The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-27
Is One of Calhoun County'S
 Growing Cities
ITS RESOURCES ARE VARIED
Specimens of Fine Quality of White and Black Marble Recently Found Opens Up New
 Field of Effort.
BY FRANK V. EVANS.

Piedmont, March 26.=tSpeciaI)-W hat was once Cross Plains and Patona, two villages quite close together, now consti- ute the site of the thriving young city of Piedmont As the name implies, the town lies at the foot of the Allegheny mountain range. It is s21 feet above sea level, and like it's several sister towns, eommands@a beautiful view. which is to the home-seeker.
 Piedmont is at the intersection of the Southern and the Seaboard Airline rail- roads Only about sixty miles from Blr- mlngham, 1t is one of your cose-akin towns and when the Seaboard is complet- ed it's fast trains will put the people of the, two places within less than two hours run of each other. So, already Birmingham is turning it's eyes this way, and the courtship is mutual Piedmont is one of Calhoun county's three promis- ing and growing eities-Anniston and Jacksonville the other two so the reader can readily understand the strong and promising position Calhoun holds among the counties of Alabama. Her industries. financial and political strength was bound to be felt now and hereafter.
 Interesting Bit of History.
 Piedmont has a bit of history which is interesting indeed. Just after the civil war, when the Selma, Rome and Dalton railroad was extended from Blue Noun tam mow Anniston) to Rome. It passed through Patona, now part of Piedmont, and Patona was ambitious to become a city. One Luke, a Canadian carpet-bag- ger came to Patona then as a kind of missionary and school teacher and estab lished a school for negroes. His conduct became notoriously objectionable to the whites of this neighborhood.
 lie was a social equality fellow, a polit- lcal agltator of the rankest kind, a dis turber of peace between whites and blacks. He instilled wrong ideas into tbe minds of the negroes and turned their heads In the wrong direction for their good. The consequence was that under the leadership of Luke there were numer- ous disturbances in the village of Patona
 The patience of the white natives finally became exhausted, and they resolved that Luke snouid be sent away. So it hap peheo that band of regulators, some times elept Ku Klux, quietly took MT. Luke and five of his prominent negro ileutenants to the woods nearby and with hempen chord and limbs of the trees transferred them from Potona to "PM tonia-" That ended all trouble of that Kind in this section, and peace between the races was fully restored; not. how ever, until the white people who had come from the far-off north with Luke to build up and civilize CD the negro here, at such cost to the ignorant blacks. had hied themselves back to the cline from whence they came
 Spirit of Progress Developed.
 When the East and West railroad crossed the Southern here, building it's way from Cartersvile to PeIl City. in 1889, there was at once a spirit of pro gross developed here. Capitalists and prospectors came by invitarIon of home people. The Leadbetter Land and Im- provement company was organized for the building here of a city, and the name of Cross Plains was changed to Pied mont, and Patona was embraced in the corporate limits.
 Most of the capital of this company came from Wilmington, Del and the town at once made a start upward and onward. Population increased rapidly, lots were sold readily. and lands enhanced in value in and around PiedmoAt at an as- tonishing rate. Brick buildings were erect ed factories established and the "boom' was on in earnest. Then followed the usual consequences of imitation. just as it did in all Alabama's boom" places; but the financial losses fell only upon in- dividuals. for Piedmont is really as strong today, and is founded upon as sure foundation with more certainty of a great future, than at any time in her history. The same natural advantages here exist, and the basis Is made certain by costly experiments and demonstrations which must give abundant returns to the future for investments and even apparent losses of the past.
 The brick buildings. many of which have long been vacant, are all sTll here, and are rapidly coming into use, as the present healthful growth calls them into service. The mercantile business of the town Is larger than if ever was, and the of the Seaboard Air Line through here to link Birmingham still nearer, has proven an impetus to renewed hope and activity among the people of Piedmont.
 Population of 22oo.
 The city today has a population of about 200. An excellent system of water works, furnishing health-giving wafer from mountain springs abundant in quan- tity and pure and sparkling in quality. The city government Is progressively and managed, and the town is kept in a most cleanly condition.
  boast of the perfect health of the town, and it is rghtfully accounted most en- joyable summer resort The social and | moral atmosphere here is in keeping with | the salubrity of the climate. There arc l no saloons in the place, not even a dis | pensary, and if there is a wild cat only | few know of it, therefore 1t must be harm | lessly hid away All of the protestant | churches have organizations and houses | of worship here and are well attended
 The Albert House. by mine host J. w. Harris, is a pleasant resting place for | the traveller.
 The public schools of Piedmont are | among the institutions of which her peo- | pie especially boast The city has | very large and imposing school building, | which is well filled with bright girls and | boys under the instruction of an able sup | erintendent and a number of faithful | 
 Large Cotton Factories.
 Two of the largest cotton factories In | the state are located here in Piedmont, | a nd they are hoth in full operation. Each |