The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-02-07
IMPRESSIONS
OF BIRMINGHAM.
One of the Two Best Advertised CIt-
les in tie United States.
SOME PUBLIC SPIRITED MEN.
Excellent society and Culture ami Re
fnement Everywhere - business
Almost OH "a Boom-Institutions
orI,carning-AVi Visitors Views

BIRMINGHAM. ALA. Feb. A--Speclal:
1-ho hest advertised cities IN the United
states arc Newport News and Birming-
ham. The former Is revOlution'zinS the
shipbullding industry and the latter the
iron and steel industry. Every ole re-
members Birmingham as mighty LoCm
town in the eighties. There was wild
speculation during the last half OF he
last decade Real estate prices hocame
inflated with the usual result. The iiqui-
dation has been panty slow and trying.
but the people who got wiped cut ana
who ran into debt have at last got On
their feet again, wiser for their eNpe-
rence. and a most wholeome ana satls-
factory condition exists to-day. Every
body one meets here is busy. bouyant and
confident. There are no houses Tor rent
and this, OF course. is a sure sign Of
cOmmunity's prosperity. The builders
will be overworked for some Tine TO
come.
The coal operators, big and little. ore
behind with their ordersJohn X. ryan
w. T. Starke and John b. Carrinbton,
former citizens Of Richmond, and all
three engaged I'm the coal trade, say that
this will be the best year that Alabama
has ever had in this line Of business.
The nineteen or twenty furnace stacks
I'm blast I'm this district are pushed to
their full capacity. The advance I'm the
price Of pig iron has been one dollar
or more per ton since last fall
ACTIVE OPERATION.
The pipe works and the rolling mills
are rushed with orders. The great steel
plant and the rod mill--lwO mammoth
enterorises-are being hurried - com
pletion. and viii soon be in operation.
The small industries are thriving and
many new ones are being starred. The
tendency is toward the manufacture Of q
wide variety of articles. 50 that i'm dull
times. when the large industries reduce
their wage force, general trade will still
be good.
The Birmingham district is shipping
iron to Europe steadily. and is beginning
TO hx the price for the world. or the
birmingham output 20 per cent. is taken
by the local trade, 81 per cent. Is ship
ped 10 American markets outside Of Ala
bama. and 40 per cent. goes to Europe.
The district makes one-tenth OF the
iron Of the United states and the proper
ton will increase.
This city is practically only twenty-five
years old The census Of 1890 gave II q
population Of less than 5000. The census
takers I'm 1900 will find IT with a popula-
tion Of 1900 The growth Will bo faster
from this time on than ever before. and
the population will be almost II not
quite. doubled In the next ten years.
This is a conservative prediction.
----,ENT CITIZENS.
Among the public spirited citizens here
are b. Steiner, president OF the Com
merclal Club: Sol Haas, president Of the
Sloss Co: James Brown. vlce-president
of the Tennessee Coal. Iron and Railroad
Co. Major j. W. Johnston. Nelson T..
Barker. +. G. Anderson r. c. JemisOn,
Henry b. Gray. \ r. Dearborn and j.
l.. Sims. II Mr.. Steiner, az the head
OF the Commercial Club hears of an
industry North .-outh. East or West,
which might likely be- induced 70 come
here he will fetch Il n he can.
The medical fraternity includes two
popular Hanover county gentlemen, DR..
Eu. W Morris and his younger brother,
Or. Lewis Coleman Morris The former
began his professional career In Rich
mond. They are both up-to-date and in
tellectual men and have an extensive
practice.
But not only IS Birmingham a marvel
industriaiiy. but Il IS attractive socially.
while there are many northern people
and many foreigners here the Southern
element largely predomlnates In view
of the newness Of the place and the rush
and hustle that characterize it. I did not
expect 10 find much atmosphere OF cul-
ure. That would come By and by.
thought But 20 my surprise I find not
| .only typical Southern hospitality, but a
good deal Of broad, genuine culture and
intellectual activity. Tn addition 20 cor
railing old Vulcan. Birmingham society
brought hithcr a few Of the muses.
woOed and I'm a measure won these lovely
and refining divinitiss. But first on the
uplifting side come morality, religion
and the law. Churches abound. There
are eighty Of them in round numbers and
they are I'm charge Of faithful. and for
the most part, educated pastors. The
judiciary IS larned and incorruDtble.
Than tho Jefferson county bar. there is
none in an the Southland more luminous,
witty or severely honest
SPLENDID SCHOOLS.
Now come the schools for higher edu-
cation. Splendid they are, especially
those Tor young ladies. Next come the
Couture clubs" counted by the dozen.
Poetry, belle letters. psychology and
history are earnestly studied and dis
cussed I'm these clubs. and some Of the
PAPERS read at tho weekly meetings
would do credit to Boston. And last.
but by no means least, Birmingham has
AN excellent corps OF instructors. No
trashy two steps" or "coon songs are
allowed TO enter tho institution, but
musical art is advanced on classical lines.
Outside Of the conservatory TOO. excel
lent teachers are at work. so with all
the kindness and grace Of manner and
all the forces in operation along the
lines Of culture this. "Pittsbulg or the
south" should he slow 20 grow sordid
on vulgar
speaking or Birmingham society one
rarely hears bad break in English gram
mar although my old friend Colonel
william +. Ellis. formerly % Bucking-
ham county. Va. tells me that the aver
ace gentleman invariably uses the pres
snf for the past tense Of the verb 70
win Thus. II win. or Il win me- 500
A. nolSer last week. instead Of Il won
mix usage. however. obtains tn other
ero-nma teal centres Of the South II Is
said nut with this exception and per-
hans a few other unimportent ones. the
Queens English is. as should be inferred
] from what ] have written touching
schools and culture clubs. most kindly
Uei'''i RICHMOND.