The age-herald., 1900-04-08
GOSSIPY STORIES OF
 STREET AND TOWN

Talladega county is the seventh of the counties of the state as a tax-paying coun- ty, and high above that point in prospect i've importance Her natural resources are perhaps more diversified than those of any county in the south. Her climate, soil and productions have all along extended an inviting hand to industry and capital and a run along either one of the five railroads and the numerous branch and spur tracks will convince any observer now that the invitation has been accepted. And this is an excellent season of the year for obser- vation, for now all living things are busy.
 Yes, Talladega is county of splendid present strength and magnificent possibili- ties.
 An agricultural county she produces cotton, corn, wheat, oats, rye, sugar corn and all the root crops in abundance and fruits and grapes of the rarest quality. Her farmers live at home and board at the same place, as the saying goes She has no idle lands, beasts or men. Her farmers are sellers, not buyers.
 The country abounds in minerals, but strange to relate not ton of coal has ever
 
 inexhaustibe beds of soft iron ores are just now producing immense outputs, much of which Is consumed within the limits of the county and much more is shipped to the furnaces of the Birmingham district and elsewhere
 2 Gold, copper, slate, marble and other min erals have been discovered in Talladega county, and slightly developed. Just the marble industry promises rapid and remunerative development. Dr. George A. Hill of that county, General Amos IT. Wyln and Alexander King, of Pennsyl- vania, have purchased the once famous Can't Quarry marble property, near Syla- cauga and have organized the Alabama Marble and Stone company" and with them is associated Frank V. Evans former mayor of Birmingham.
 ' This company is now building houses, stripping and developing the property gen. eraHy; has built a spur track from the Alabama Mineral railroad, and is receiv- ing shipments of the latest improved ma chinery for a complete modern plant It will quarry and manufacture marble for building and monumental purposes ship ping all waste to the steel and iron mills for f1uxing purposes, thus 1oosing no waste whatever. This marble analyses from 96 to 99 per cent pure lime, and is declared by experts to be the finest f1uxing stone known in the south. It is fortunate that it lies so near the great iron and steel mills.
 As a manufacturing county, Talladega perhaps stands next to Jefferson in imDor- tance. She has within her borders three immense blast furnaces, one in the city of Talladega, one at Jenifer, and one at Iron aton. Within the county are four cotton factories, two in Tal,adega, one at Syla- cauga, one at Sylacauga in course of con- struction and another to be built at Childensburg. These mills will consume all the raw cotton that is produced in the county-about 30 900 bales.
 The production of wheat is an item of great importance. and within the county are a dozen Touring mills-one at Syla- cauga being modern roller process mill
 Sylacauga also has within her limits a knitting mill, employing sixty-five hands, and competition tests in quality of goods have given this mill high position as manufacturer of hose, making as it does the very best grades.
 The lumber industry of Talladega county Is immense, there being twelve or fifteen lumber and shingle mills along the lines of her railroads.
 Just little while ago the Alabama Min eral branch of the Louisville & Nashville railroad, which runs through the beautiful hills and valleys of Talladega, was called the "poor mans road" as it was only act ing in the capacity of pioneer, a develop CT, under the liberal management of the great Louisville & Nashville system, which afforded every possible encourage ment to the spirit of progress and develop nent. The Mineral has proven to be one of the most important feeders to the main line. Superintendent w. E. Knox, who has immediate charge of this branch, says that their business was large and grow ing.
 + The county has three important trading towns, besides the beautiful little city of Talladega. They are Sylacauga, Childers- hrrr md Irnt1 nfAy, oil progressive.
 In point of educational advantages the county takes high rank In the city of Tal- 1adega is a graded public school system of the highest modern standard-Isbell col 1ege, Presbyterian school for girls and young women; the Presbyterian orphan age, the asylums and the schools for the deaf, dumb and blind, and Talladega col lege, established and endowed for the ed- ucation of negroes by the Northern Con gressional church. The fourth congression- al district agricultural school is located at Sylacauga. All of these schools have in1- posing buildings, full attendance and are fourishing. Talladega county has a splendid citizen Ship-noble men and beautiful women; and with all her natural advantages why can not she now be called perfect Eldorado?
 An old story can be made, new by re- vival of interest in the subject. Just at this time there is much talk in Talladega of the battle fought and won by General Jackson against the Indians in 1913. The great iron furnace, now in full blast, stands upon that historic battle-ground, and the immense heap of slag daily pro- duced by the furnace Is rapidly reaching the spot where by a few rough stones is marked the resting place of seventeen AErN FIT m EEADDV