The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-04-01

ley Railroad" (about two words in the name to each mile traversed) But that was all right. As the name implies, it was the intention of it's projectors to extend the line to the Tennessee river on the north and to the Coosa coal fields on the south. Financial trouble or entanglements seemed to overtake the enterprise and after a few years faithful service the company succumbed to pressure, and the little railroad with the big name sus- pended operations, was torn up, the bridges burned and the steel rail shipped away, thus cutting Ashville off once again from rail communications with the outer world.
 But hope for Ashvile still abides; and her people believe that before very long the whistles of locomotives will again be heard within these corporate limits The Seaboard Air Line has already surveyed a line from Odenvile. point on its line in St. Clair, through Ashvile to Gadsden, distance of thirty-three miles, where 1t is proposed to connect with the Chatta- nooga Southern thus affording Ashville every necessary facility for shipment, a corsumation devoutly to be wished
 Blessed in Her Resources.
 Ashville is surrounded by lands rich in agricultural strength, in hardwood timber. in coal and iron and all the valuable min erals with which North Alabama is so
 
 by-one of the richest garden spots of the state, which produces abundantly of cot ton, corn, the grains and grasses. The town and section are abundantly watered. Within the corporate limits are a num- Der of ever-1owing springs of pure water and at the foot of the hill upon which the town Is situated flows the wide, bold and clear Canoe creek. I am told that a fiat boat can be safely foated down this beau tiful stream from Ashville to Mobile.
 It is only six miles from Ashville to the Coosa coal fields, and the Warrior fields are not far away on the north.
 St. Clair is notably a fruit growing country. Grapes, peaches, pears and ap- ples grow to perfection, and more atten- ton is paid to their cultivation each and every year. Many farmers of the county today have large, lucious red ap- pies, stored away for daily use which they gathered from their trees last fall. The Elberta peach Is favorite here, and Mrs. J. P. Montgomery, and other well known land owners are just now clearing off hill-sides upon which they will next fall plant thousands of fruit trees and grape vines, cutivating for the markets. They inform the writer that these hill- side lands, which appear quite poor are not poor, but produce from twenty to twenty-five bushels of corn per acre the first year. Their plan is to cultivate a corn crop this year and to follow this with putting in fruit trees and vines when the corn is gathered. What a wonderful country this is, which Alabamians pos sess!
 Opportunity for Investment.
 There is a splendid opportunity for in- vestment here by intelligent farmers, gardners and fruit growers. The tendency of these land owners is to curtail the area of their farms. and to intensity op- erations on less land, by which plan they expect to greatly increase the yield. Many of them offering lands to bona fde settlers who wish to engage in such enterprise at prices low enough to in- courage the new conner, and to make for him certain remunerative returns for his investment.
 Ashville has two hotels-The Nunnelly house, a favorite resort for commercial travellers, is delightfully."- conducted
 Several churches, an excellent school. pretty and cozy houses, give an air of refinement to the place, and 1t is a pleas ure to be here
 The Age-Herald reaches Ashville at an early hour, and is a favorite with these goodly people. At least I judge so when find that there are only two business men in the town whose names are not on your list, and Ashville has a population of about 700.