The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-05-20
SELMA OCCUPIES
STRONG POSITION
Is Growing as Never Before in
Her History
A TYPICAL ALABAMA CITY
Social Atmosphere superb-The Ala
bama River Makes Sure Her
Greater Future-A City of
Schools and Churches.
BY FRANK v. EVANS.

BY FRANK v. EVANS.
Selma May Especially Selma has
been paints red this week. but the city
neither feels nor looks at all worsted by
the coloring. In fact. these goodly people
have greatly enjoyed the presence Of the
one hundred or more delegates who came
this week from all parts of the state to
participate in the seventeenth Great Sun
Council of Alabama of the Improved
order of Red Men, and today baseball
team of genuine Creek Indians is here
to GROSS bats with the Selma team
These occasions, and this presence, ma
turally carry the minds of Selmians
back to the days of old when this bluff
on the banks of the placid Alabama
river was dotted with wigwams of the
braves, who enjoyed that peculiar con-
dition of peace and of happiness which
ante-date real civilization and enlighten-
ment. The genuine refreshment and
proverbial hospitality of Selma made
happy indeed the three days spent by
the Red Men, in this charming city,
and they have gone away with their
hearts filled with gratitude and their
minds surcharged with appreciation of
the real greatness of Selma
Is Always a Pleasure.
In truth it is always a pleasure for
Alabamians to visit this favored town.
1t is so distinctly an Alabama city. Its
history is so closely interviewer with
that of the state; its people such typi-
cal Alabamians; its institutions speaking
so loudly of progress, development, re-
finement and strength.
Today there is an old and a new Selma
but these are closely blended There is
no dividing line. These people are as
proud of the old as they are of the new.
The one is the ground work begun by
Hon. William Rufus King (once vice
president of the United States in 1877,
which was builded upon a strong foun-
dation, and the other is the superstruc-
ture slowly and carefully planned and
built to present proportions.
Impressive characteristics.
That which most strongly impresses the
visitor upon his arrival in Selma is the
solid and substantial appearance of bus
mess buildings, the beautiful and palatial
homes and lawns, the wide and well
shaded streets, the handsome and costly
churches with cloud-reaching spires, and
the magnificent public buildings, and
then to mingle with these Semians is to
enjoy a feast of social hospitality which
makes one glad to be here.
1t would be needless to write in an
Alabama newspaper anything like a
sketch historical of Selma, for the olden
Selma is too well known to all Alabam-
ians to need any introduction It is of the
Selma of today that must most interest
your readers, all of whom are concerned
in the growth and development of this
one of the greater cities of the state.
The Real Central City.
Properly called the Central CITY," be-
cause Selma is near the geographical
center of the state, and surely 1t is the
center of agricultural lands as rich as
any on the continent. and center, too,
of Alabamas wealth and refinement.
This great Alabama river, into the wat
ers of which Selmians look from this high
bluff is a great boon to the city, afford
ing a position which fortifies 1t forever
against monopolistic tendencies or unjust
restraints and determinations
Besides this great waterway to the
sea eight railroad lines diverge from the
city, penetrating the great agricultural,
timber and mineral lands of the state,
and putting Selma in close touch with
every important point in the state. To
this point from Mobile bay this river Is
navigable every day of the year and
bears enormous and valuable tonnage to
and from the sea
Value If The p;,ar
~ TINS srSat river ,haue oeina d pos
sunny nearly century ago anu mas
given an impetus 10 nsr crown every
year siiice ol "nde s'edeei 'aiue WIZ ~
become when the Panama canal shall
connect the great oceans drawing the
commercial markets OF the world so close
to the gulf states? VIII 1t not be that
Selma shall become one of the greatest
beneficiaries of this stupendous evolu-
ton in the progress of American trade
and commerce? Will it not mean that
Selma occupying the strong natural posi-
ton which she does today, shall really
become great among the cities of the
south? The writer believes that an af-
firmative answer to these questions is
easily reached by an observation of con-
dition..
Rapid Growth.
Selma is inst now growing at a rand