The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-14
MORE FACTS ABOUT CITY OF HUNTSVILLE As a Municipality It is Far
 tb)ve the Average STREETS ARE WELL PAVED Chamber of Commerce Seems to Be the Directing Agency for the Up-
 building of the Town and
 Madison County.
STREETS ARE WELL PAVED

your correspondent in his letter of yester- day paid more attention to the municipal government of Huntsville than might have seemed necessary to some of youi readers, 1t Is because he believes good city government is essential to business prosperity. It comes nearer the people than any other government under the sun save the home and freside government, and Is always considered in estimating the strength and importance of a com munity.
 Huntsville has a modern municipal building handsomely arranged for all city governmental purposes. built with view to permanency. and fully ample for present and future service. Market and fire department on the first floor, city offices and city hall above The bonded debt of Huntsville today is s166- 600, upon which the city pays an average interest of per cent. It is now proposed to issue S400O0 more bonds, the proceeds of which are to be applied to a funding of part of the old debt, and to public improvements much needed
 The streets of Huntsville generally are Wll1 GTuSneu SlO0t. Dul there Is one street upon which vitrfied brick has been placed in an experimental way The macadam is durable and a safeguard against mud, but it Is uncom- fortably rough and almost too noisy. What splendid foundation it is for as- phalt or brick.
 Industrial Organization.
 The Huntsville Chamber of Commerce seems to be the directing agency for the upbuildlng of Huntsville and Madison county. It's principal efforts are toward locating factories and securing immigra- tion for a more extensive development of these magnificent farm and timber lands; and along this line the association has ac- complished much. Its officers are James R. Boyd president; Ben r. Hunt, secreta- ", and H. J. Lowenthal, treasurer. About seventy-ive active members assist these officials in working for the advancement of this city and section.
 Agriculture Prominent.
 Say what you will write what you may, of a new south" but the spirit of the "old south" fingers here in the eternal belief that agricultural is the chief wealth producing agency of this section; and so 1t is. It made the south rich in antebel- lum days It will make it rich and blos- som as a rose again. If cotton is the real staple crop of this great Tennessee valley, your correspondent has today been im- pressed by the truth that cotton Is not all. but that corn, wheat, oats, rye. barley and the fruits, vegetables, grapes and melons grow to perfection here. Upon the excellence and abundance of these products the people here take special de- light, and today the writer has been shown beautiful speciments of each and all of ba I. Huntsville Is the very center of rich farm lands in a high state of cultiva- ton. Near here are stock farms which have proven imm ense sources of revenue. Short-horn cattle, blooded horses and stock of all kinds are raised for the mar kets. In fact this is vertically the Hand of plenty" No buying or selling of food supplies for the farmers of Madison they provide themselves from the very soil which they own.
 Public Roads.
 These farmers are industrious, intelli- gent and influential; in fact fully unt1 date. Through their influence N county has built splendid svs free turnpikes or macadamized 4
 of which radiate from this {
 puts every farm close to the m
 every day in the year a drlyIu
 and from the city with hea loaded wagons.
 An Active Aid.
 The Thompson Land and Investment company of this city, under the manage ment of MT. J F. Thompson, formerly of Birmingham, is a powerful cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce in the work of developing Madison county, and has proven itself a wonderful factor in placing men and money here-captal and labor which cannot fail to win success.
 The Welcoming Hand.
 One thing especially impresses the vis- itor to Huntsville, whether he halls from the north, south east or west, and that is that he finds here always a hearty, genuine southern welcome The people here ever extend the inviting hand They desire development, and they know that this can be obtained only by capital, muscle and efergy-and the more the bet ter for them all.
 Health Record.
 In point of health Madison county will bear favorable comparison with any county in the United States Dr. Wheeler,