The age-herald., 1899-03-14
TWIN CITIES ON
 THE TENNESSEE
Decatur and New Decatur Are
 Prospering.
HAVE PLENTY OF POLITICS
The Towns Are Growing-Citizens Ex- pect Decatur to Be Next to Bir- mingham in Few Years
 Some of the Industries.

Decatur, March 1s.-(special) )-Walking along the streets of Decatur one is sur prised when told that the place over which he is passing was once the earthworSs of the old Decatur Notifications on the Tennessee river. It is fact, nevertheless. The main street is built over what was formerly long ten-foot ditch or trench in which soldiers were protected during the civil war At that time no one imag gined that the desolate looking country around the old Notifications would ever be covered with the houses and factories of a pros porous people
 Decatur and New Decatur, the twin cities, are situated on the southern bank of the Tennessee river in one of the rlch- est farming districts in Alabama. Though the two towns are under separate munich pal forms of government they should really be considered one as the towns have grown so that no dividing line can be seen.
 The town of Decatur is principally de- pendent upon agricultural interests for support, while New Decatur has developed into a manufacturing c\ty. They are so closely allied, however, that what effects one effects the other.
 Politics Galore
 The twin cities have their pro rata share of politicians, and street corner side talks are getting numerous The trouble now is the constitutional convention ques- tion. As usual in other places. there are more good men for the places than there are good places for the men, and all are working to make the necessary landing. Several candidates have made announce ments, and it is safe to say that whoever is elected, Morgan county will be well represented. Though these are anxious days for the candidates, the citizens are expected to be entertained until the prl- mary election with a highly artistic exhi- bition of logrolling.
 The Large Industries -
 Perhaps the largest industry of it's kind in the United States is established in New Decatur. This is the American Oak EX- tract works and tanneries. This concern works about 650 men and tans 1000 hides a day. Their monthly disbursement for material and labor is over $2O,C00. They own a large passenger and freight steamer which is used in transporting products between Decatur and Cincinnati.
 Another large concern is the plant of the Louisville and Nashville railroad shops. Those are the general repair and construc- ton shops of this popular road and cover fifty-seven acres of ground. There are thirteen large brick buildings, and nine hundred men are employed. A monthly pay roll of S40,000 is maintained. The Ala bama Foundry and. Machine Works is also established here, as is the Decatur Com press company.
 Will Be Next to Birmingham
 All these large establishments in full blast have lent to New Decatur decided ly manufacturing air instead of the old easy going cotton town of the past. The citizens say within a few years they expect Decatur to be the largest manufacturing city in Alabama, with the exception of Bir- mingham and it is not beyond the plane of probability that such may be the case. The town has a hustling commercial club, great natural resources and is situated on the bank of a navigable river, and there is nothing to hinder it's rapid onward pro- gross.
 Several hotels are open for the travellers who come to Decatur and all seem to be prospering. The Tavern, which is located in New Decatur, is one of the prettiest buildings of it's kind in the state. It was built in 1887 at cost of s140,000, and has all tained In large city.
 Since 1887 the population of the two towns has increased from 200 to 5000. At that time New Decatur was only city or imagination.
 With this progress of a little over ten years and with nothing to retard the on- ward movement of industry, the future ol the Irwin Cities is not hard to guess.
 B. c. BULGER.