The age-herald., 1902-01-20
Busy City Quickly Changes to
 One of Tranquility
STRANGER IS IMPRESSED
Much of TuscaIoosa's Trade Success is Due to the Good Roads Leading to 1t from the Sur
 rounding Country.
BY HOMER GEORGE.


 only by remaining here from Saturday over Sunday that one can fully appreciate the volume of business transacted and the magnitude of interests centered here 1t is only under such circumstances that a conception can be obtained of the city's business, of the number of out-of-town people who visit it, and of the territory covered by local houses.
 The transition from a bustling, busy, working city, filled with shoppers from local homes and from homes within radious of many miles to quiet, sun shiny, happy town, where all business places are closed and church bells ring out almost cheerfully-the transition is wonderful. It is impressive All the more is 1t so to persons from large cities who have been accustomed to buying soft l drinks, fruit, tobaccos and such articles l Sunday as on any other day.
 What impressed me more than this transition was the enormous volume or business done throughout the week. es- pecially Friday and Saturday. small stores have several statesmen and sales women all busy in their departments ac- commodating customers and making money for their employers. The prices or everything in these places were startiiils- 1 ly low also, almost making one wlsn to buy when not in need.
 Good Roads Cause Trade.
 The size of the volume of trade IS ac- counted for when one drives out rom the city over country roads or when the rail- l way schedules are examined Both the Alabama Great Southern and the Mophe l and Ohio railroads have excellent accom- odation train service to, from and | through Tuscaloosa.
 But most of all the country roaos are good and the streets of the city are more noticeably so. Right here on the sup i ject of roads and road building was 1 impressed by the narration or stories or the manner in which the city s sueets have been improved during the past year. The stories and the work both are Woh- derful revelations.
 When Mayor Cochrane was elected to his position the streets were in a rather bad condition, the city finances were worse and the deficit hanging over It large.
 Judge Cochrane determined to do some thing. So he instructed the police to be- come very active and at the same time he secured services of an engineer and asked for public subscriptions. The peo- pie laughed at him, but good naturedly subscribed to his road fund In short time he had prisoners and money. With the latter he bought material. The for mer he worked hard. As a result som fine macademized roads are here and | more building. It just takes nerve, said the judge.
 Will Filter Water.
 With the roads in fair condition the Water Works Company was persuaded that filtration system should be put 1T operation and city water made pure SC with this in view work was begun or plans and within the next few months complete system for purifying water will be in operation.
 Now the city will rename all streets and renumber all houses on modern plans An expert was recently asked tt come here for that purpose. He began his work yesterday. It will be completed within the next few weeks. Then the towr will cease to be anything but a fullfedged city.
 You might as well hunt for a needle IT a haystack as to hunt for a man in Tus caloosa who is not assured that the pros perity of the place is now increasing at the ratio never experienced in it's past and never experienced anywhere except when a boom which not boom takes possession of 1t and marches 1t forward even against it's own efforts. There is nc gainsaying the fact that for a time the boom idea was fought by many citizens One wholesale dealer expressed the new situation in terse terms yesterday. He said:
 There is no doubt but that Tuscaloosa is just beginning to feel the effects of a natural growth that will make much of the city. The new furnaces and l other indust ries indicate it. They are all results of outside capital; and this capital ! came here virtually against our wills, and while we were fighting it. Rather it | began to come under such conditions. Something Personal. I have been especially struck by the | remarkably large number of young men who have struck out for themselves here | and who are winning in their fight Mir. w. Archie Leland of the Leland Hard ware Company is a striking example of that class. He Is county treasurer and a man of large acquaintanceship
 MT. c. c. Simpson is another of that class. He is manager of the Tuscaloosa Steam Laundry and the Tuscaloosa Bot ting Works. His individuality is strill ing and he is meeting with much success in his undertakings.
 The Hotel Washington, under the pro prietorship of Parker and Parker is add ing considerably to it's already excellent reputation. Mir. Parker Is a hotel mar of experience. Miss Parker has had much experience and the combination is making wonderful success of the place