The age-herald., 1900-03-24

and, declining reelection, was succeeded by Mayor Beyer, who is regarded as an ener- getie, well informed executive.
 The junior banking institution Is styled the Bank Of Culman. It Is housed in a handsome building and is doing a fine bus mess. Charles o. Adkins is it's cashier
 Cullman is laid off in wide streets. It has an electric light plant and water works both brand new. One company owns and operates both, and the joint Industry cost SSO,000. The General Electric's alternating system is used, and many advantages are claimed for 1t. Here Is found the second plant of this alternating system in the south. The streets are illuminated by 23 arc lights, but the capacity of the plant is stated at 50 arcs. The city is growing, and 1t will not be many years before the full number is needed.
 The waterworks are supplied by bountiful artesan wells, and have a capacity of 1,000,- 900 gallons per day. Fire plugs of the latest approved pattern have just been put in place, and disastrous confiagration would now seem to be impossible
 Originally Cullman was almost entirely German. and in the population of the coun- ty the Germans had a large majority. But today the city and county appear to be about evenly divided between the Teutonic race and Americans, the latter being for the most part Alabamians and Georgians.
 There are eight or nine churches, in three of which-two Protestant and one Catholic the gospel Is preached in the German tongue.
 Valuations Have Increased
 A few years ago some fairly desirable land could be bought for % cents per acre; very little of it brought over $150 or S2 There Is no 9 cents land to be had now Sales at $15 to $20 are common. although $3 to $1O according to location and condition might be regarded as a fair average. Close to town the prices go higher than $20 Most fp fha mans are small, and these small tracts prove more profitable, as a general propo- s1tion, than the larger ones. This is espe- cially so with regard to trucking. Cultivate few acres, but cultivate them thoroughly, has always been the thrifty Germans plan
 All the labor here is white. There are no negroes in the city of Cullman, and few, if any, in the county. This getting along without negro help has been characteristic of Cullman from the start.
 The truckers find good markets for their products in Birmingham, Nashville, Louis- ville. Cincinnati, Chicago and other large towns
 Of all the sections of the United States, none of them enjoy health conditions quite equal to those one finds here. There Is no such thing as malarial fever, and typhoid fever Is rare
 The mercantile business here has been exceedingly prosperous during the past two years. Every merchant is making money To the question. 'How is business?" comes invariably the cheery reply, ''First-class; no cause to complain"
 Just outside of town is St Bernard's monastery and college, which will be de- scribed in detail in future letter.
 No attempt has been made to give any thing but an outline of the deveiopment and present condition of Cullman, and to fur nlsh data which should encourage plucky, earnest, business-like men of the mould of the lamented John G. Cullman to go forth ana establish colonies of toilers in sections yet wild and unproductive. What has been done can be done.