The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-19
SHEFFIELD ENJOYS
 A STEADY GROWTH
Old Boom Idea OiSpeIIed and
 Business is Substantial
IN VERY STRONG LOCATION
Besides Being in the Rich Farming Section of the Tennessee Valley the Town Is Admirably Situated for
 Development of Industries.

Development of Industries.
 Sheffield. November 1S.-(Special.) )-The earlier dreams of the pioneers of Shelf field are beginning to be realized, and the average citizen will tell you that the population of the town has doubled since the last census. All Alabamians know of Sheffield as it was, but it may not be generally known that just now the city presents an air of substantial look which does away with the old boom idea and shows that as a manufacturing center and a city of commercial importance Sheffield is a fixture, with the certainty of great future.
 Strong Location.
 Nowhere in this state, or in any sec- tion of the universe can one find a site so peculiarly well situated as is Shelf | field for the building of a city. Located upon a high bluff on the south side of the Tennessee river it enjoys ex- cellent natural drainage, an abundant water supply, and the rich blessing of navigable waterway. It is to be remem- bered that the Tennessee is the fifth river in importance in this country, and that, with it's tributaries It traverses and blesses eight states of the union. The great stream flows directly from Shelf field into the Ohio, this affording this city direct lines of water communication radiating northeast, northwest and l mi fha crowning advantage of Sheffield. But this is not all.
 The Tennessee Valley.
 Sheffield has the distinction of being To- cated in the Tennessee valley, the soil and climate of which are celebrated and well known of and read by men years before the new industrial development began in the south, as being eminently adapted to agriculture. Conditions here are favorable for all kinds of farming. This (ColberD county ranks high in the production of wheat oats, corn, hay, cotton, clover, the grasses, etc., also grapes, vegetables and all kinds of fruits.
 Natures Gift.
 Add to the above the inexhaustible sup ply of limestone here and the immense beds of coal and ores so near at hand
 
 beheld a picture of natural advantage which surpasses any point in the south Many places have their agricultural weath to sustain them, tmany their min ing wealth, some their wealth forced up- on them by artificial means, but not town in all the south enjoys a greater diversity of natural advantages and sur roundings than does Sheffield
 Sheffield's Beginning.
 The foundation of Sheffield was not laid until 1884 and the wonderful part or the story is that grains, capital and en- ergy did rot take hold of the opportuni- ties here presented years before How ever, there is plenty of time plenty ot room. This foundation was made with a view to success and to permanency. Magnificent business buildings were at once constructed, and if during brief collapse or suspension the bats and owls might shelter in some of them, it is not so today. They are all occupied, all needed, and morse in course of construc- ton.
 Not Boom Now.
 Sheffield is not on a boom; and her people do not desire that she shall be- They have had quite enough of that; but they do take pleasure in pointing to the fact that more building is going on here today than in any city in the state Tn proportion to population; and that more money has recently been invested here than in any city in the south of like size. The proposition seems true, ana the fact most encouraging
 Strong Moving Spirit.
 The Sheffield company under the man agement of Mr J. w. Worthngton, him. self largely interested in the manufac- afC all ha ed all the properties of the older com panies, consolidated them and thus made Sheffield stronger than ever before This company owns not only these city lots and lands, but the water works and elec- tric light and railway plants. They have recently expended half million dollars. They have one of the largest and most complete electric power plants in the south: and have just completed about eleven miles of street car line crossing the Tennessee river under thirty-year right of way over the Southern railway bridge and connecting the three cities of Florence Sheffield and Tuscumbia-the 1 three towns enjoying all the public util- ities in common-not as one municipality | but as one community of about 16,COO peo- pie: all blessed by the same natural sur roundings and with common interest. The corporate lines dividing the muni- | 
 three sister cities, so close to each other, | will be as one
 Railroads Are Aiding.
 The three railroads entering Sheffield | have pursued a liberal and helpful policy | toward the city. Investments in terminal | facilities have been large, and the re- gently established shops of the Southern | railway here are among the largest and | most important in its entire system em | n1oying hundreds of skilled mechanics, l who add greatly to the valuable citizen ship and to the weath of Sheffield
 Favorable for Iron Making.
 Sundry views are from time to time ex- pressed as to which is the most favorable | locality in the south for the profitable | manufacture of iron. The people of Shef- | field boast of the well authenticated | statement that during the past twelve | months three blast furnaces in Shef- | field cleared more money than any fur mace in the south for the same period. | This would seem to demonstrate the posi- ton of Sheffield as an iron manufactur- ar ndrta