.
 The town also boasts of a wagon factory and various other small industries
 Though the little city is beautiful from an architectural standpoint, it is not neces- sary to apprise its citizens of the fact, for they have absolutely refused to allow any factories or. other ungainly buildings to be erected on the streets. Having adopted the theory that there is plenty of room just out of town, which Is no doubt we'll taken, all such establishments with their unsghtly smokestacks and irregular edifces are forced to occupy territory outside of the city proper
 About 50,O00 bales of cotton are now han died annually in Demopolis. However, a firm has been organized and will operate a l1ne Of freight steamers on the TOmbigbee which will ply between that place and Mobile. With this available mode of trans portation it is expected that as many as 75,OOO bales will be shipped each season in the future
 Thomas F. Howze is now mayor of the city and is regarded as a very efficient off, cer. Like Birmingham, the populace is threatened with a lively mayoralty contest within the next few weeks The present incumbent is a candidate for reelection and will probably be opposed by James F. Hayden, another very popular citizen. The office of mayor of Demopolis pays between $400 and $500, besides the fees.
 The newspaper fraternity is on hand with full force and two papers are running on regular schedule time. These are the Dis patch and the Express Both are demo- cratic, weekly journals and in prosperous condition.
 The population is at present uncertain but 1t is estimated at 5000. Some time ago part or the town was cut off for the pur- pose of avoiding the negro element. which hgured largely in city politics and made themselves otherwise disagreeable. so the writer was informed by a prominent citi zen. Since then no census has been taken ana oflcial figures as to the population are not procurable B q RIrT CEp