The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-03
LINDEN IN HEART OF THE BLACK BELT Last Few Years Have Brought
 Great Growth. ONE OF OUR OLDEST TOWNS s'arengo County Recently Erected a Fine New Court House Here
 at Cost of
 $5o,ooo.
ONE OF OUR OLDEST TOWNS
BY FRANK V. EVANS.

brake" section of Alabama may be seen between Selma and this point, and right we'll is it receiving attention Just now. The blows are busy and not one mule, but two are drawing each one of the hundreds. These are subsoiling- going deep down and stirring the soil, beseech- ing it's richest production. It all looks much like business. and betokens im- mense success to the farmer.
 What great developing agencies are the railroads of this country. Did you ever notice haw anxious the people are to have railroads built; and then when they come to do business how much more anxious some seem to throttle them; hold them down, eheckmate and disturb them? It is true
 Who ever heard of Linden, outside of Linden, until Rube Burrows was killed here, and the Louisville and Nashville railroad entered this domain, and brought order and progress out of disorder and almost nothngness.
 Has a Worthy History.
 But Linden has a history, and one worthy to briefly relate. It is the county site of Marengo, one of the richest and most prominent counties in the state-a veritable black belt" county. For time Linden was not Marengo's county site. but that was no fault of Linden. During the dark political days of Alabama. when carpet-baggers, scalawags. and negroes were in charge of the state government the county courthouse was removed from Linden to Demopolis, the larger town of the county but town far away from the center of this magnificent county.
 When the Houston regime came into power the doors of the old courthouse at Linden were reopened, and here once again just and representative judge sat upon the bench, and juries of white men dispensed Justice in behalf of the people as of old.
 Now Used for School House.
 The old Linden courthouse has been transformed Into a school house of late and Marengo county has here erected beautiful new and altogether modern courthouse at cost of about $50, 900. This, too, without issuing bonds. Instead of the usual procedure. the county simply is- sued warrants upon the general fund for
 
 being paid in ten annual installments without Interest. This new courthouse would be an ornament to any city in the state. Only one term of court has, as yet been held in the new building.
 Population Growing Rapidly.
 Linden may be called Alabama's town of magnificent distances" old Linden where the old courthouse stands, and where the town tavern still remains and the county jail, too, wherein the notorious Rube Burrows was for a while guarded exists today as of old Half mile south is the new courthouse hotel. and a number of lawyers offices and stores. Quarter of a mile still further south is the real new Llnden's business center and the Louisville and Nashville railroad. and depot.
 Here are ten or fifteen new stores cot ton warehouse and immense oil mills A number of new and handsome modern homes embellish and ornament the place which two years ago was but a cotton field The rows or furrows are stlll vIs- ible in all parts of the town, and the newness and freshness are quite observ- able on all sides.
 Linden has now a population of about 1000 and Is rapidly growing. By the census of 1900 she had less than 400 although dien then one of the oldest towns in the state. The town is eighteen miles from Demopolis aiid until aoout two years ago was entirely cut off from the busy world by the absence of railroad connection The Louisville and Nashville came 10 the rescue and Linden is reaping full bene- fit and is ambitious for still another rail- road. The town is growing rapidly. and the people declare there is room and wei come for all new corners
 The Linden academy. occupying the old court house and under the superintend- ency of Professor Threadkill has an at tendance of about one hundred pupils. many of whom are boarders In the homes or the town. This is only partially A free school but Professor Threadkill is hopeful in his efforts to make it entirely free.
 The legal fraternity Is ably represented at Linden there being about a half dozen lawyers here who seem to be busy.
 Profession Ably Represented.
 The medical profession is also ably represented. At one time Linden was ac- counted an unhealthy town. Just why it was so could not be explained. as the town site is rolling. and the drainage perfect There are no malaria1 swamps near by; but there Is much rich land . Lately number of deep wells have been bored and the drinking water obtained therefrom has had wonderful salutarv effect
 Today Linden is accounted a perfectly healthful town, and the appearance of her people indicate the Uuthfulness of the claim.
 Already Linden has two weekly local newspapers--the Democrat and the Re porter-and these two are of course do- ing a good work.
 As has been stated in your columns. Major Glider has been renominated for office, with a strong and progressive board of councilmen. and these propose to do some vigorous work for Linden. The town Is not in debt. and has a tax rate of only 40 cents on the s100. Three sa- looms are here in operation. paying the town s500 license each So with the present income and an increasing valua- tion by rapid building the town has a basis for good credit. and for much work in public improvement.
 Twenty five hundred bales of cotton have been shipped from Linden this sea- son, and these people confidently predict more than double that number next fall. This hope is based upon the Idea of in- creased production and more Independence of action upon the part of the planter.