The age-herald., 1901-09-01
BY FRANK N. EXNN


 bama seem to be no more. They have passed into history. and it Is well that 1t is so, for now the era of substantial growth and solid prosperity is upon us, and investments are made with all eyes wide open. Yet the boom spirit of the sos performed a very important part In developing the latent resources of Ala bama If many over-zealous and unfor- tuhate speculators lost money by the wild and thoughtless greed for sudden wealth in those years of apparent pros perity, it is also true that many wiser men made money and have kept 1t, while the State of Alabama with Its great nat ural resources, received under the inhu- ence of the rboom-touch' an impetus which placed it high in the list of the more prosperous States of the Union.
 But the boom" did not do it all, for the boom found lodgment for a brief season upon some unfertile soil, even in Alabama, and closed houses, silent bells, dumb whistles and smokeess stacks at- test the disastrous result of baseless in- Aation and hazardous misJudgment
 Made No Mistake.
 
 mistake. Natural surroundings here, beauty of location and wealth of re- sources was an invitation plainly writ ten by the Ommpotant Hand to "come and occupy and the invitation was ac- cepted by men of thought, of determina- ton and of action; and these men have builded here upon a foundation as strong and everlasting as the beautiful hills that encrcled the Model Ctty'-a pseu- donym to which the Anntston of today Is fairly entitled, and of which her people pardonably boast
 Be 1t known that 1t Is not the purpose of your correspondent to write a lettel .'booming'' Admission. She does not need it, and would not have It. In fact hel people seem to rejoice that there is nc boom here; and they shrink from over drawn pictures and fulsom praise. IT fact they tired of that years ago. There Is considerable public spirit here and city pride is much In evidence. The average Annistonian is cordial to visitors and will talk Anniston as long SIS Is nec- essary to impress one with the idea of its importance as an industrial center, a place for homes and for general invest menu. Of course Annispon has her drones her croakers. her cant-dos. What 1 mean is that among the inhabi-
 
 munities, you will find members of tha, probably necessary horde who seek to ride on the band wagon of the more .progressive spirits, and who venture nothing for the general good; hut be il said to the credit of Anniston she has onls few of this kind.
 A few days ago your correspondent, heard a prominent gentleman of Bir' mingham remark to a number of stran gers In one of your hotel lobbies about as follows: If I had not invested my money In Birmingham. if this were no my home, and every dollar I possess staked upon Birmingham's present and future 1 would invest in Anmston." This gentleman did not, perhaps, know what effect his remarks might have fol the good of Anniston. but the writer happens to know that he caused inquiry and right there awakened an interest ir Anniston which may result profltably tC this city.
 People Are Wide Awake.
 Much has been written about Annis ton, but of late her people have seemed content to keep quiet. At the same time 1t Is noticed that they are wide awake and just now there is perhaps mor' l. building. remodeling and general i'm provement going on here than at an! Mime within the past ten years. Th'  small, are in operation, with full force and this means much, very much, fol | the prosperity of Anniston.
 If your correspondent were called upoI to state his judgment as to what con stitutes the most attractive feature o Annston he would say: Its location For this Is beautiful and picturesque being an elevated table land betweel mountains, rising from 1000 to 15O0 fee and 900 feet above the sea level It il only sixty-threc miles east of Birming ham, 100 miles west of Atlanta, and IA miles south of Chattanooga It Is thu intersection of two great trunk lines. th' Louisville and Nashville and the South ern Railway, and Is within easy reacl with all the coast and Northern cities ! The building of the Woodstock Compa ny furnace formed the nucleus around which has clustered an industrial com munity, whose fame has spread through ! out the land and beyond the sea Jul, l2. 1872 an election was held resulting il the incorporation of the town of Annis ton, by order of the county judge of pro bate, and named in honor of Annie, tn, wife of Alfred L. Tyler. In 1887 1t wa organized as a city. R. P. Huger becom ing It's first mayor. An ideal city hal been laid out by its promoters. perfec system of drainage established, street were macadamized. water works. stores churches and schools built. and railroa. connections secured. and several indus trial plants were secured and put in ac tive operation.
 From a small beginning Anniston gre, rapidly, and in 1887 had a population o 1000, and is now a city of 16,ooo, up-to-dat in all It's appointments, and with hig grade class of citizenship that will ran favorabIy with any other city of its siz in the United States. and superior infac to many.
 Climate and Temperafure.
 The local conditions. surrounded mountains heavily wooded, are such tha during the summer months cool breeze are constantly coming down from tn fillsides, and the nights are always COX and refregilin9. SleepIess nights fror heat are unknown, The winters are mil and delightful-snow being almost un