The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-04-20
ALEXANDER CITY
 IS FULL OF PLUCK Has Risen Triumphant from
 Her Ashes STORES ARE SUBSTAN HAL Is Largest Town In TalIapoosa County and Citizens Have Shown Proper
 Spirit In All Municipal
 Enterprises.
STORES ARE SUBSTAN HAL
BY FRANK V, EVANS.

Phoenix-like this splendid town has arisen from it's ashes so to speak u will be remembered that on Friday, the 18th day of June 1902 Observe the day of the week and of the month), Alexander City suffered severe loss by a terrible fire, by which fifty-two business houses, the rail- road depot, the Methodist church, and the city court building and ten residences, were entirely consumed, the value of which was nearly half million dollars. But what was that to a progressive and went to work and rebuilt more substan- tially than ever before; for they were not dismayed. Brick and. stone buildings today occupy the lots made vacant by the fire, and these are modern city structures, and each one seems a busy hive of industry.
 Alexander City is comparatively new It was named in 1873 in honor of Gen. E. P. Alexander, who was for long time president of the Central of Georgia rail road. Prior to that date there was a little crossroads hamlet hereabouts known as Youngvile, for the family by that name, of which Bird Young, made famous as Simon Suggs" in that enjoyable book of anti-bellum date, written by Editor Johns Hooper of the old Montgomery Mail. It was near here that "Simon Suggs" lived, moved, had his being and died. and many of the older inhabitants rememoer him well.
 Largets In TaIIapoosa.
 Alexander City claims a population of about 25OO, and is the largest town In Tal- lapoosa county. It is a commercial point of great strength, has more than fifty business houses, and three banks which find remuneration for capital employed. The normal receipts of cotton annually approach 150O0 bales. It Is also an inn portant shipping point for poultry and fruit
 The people enjoy the privilege of elec- tric light, a telephone service. local and long distance; and just now the city IS erecting a system of water works. Con- tractors are boring for water in the center of the town, and have contract to go down as far as is necessary to find q bounteous flow. They have already reached a depth of 300 feet, and are now boring through solid rock.
 Hon. A. P. Fuquay is mayor of the city, and the aldermen are Dr. A l.. Hariand. w. w. Robinson A. J. Stewart, Y. w. Harris and T. c. Russell. The tax rate is only 35 cents on the s100 for all city purposes The town has never been in debt until now that 1t became neces- sary to issue $20000 water works bonds. which said bonds are optional, and by the way, were purchased by Messrs Steiner Bros of Birmingham.
  towns, Alexander City has a fourishing public school. It is entirely a free school and has an enrolment of about 25O pupils Prof. J. M. Pearson is the principal in charge.
 There are three churches here, the Methodist, Baptist and Presbyterian. The first-named is just now erecting a hand some house of worship. It Is of brick and stone, quite imposing and com modious. It takes the place of the old one destroyed by fire.
 Many Beautiful Homes.
 There are many beautiful homes in Alexander City, and just now the sweet scented roses. so profuse and beautiful, speak loudly of the taste and refinement of the people.
 owner. and Mrs J. H. Chisolm manager is a large, new, well-arranged house, and is quite popular with travelling people.
 ''The Outlook by Editor Hooten, is on the journalistic watch tower here, and labors for the advancement of the com munity.
 January 1, last, the liquor saloons of Alexander City were closed and a dispen- sary established here in their stead One half the income from this establishment goes into the city's general fund the other half is applied to the schools of this beat. It is said to be working satis- factorily, and the people here believe the dispensary to be solution of the liquor question In the smaller cities and towns
 As stated in the Dadeville letter this, Tallapoosa county, is rich in minerals. Not many miles north of Alexander City are three gold mining companies in active operation, with good results. Much pub lie interest is manifested in this enter prise and the people believe there are many acres containing rich veins of gold yet undiscovered and untouched.
 Agriculturally the lands around Alexan- der City are quite productive. As else where in the state. there Is scarcity of labor here, and for this reason farmers could not increase their acreage to any extent this year, though they are very cheerful active and in better financial condition than they were one year ago.
 Fruit Crop Is Profitable.
 The fruit crop is becoming a source of great profit. Near here Mir Joe Tan kersley has an orchard of 100 acres of the finest varieties of peaches. There are the Elbertas, and the Stinson, the former ripening in May, and the latter as late as October. Both are luscious and always find a ready and profitable market. The trees and the season prom ise an abundant yield this year. MT. Tankersley also produces fine varieties of apples, pears. plums, grapes and ber- ries.
 Two years ago local capitalists here erected large and substantial buildings for cotton factory, but did not fit 1t with machinery. Recently the property has passed into the hands of eastern with modern machinery, and be ready for the fall season with 15,0Oo splndes.
 Alexander City has a large oil mill, fertilizer factory and steam gin. also foundry and machine shops. Here locat- ed. too, Is the Russell Manufacturing company. with its knitting mill employ ing about fifty hands and manufacturing ladies' hose and underwear. The enter prise Is said to be quite successful.
 While Alexander City Is not the reg ular county site 1t has a courthouse of its own. and here all civil cases in the county, on the west side of Tallapoosa river, except in one beat are tried.
 The water power of Tallapoosa river and of Elkahatchie creek. both close by, this city. Is accounted remarkably valu- able. and Is attracting much attention