The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-22

this county was purchased by Dr. Heuser. a German Catholic priest. with the inten- tion of settling colonies of his own faith and nationality upon 1t. and making il the nucleus of a community.
 This land WAS purchased when 1t was worn out; 1t was known as the Wilson plantation, upon which the sole crop for many years had been cotton and which had finally been turned out to grow up in briars and sedge grass, as worthless and unfit for cultivation. This land was re- garded as the poorest in the county and completely exhausted. Dr. Heuser built a church and school house and divided the plantation into tracts of from forty down to ten acres leach. and placed thereon forty-five families, all German Catholics, from Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, New York and other states. 10 whom he sold these lands at from $500 to S15O0 per acre, according to location and Improvements. These colonists had experienced the rigors on the northern and western climates. with the certainty of cold and drouth. They were all poor: their industry had not hitherto availed them to any great extent. It had taken all the fruits of their labor 10 sustain them up to this time SO that most. if not all of them, were forced to go In debt for their lands. Some of those who are the most prosper ous and Independent, commenced. with mortgages upon their lands and with one mule or steer with which to break or cultivate the soil. There Is no question but that for the first two or three years the colonists had a hard time. The ex- hausted lands had to be nursed back into life, buildings had to be erected, fences built and improvements of all kinds made while the want of ready money terri bly, against them. But patient industry accomplished wonders. Wood for fuel, fencing and building purposes, was plen- tiful and cheap; the mild winters not only enabled them to wear lighter and less clothing, but to effect a saving of fuel and to work at all seasons of the year out of doors.
 The soil, it was found. had wonderful powers of recuperation took kindly to that great enricher, clover, and to other grasses was easily worked and responded readily to intelligent treatment. The long summers enabled the farmers to grow and harvest two crops instead of one in each season, and 1t was found that in winter there were products hardly enough to withstand the slight amount of freezing to which they were subjected.
 Vineyards and Orchards.
 Vineyards and orchards were planted, and 1t was not long before a general im- provement began to be apparent not only in lands, but in the condition of the co- onists themselves. As they gradually be- came more independent they built better houses and barns, adopted improved ma chinery, and raised better stock, until to- day, we are informed, there Is not family among them that is in debt. They raise almost everything they need upon their lands and always have something to TN. or1. Tor hat thoxr htfxy and ask credit of no man. Their houses are comfortable their barns and barn. yards are in good order, their fences sub stantial, their horses and mules and cat tie fat and sleek, their lands bring them every year abundant crops of wheat at the rate of twenty bushels per acre, with out the use of commercial fertilizers corn, Irish potatoes, clover, millet, vegetables of all kinds, while their vineyards af- ford enormous yields of grapes, much of which is made into wine of good qual- ity, which finds ready sale.
 In 1873 the Wilson place was desert in the center of fertile lands. Today, while it's surroundings have lost none of their fertility 1t is noted for the heaviest crops and most prosperous farmers in this section. These lands, once turned out as worthless and exhauated, are now worth $50 per acre and aN not on the market.
 The owners are prosperous and thrifty, and contented with climate and soil. They raise two crops per annum in place or one, such as two crops of potatoes, oats followed by corn clover cut twice for hay and afterwards for seed or pastured. They find the region perfectly healthy and that they can average more days of outdoor work than in the north. That there is much of their success due to the splendid perseverance and industrious habits of their race, there can be no doubt, but that had failed theme else- where. and that failure is what induced them to come to the more congenial cline of Alabama.
 Comment is unnecessary. single glance at the thriving community Is the best argument of a combination of en- ergy, industry and patient labor, with the more favorable adjuncts of soil and climate as present themselves.
 New Development.
 It was a fortunate day for Florence as well as for Sheffield and Tuscumbia when J. w. Worthington and associates be- came interested in the development of this section. Here in this city ground has just been broken and a full labor force has been put to work constructing the electric street railway line which is to unite the three flourishing cities in closer bonds of unity. The company is to have frst-class tracks, modern equipment and quick schedules, and with ample capital is bound to win success This enterprise is bound to make the three towns one city in fact if not in name, and this will prove wonderful impetus to growth and