The age-herald., 1900-05-20
BESSEMER'S HISTORY
 PECULIARLY ITS OWN.
Never Was Cross Road Station Nor Village, But
 Vigorous City from the Start

monthly pay roll, $1S,O00.
 Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railway Com pany (ore Mines)-Men employed, 600; monthly pay roll, s1S,0O0
 Republic Iron and Steel Company (Ore Mines)-Men employed, 150; monthly pay roll 5000
 Besides the above, Blue Creek Coal mines, Adger, Johns and Sumter, employing 800 men, with an aggregate pay roll of $5O,O0O per month, are valuable feeders to Birm- ingham.
 The Basls of Wealth and Greatness
 Thus it will be seen that the manufact- uring enterprises in and around the city of Bessemer give employment to about 5000 men, and pay out monthly the enormous sum of $220, 400 for wages alone.
 This is the basis for the present strength and future greatness of Bessemer, and 1t is enough to convince the most skeptical observer that the clements, the environ ments the unfailing advantages, are all here for the upbuilding of a substantial and prosperous city.
 Country Wagon Trade
 Bessemer besides being a great mining and manufacturing center, is in the midst of a productive agricultural section, and draws a very large wagon trade from a sec ton within radius of twenty miles. Her merchants are enterprising, liberal and progressive, and the farmers and gardners- find ready sale and generous prices here for the products of their fields. Bessemer is fast becoming an important cotton mar ket, and her quotations are the same as those of Birmingham.
 The City Government
 Bessemer's city government is modern progressive conservative. A mayor and board of aldermen, with powers similar to those of Birmingham, govern the city. police force of six policemen, with com potent and active chief, protect the city, which is very orderly.
 The financial affairs of the city of Bes- semer are well managed She has a bonded debt of $79000; no floating dSbt, and an in- come sufficient to support her government splendid public school system, with doors open nine months of the year, to pay promptly interest on her bonds and to pay the principal on one thousand dollar bond each recurring year. Bessemer city bonds are now held at IA She has never default ed, never asked for days time or ex- tension and her credit is high. This fact is indeed creditable to the city administra- tion and encouraging to investors in real estate and other property in this promising young city.
 The Bessemer Land & Improvement Co.
 The city government of Bessemer and the public-spirited inhabitants of this place find a valuable and most progressive co-laborer in the present management of the Bessemer Land and Improvement company, which Is ever on the alert for all things that look to the development and general welfare of the city. I. e management now consists of the following we'll known and success ful business men, each one of whom holds high positions in the list of those whose foresight, energy, zeal and judgment have proven great factors in the development of this district:
 President-L F.. Bruns.
 Vice-PreSident-W. w. CoghlI
 Directors-James Bowron, w. P G. Hard ing, Walker Persey, Erskine Ramsey, W. w. Coghill, A. T. Smythe and L. E. Bruns. This company was the originator and the founder of Bessemer and is of course to- day the greatest shareholder of this mag nificent enterprise, owning as it does about o,0OO lots today, of which number about 1SO are central business lots.
 The company has adopted the wise and liberal policy of marking down the prices Of lots to living and reasonable figures, taking as a basis of value today's popula- ton and volume of business here and all lowing an opportunity for the investor to enjoy the enhancement of values which ap- pears so sure to follow the present rapid building up of the city. This company will lend every aid within it's power (which is strong) to all deserving people or enter prises seeking location for homes, business investment.
 A Ci.y of Homes
 Bessemer today is a delightful city of homes. Excellent architectural taste is dis played in the beautiful residences and cczy cottages which adorn the city. To these many new ones are being daily added and each seems an improvement over the other No where in the residence portion of Bessemer today can your ear esospe the sound of the saw and hammer, and either direction as far as the eye can reach you behold scenes of thrift and progress Berkley avenue, south of the Alabama Great Southern railway, occupies a magni- hcent natural position upon an elevation which overlooks a beautiful little valley and these Bessemer highlands are one day to become famous for lovely homes, so soon as the magic touch of art meets na- ture haH way in the work of adornment.
 Water Excellent and Abundant
 Bessemer has an excellent system of water works, which bring a bountiful SUD- ply of purest spring water, which gushes forth from the mountain sides near by Besides this water supply, which is quite sufficient for all present requirements never failing, Valley Creek affords a water front of two miles, which will always amply supply for manufacturing purposes and for seWerages. The water company already has more than ten miles of mains and is adding more as necessity demands.
 Churches and Schools
 The Methodsts, Presbyterians. Catholics Baptists and Episcopaians have erected handsome church buildings here, and each has strong memberships and the negro population supports four fourishing churches here of their own.
 Two handsome and imposing school buildings for white children, and one for colored, are the property of the city, and public library building in the midst of a beautiful oak-grove near the center of the city Is one of the attractions of Besse- mer.
 The Charleston Block
 The purchase last week by Messrs Steiner Bros. of Birmingham of the beau- tiful Charleston block, on Second avenue and Nineteenth streets, has proven an en- couraging feature to the present favorable outlook for Bessemer. This building covers 300 front by 80 feet, and is a most imposing structure. It was built at a cost of $l250 at time when labor and material were much cheaper than now. This block is