The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-19
ROANOKE ENJOYS
 GREAT PROSPERITY High Price Cotton Stimulates
 All Branches of Trade ELECTRICITY AND WATER Gossip of Presidential and Guberna- torial Politcs-Maj. w. A. Handley
 Is epoken of for Governor.
 Roanoke Normal College.
ELECTRICITY AND WATER

Roanoke, December S.-(Special.) )-The cotton crop, which has been somewhat delayed in this section of the country, is now coming in. Up to date about 12, 800 bales have been received and another 250O or 3e00 bales are expected
 The farmers are getting on an aver age 12 cents, and this price is making up to a certain degree for the shortness of the crop. This town usually receives about 22,O0O bales, but for the past two years the crop has been short. The peo- pie are not pessemistie, however, and are anticipating a large crop next year.
 The Christmas trade is good. The mer- chants, who are unusually progressive, are making an elegant show and inci- dently good collections. There is no doubt that Roanoke has exception ally bright prospects. The Handley Man ufacturing company. which has been op- erating a cotton mill for the past three years, is enlarging it's plant and when completed will employ in the neighbor- hood of 500 people. This mill is working day and night to fill it's orders, which are literally pouring in every day.
 Good Trade.
 The Cameron Wright Oil mill is also
 
 the seed offered.
 The Roanoke Guano company fur nishes the fertilizers for the country and is turning out about 2000 tons every year. The Roanoke Wholesale Grocery company capitalized at $250OO, consti- tutes another enterprise of the town and is also doing big business.
 Water and Electric Plant.
 The city of Roanoke owns and operates combined electric light and water plant The city is we'll lighted and al- most every residence in the town is illuminated by electricity
 As matter of fact there is not a town of its size in the state that pre- sents a more lively and animated ap- pearance, or is more inviting than Roan- oke. It's citizens are more or less cul- tured and are notably refined and the stranger is at once won by the hospital ity which is freely offered
 The churches of the town are all four lshing and under excellent pastors. The Rev. T. S. Hubert. who was recently called from Lake City, Fla, to the pas torate of the First Baptist church. has arrived and taken charge of the congre- gation. Mir. Hubert preached his first sermon as pastor on Sunday last and has made a decided impression on the citizens here as liberal, broad minded man.
 Mayor R. l.. Schuessler said yesterday that there was really nothing to com plain or so far as the prosperity of the town was concerned. "The cotton crop will fall short" said the mayor, 'but the farmers are getting good prices and are really in a better fix than they were year ago. We have a hopeful and patriotic class of citizens here and look forward to seeing prosperous times"
 The people are too busy to talk much politics. They say there is plenty of time In the future for that They seem to think the next president will be a dem ocrat and are divided in opinion as to who it may be. Some think German and others Parker. At any rate they feel sure that the democratic nominee will have fine chance to win no matter who he may be.
 he Governorship.
 So far as state politics are concerned some citizens at Roanoke who are identi- ned with the political interests of the state believe that Major w. A. Handley will run for governor. but your cores pondent understands that Major Handley has not committed himself either way. R. G. Rawland, the city attorney and a prominent lawyer here. is mentioned by iiS iiiehus as peiHS the next SOllcltor TOT the district He appears to be a strong candidate and well thought of
 The Roanoke Normal College, under the direction of Professor R. c. Little has over $50 enrolled this term The school is considered a first-class institution and as the number of pupils show receives liberal patronage.
 The business and professional part of the town is made up of forty merchants, two drug stores, seven physicians and