The age-herald., 1900-08-05
NED BRACE SEES THE BRIGHT
 SIDE OF GROWING BIRMINGHAM

men and fire apparatus demanded. Fire in snrance rates are too high and there are other things too high which the citizens and officials can remedy, and which will come with time and growth. But however large. prosperous or perfect this city may become, we can always find something to kick complain about. Yet the bright si6e of Birmingham contains far more sun shine than the dark side can obliteraae
 Though yellow fever has broken out in Florida, there can be none here. In this dry altitude the germ cannot live. Cases have been brought here in years past. but it has never developed. Indeed as an all round health resort Birmingham is not out ranked in the South And as a residence city it has superior.
 There Is one drawback to this feeling of prosperity and growth It is the fact that owners of business property are inclined to raise rents materially. The rental prices of some business property have nearly doubled in the past few years. and indeed. rents are really getting too high in Birmingham. However, high rents lead to the building of new and additional business property, and in time all things even up. Rents on Sec ond avenue, for instance have grown out of all proportion. But the building of the new hotel on Fourth avenue and Nineteenth street, and the probable construction of either a hotel or office building on the former Caldwell Hotel site, will cause things to scatter and expand, and prevent any continuous exorbitance on the part of property holders.
 Speaking of growth and expansion, Bes- semer is remarkable evidence of p4lenem- enal growth. Ten years ago Bessemer was simply little suburb of Birmingham with but 40OO people. The new census. just taken, shows 1o,0ee people ins Besse- mer and five times as many mannfactur- ing pla nts as were there ten years ago. Ensley and Platt City likewise ex- banding to such an extent that the indi- cations are within few years there will be one continuous city from here to Bes- serner, via Pratt City and Ensley.
 
 Alabama has another state election to- morrow. A Governor. State House officers and many county officers will be elected. There has been little excitement over it, and there will be little tomorrow. The people all way. Indeed, after the struggles with Popuhsts and Republicans a few years ago, it would seem now that Alabama has settled down to old-fashion- cd Democracy, and that very all the white people will be united in favor of an amendment to the Constitution which will eliminate the ignorant and illiterate negro vote from the politics of this great state. Such action on the part of the peo- pie of Alabama must of necessity result in great good to the state.
 Willie Waldorf Astor seems to know of more different ways of making q fool of himself than any other man in the world First, he deserted his own country anu went to England, where he became a na- turalized subject. He spent his money there and bought a newspaper-the Pail
 
 paper poverty-stricken aristocrats and representatives of the chief families of England. He spent his money and used his newspaper in order to acquire a title He made much of and was thereby made a cad. By his publication of Captain Milne for coming to his house, upon the invitation of one of his guests he was ostracized from society. condemned by the Prince of Wales, expelled from the London clubs. and he has flown to the continent. It is now announced that his property in London, including the Pail Mall Gazette, is the market to be sold for what it will bring He is practically deprived of his English citizenship and having foresworn his allegiance to the United States, he has become a million aire without a country and without friends except those which his millions will probably buy for him.
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