The age-herald., 1901-12-15
Election to be Held at Douglass Suburb of Pratt
 City LITTLE DOUBT OF RESULT With Launching of Municipality a Second Hobson City Will Spring Up-Negro School Teacher
 Heads the Project.
BY BOHEMIAN c. BULGER.

If promises are kept and ballots are with 1902 and a second Hobson City will spring up in Jefferson County
 On December 30 the negroes living in suburb of Pratt City which at present bears the euphonious title of Drift Track, will vote on the question of incorpora- ton or no incorporation. The election will be held in a negro store and the managers are all of the same race.
 If a majority of the votes cast are in favor of incorporation, under the statute, Judge Stiles will have to issue the nec- essary papers and order an election of municipal officers to control the affairs of this town which is to be known as Douglass, in honor of the famous negro statesman.
 George w Scott, negro school teach CT. began the movement to establish a negro town in Jefferson County and though he has met with some reverses he now feels confident of bringing the project to a successful issue. He pro- poses to have a town owned, operated and control.ed by members of his race.
 NO WnlICS Wlli pc FAiloWSbs
 No one but negroes will be allowed to reside within the limits of Douglass and consequently no person with Caucassian blood in his veins can be elected to a municipal office. Scott and his associates have also decreed that no industrial plant of any kind whatsoever can be located in the confines of this city of dark faces. It is to be purely a resident town and with the exception of grocery and cloth ing stores there will be no commercial interests.
 Many have said the negro is unfit to govern himself, and Douglass will present an experiment to be watched with in terest by all thinking people in Alabama.
 Here is a chance for the negro to show his ability for self government and his right to the ballot conferred upon him during the days of reconstruction. A pe- culiar situation will confront the negroes in the new town, however, if the regis trars recently declare the greater part of the population of Douglass to vote. The few school teachers and preachers would have things, politically, their own way and revolution might result.
 Pratt City Enters Protest.
 The white people of Pratt City have protested against the incorporation Of the new town and the first petition to Judge Stiles was declared void on account O. it's irregularity. The boundaries hav- ing been improperly described.
 The objection of Lne white people comes through a fear of conflict of authority and a committee consisting of w. J.. Outlaw, Mayor of Pratt Oity, George Brown and William Grady will probably take steps to prevent the incorporation. The proposed town of Douglass lies in the outskirts of Pratt City and If it is made separate municipal incorpora- ton it is said criminals can flee from one town to the other and cause constant trouble <and conflict between the two municipal boards. A negro could go Into Pratt City, commit crime and then run across the line into Douglass, where 1t is said he might avoid arrest
 The negroes, however, say they will CO., operate with Pratt City in maintaining order and in fact their petition states the object of the incorporation Is to pro- vide better police protection, street im- provements and better sanitary arrange ments. They also wish to protect them selves from loss by fire. The police of Pratt City now have Jurisdiction over Drift Track which is to be Douglass, and think this sufficient for law and or der.
 Filed a New Petition.
 When the first petition was found faul- ty Scott and his associates filed a new petition with the Probate Judge signed by twenty free holders praying for an early election. Judge Stiles has ordered the election held on December 30 instead of December IA as formerly proposed. The election will be held at Haywood 8 store and J. F. Stanton, A. Gray and J. B. Bowden, all negroes. have been chosen as election managers. As all the eligible voters will be negroes 1t Is said a vote for incorporation Is certain. When the result is returned to Judge Stiles under the law he can do nothing but declare the town incorporated and order an election of municipal officers.
 The negroes who propose to incorporate negro city No. 2 have defined boundary line which no one can dispute unless he would spend a few days in solving pug zles Here are the figures, lines and shot cuts:
 Beginning at the northeast corner of the northeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section 20 township 17. range 3, west, on Wood street and running west on the half section line 1146 feet to the