The age-herald., 1900-03-24
THRIFTY LITTLE
 TOWN OF PULLMAN Monument to the Energy of a
 Sturdy German. SPRUNG FROM COLONlSTS With a Population of Less Than 5000 it is Today One of Best Advertised
 Small Towns in the En-
 tire United States,
SPRUNG FROM C0LONlSTS
BY WILLIAM RYAN

| many vast cities in the United States that communities, especially young communities 1 of the smaller class, fail, rule, to att | tract general attention. Here and there cities of 100000 and less, such as Birming- ham, are so well advertised that they are | known the world over. But this fact is due i to exceptionally favorable industrial condi- | tions. Few cities of the 10000 class are | known to the average public outside the state in which they happen to be situated | The little Alabama city of Cullman, on 1 the Louisville and Nashville railroad, how ever, is peculiar; for with population of 1 only 2,50O, it is known by name at least 1 throughout the country. Not many cities of 50,000 souls are So well advertised. And yet the conditions that have obtained here might have made other communities just l as thrifty and prominent.
 | What is it that distinguishes Culman and l gives it reputation seemingly out of pro- portion to its size? The town Is not great ly favored by nature above communities in other sections of the south. There has been no attempt to try any new social the ory or exploit any new-fangled municipal idea. The citizens of Cullman live under human limitations that are similar to those found in thousands of other towns As for natural advantages. with the exception of salu5rity of climate, 1t does not begin to compare indeed with scores of towns south of the Ohio. It is not even a manufactur- ing town. What is 1t, then, that advertises the place?
 History of tho Town
 Read this simple story: Twenty eight far reliant and hopeful German-a leader of men and a man who never failed to in- spire confdence-John G. Culiman, with the assistance of officials of the Louisville and Nashville railroad, "spied out this hilly and undeveloped section of North Ala bama, and located here a colony of sturdy Germans. What is now the county of Gull man was then an unbroken country. For that reason the land could be bought for little money. The soil was not particularly rich, but it was rich enough and was well adapted to truck farming and vine grow ing. Labor intellgently directed would make it yield fruit; and taking into con- sideration the small outlay Of cash neces- sary, and the fact that the soil was adapt- ed for trucking, MT. Cullman saw that an experiment such as he had in mind-that of planting here colony of hardy and in- dustrious Germans-would prove a success It was regarded by many as a bold experi- ment, but the facts that present themselves today fully justified his undertaking In brief, then, the experimental character of the enterprise which MT. Cullman con- eeived and put into opera ton, and its con sequent fruition, are the chief facts which have given the place the wide reputation which attaches to it.
 The first settlers who came found only A wilderness. The virgin forest was on every side But these pioneers set to work to make cloarngs and then they began to pro- duce little crops of vegeta bles and cultivate strawberries, fruits and vineyards. The majority Of them had only enough money in hand to pay for little tracts of land and to build small houses. In many cases the land was bought on time. There isn't German in Cullman county now but who Is well to do, while many of them have accumulated snug little fortunes
 Few Visits from Tax i,oliect,r
 Prior to 1872, the year of the lnaugura- tion of MT. Culman's project, the tax col lector rarely visited this section. The total amount of taxes did not exceed $500. In 1876, the year before the formation of Gull man county from portions of Blount, Nor gan and Winston, the assessed valuation of all the property now included in the county did not exceed $20O, 900. Today it amounts ito over $2,000,0 600.
 No cotton had been planted hereabouts until the latter part of the seventies In 1876 few bales were produced-less than 60. Twenty-two years later 13,000 bales were handled. Last year the crop in Gull man county amounted to only 10000, but the planting this year indicates 15,O00 to 6,000 bales
 An excellent grade of wine is made in Cullman county, but as yet 1t has hardly reached the commercial. stage. The Ger mans must have their wine for home use as well as their beer. By and by wine will come to be a profitable product There is no reason why it should not in time be a close competitor of the wine made in AL bemarle county, Va. Grapes are shipped from Cullpan in large quantities annually, and they always bring good prices, but next to cotton the largest money crops are strawberries and potatoes. The strawberry production of the county last year sold for $15O00, and the figures, 1t is said, will likely reach $2O,00O for this springs crop. Potatoes make a larger return, but statis- tics are not obtainable.
 The population of Culman county is nearly. If not quite, 20,0O0. II is increasing
 
 less give 1t 35 000.
 The business of the city of Culman Is mercantile, supported by agriculture, but later manufacturing industries will be ad- ded G. A. Prinz, at present the we'll known cashier of Parker's bank was the first merchant to open a store here. There are dozen or more prosperous concerns now, some of them being full-fedged met ropolftan establishments-large, elegantly appointed and richly stocked.
 Two Strong Baais
 There are two banking houses, both of them strong and both pursuing liberal pol icies. One of the best known and most highly esteemed banking institutions in the state is that of George H. Parker & Co. The senior member of the firm was Gull mans mayor for many years and model executive he proved himself to be. He is cultivated man and a man of affairs, and Is noted for his public spirit. As long as he lives he will be a leading citizen of