The age-herald., 1899-12-09
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
 AND ELSEWHERE

were discussing the value of Alabama | lands; the discussion arising from chance | to the sale of the state university lands, concerning which so much is now being | said. Some enc refewed to the story that | certain farming lands in Bullock county l had been sold at S10 an acre. and that for | certain other farming lands in that purely agricultural county SIS an acre had been re- | fused. A thoroughly informed man present | declared that recently a farming estate ex- tending to 1,700 acres, situated in St. Clair county, had been sold at s12 an acre. There | are no minerals on the property, and it was purchased for farming purposes. This led to general discussion of the rise in the value of Alabama lands generally. The ex- traordinary increase in mineral lands was held to be but little more remarkable than the increase in the selling price of timber | lands. Such lands, which sold a year or two ago at a dollar and fifty cents to two dollars and half an acre now command seven to eight dollars. This upward move
 ment in mineral and timber property has affected purely agricultural property, and prices have materially advanced all
 farm property of real productiveness. This is especially applicable to the Blackbelt cot ton and corn lands; but there is said to be very little of such property for sale There lands in the vicinity of Montgomery, and doubtless throughout the Blackbelt that rent for five dollars an acre. At eighty dollars acre that would mean on the investment fair per cent. as things go. There Is the authority of M. V. Rich ards industrial and immigration agent of the Southern railway, for the statement that there is a great number of inquiries from the east and the west respecting
 farming lands in this section.
 
 T. B. Baldwin, of New York president of the company which has built the great plant at Ensley for the making of cement from sag. has been in Birmingham for two or three days. While the plant is not yet in full working crder, President Baldwin is greatly pleased with the present condi- ton of affairs. The output of cement now is about 400 barrels day; and It is e4- pected that whend the plant is working at its full capacity it will turn out 1,5O0 to 1000 barrels a day. An order from New Or leans for 65OOO barrels of cement will be filled rapidly as possible. New Orleans is spending about 100000 sewers and pavements, and the cement is required for the sewers. President Baldwin is very con fident that the plant of which he is the official head will prove to be entirely sue cessful
 The ten or a dozen officials, including the president and vice-president, of the United States Cast Iron Pipe and Foundry com pany, who were in Birmingham Thursday in the course of their tour of inspection of the companys pipe plants, are physically a arlxa ,lo rty of roen hoy are intellectually. Without exception, they were stalwart, splendid looking men, as if "born to command About Il o'clock Thursday night they entered the lobby of the Morris together and their appearance created a sensation. Without exception, they appeared to be jolly good fellows" as the English drinking song Their present tour, which will extend to every plant of their gigantic company, must be something of holiday to men burdened with the details of great business and other duties; and doubtless they are having a good time. All of them declared that they were greatly pleased with Birmingham. It is impossible that man with an eye to busi- ness can come to Birmingham just now and refuse to be pleased. It is doubtful II in the United States there is any town of less than 100000 inhabitants which is so powerful as Birmingham to please and fascipate business men. And what Is said of business men may be urged in all truth fitness of all sorts and conditions of men, As for the women, they adore Birmingham.
 Colonel Robert Mckee came to Birmlng- ham yesterday from Piedmont, where he has been staying for the past eight or ten weeks and will remain inere for the pres ent Colonel Mckee is in excellent health, save that he is trifle lame from an acci- dent to his left knee. He has been spend- ing his time not unpleasantly at Piedmont. He has enjoyed much of his tavorlte sport of fishing. In one day he caught 1l2 fish with hook and line and in week total oi about 45O This required rare skill and rare good luck, and assuredly it was rare sport Colonel Mckee took occasion to go through his immense accumulation of pri- yate letters received and preserved during the past forty years, and numbering up- wards of 6000. When he had finished his work of sorting, he had put aside for per- manent preservation more than 5000 letters of value many of them from men who have aided in making the history of this state and country since 1S60 Colonel Me Kee is warmly welcomed back to Birming- ham. He never yet visited any place where good men and women did not welcome him, most gifted, most genial most companion able of all meni
 Hon. John Mcqueen has returned from a hunting trip to Mississippi.
 
 Robert F. Mcknight is in the city.
 T. K. Stubblefield, of Eldridge, is at the Morris.
 W. H. Price and Mrs. Price, of South McAlester, Indian Territory, are at the Morris
 A. Mitchell, United States army, is reg istered at the Morris.
 William O'Connor, of St. Louis, is in town.