The age-herald., 1902-02-09

L0 Iy along the edge of the main street where wholesale houses are situ- ated and with seven railway systems 2 sending trains in and out of the city, Sel- ma. offers herself for public view and pri- vate inspection In doing so she feels proud of herself and boldly asserts that the visitor-whether he be pleasure seeker or investment hunter-will be highly pleased after looking her over $ carefully
 2 The city Is called the Central City" by those who have care for geographical situation. It Is called Supply City by those who look at the trade received from surrounding towns and farms. It is called Pleasure City by those who study it's society and who meet its charm ing. cultured women and big-hearted men. It is called "City of Churches by those who have love for religion and who take pride in seeing numerous hand some church edifices
 With population numbering some 900 or 15,OOO. composed to large per cent of whites. Selma is one of the most ideal cities in the South. It's people are nearly all descendants of that noble and great body of inhabitants which made up the central portion of Alabama before the civil war. Many of the old persons who took active part in the Confederate work still finger here. They tell stories of the old days which make the listener regret he was not of that time. The men are good hard-worl1ing fellows who have thoughts of other things along with thoughts of their money and business. The women are of the same beauty. cul- ture and style for which fair residents or central Alabama are noted.
 DELIGHTFUL HOME COMMUNITY The place, with its people never too busy to read, never to busy to attend to church duties and never too busy to be hospitable, but always busy in some way. makes a delightful place for residence. It's climate adds to its charm otherwise and makes 1t of, the most popular home communities in the South. In the winter the suns rays make 1t a resort whither many persons come to escape the rigorous weather of Northern States. Its many boarding houses and excellent iho- tels are nearly all the time partly filled
  search of warmth and health or who are merely idling away the months too cold for home life in their own states. Its fame along this line is known to many tourists and pleasure-seekers.
 Dallas County, of which this is the site of the court house, jail and law officials, Is one of the most noted in the South. It is large. It is rich. It is the home of many prominent statesmen. It has lands which yield profitable products. It is known far and wide-as much because of past political contests as any other one thing.
 An illustration of this latter statement Is to be found in the story told by del- egate sent to Washington recently to work for the location of new public building here. This gentleman is some- what of a politician. He is enthusiastic and has a way of adding force to his enthusiasm. And while making an inn pressive talk to party of Congressmen In Washington he was suddenly astound- ed By having Republican member of the group ask him:
 Where is Selma, anyway"
 KNEW THE COUNTY.
 His reply was:
 ' in the central part of the State in the heart of a rich cotton belt and in Dal- las County"
 ''Oh, yes, l know now" said the mem- Der to brother Republican. Its down there where we have had so many con tests"
 ..Ah. that's true" the other replied '.For nearly twenty-five years I have been a member of Dallas County contest committees
 While this may not argue much for the Knowledge of the Congressman or the extent of the territory in which Selma is a familiar name. still 1t conclusively proves Dallas County is famous in one respect. if no other. But it is famous in other respects. as can be proven by the fact that "F'lorodora" was brought here last week.
 HISTORY OF SELMA.
 The history of Selma dates far back into the time when Franklin Pierce was President of the United States and Will liam R. King was Vice-President. At that time it was called Whites Bluff and was a village of little significance.
 Ten miles below it lay Cahaba. a city with inhabitants numbering fully 5O0D pouls. It claimed the title of the metrop- olis of Dallas and was supreme in matters pertaining to the county. For some reas- on It was not thought Dy many that Ca haba was ideally situated, and the Hon. MT. King took upon himself the task of building a city to replace Whites Bluff and steal from Cahaba it's supremacy.
 Mir. King was enthusiastic and opti- mistic to remarkable degree. He be- gan his labor that way. Every day he seemed to become more and more imbued with the same spirit and as he worked he overcome difficulty after difficulty, until he was crowned victor. From the will derness he cleared out a city and caused to be made about its plantations rich fin all respects. How hard was his work and how exhausting no one will ever know.
 The wisdom of the Hon. MT Kings se- lection has always been manifest. but is made clearer by consideration of Sell mas sanitary system than any other one thing Its entire plateau on the banks of the Alabama River is easily drained and this has proved an important fac tor fin it's development and growth. Its phenomenally low death rate clearly makes this manifest
 Every street in the city which empties Into the river is provided with sewer running thereto. All adjacent and trib- utary streets are also provided with sew- FITS leading to those trunk sewers, and in that way the entire city is kept in a most excellent sanitary condition.
 In talking of the causes which led to The location of Selma and the advantages