The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-05-21
MANUFACTURERS ARE
AN IMPORTANT ITEM
Selma Has Some Very Pros
porous Plants
CITY HAS PLENTY OF WATER
Coal, Iron, Cotton, Timber and Water
In JuxtaposItIon Is What
Makes Manufacturing
So Profitable.
CITY HAS PLENTY OF WATER
BY FRANK V. EVANS.

BY FRANK v. EVANS.
Selma, May 2o.-(special.)-As a com
mercial center Selma is strong, but com
merce Is not all that gives the city
strength. As a manufacturing point
Selma gained distinction many years ago
and in this respect has held her own
through all the changes and vicissitudes
OF time
The Peacock Iron Works were estab-
lished before the war, and became we'll
known, sending It's valuable product
throughout the south. During the great
conflict these works were the chief man
ufacturers for heavy ordinance for the
confederate army. The founder. George
Peacock, was truly a pioneer in the in
dustrial development of Alabama. He
has passed away, but his worthy sue
cessors in his sons, William r. and G.
Harry Peacock, who not only maintain
the works and the trade left them by
their father, but have greatly added to
both.
The Union Iron Works.
The Union Iron Works is also a large
and long tablished institution. manu-
featuring engines and boilers. live rolls
and logging cars. r. X. Coe Is president
and manager and Cadivallader Erwin,
secretary and treasurer.
The Southern railway shops here are
among the largest and most complete or
the entire system. The buildings are Of
brick. quite substantial and occupy sew
eral blocks of the city proper. They give
employment. I am told, to 500 ment.
Located in the city also are two sash
door and blind factories. one large hard
wood saw mill, three cotton seed oil mills
with a capacity of 40 tons daily, two
cotton congresses with a capacity or
1000 bales daily, two large Ice plants, two
cotton mills operating $4,000 spindles and
9s2 LOOMS two brick manufactures, a
large stove plant and many smaller con-
Germs.
Real Manufacturing City.
Thus 1t will be seen that Selma enjoys
the distinction Of being real manufac-
turing city already. The pay rolls OF
these concerns are quite large. and these
working men add greatly to the progress
and thrift of Selma. Every manufacture
! ing concern here is said to be paying hand
some dividends, thus demonstrating the
! fact that this Is a profitable point Tor
investment in this line.
Coal, iron, cotton, timber and water in
juxtapositlon seem to be most essential
to profitable manufacturing in the south.
In these Selma is naturally and peculiar
ly blessed but there Is one thing needful
for full development and enjoyment of
this natural position, and that is direct
railroad line to the coal and iron mines or
the Birmingham district 1t Is said that
there are undeveloped coal beds within
| fifty miles of Selma today and much iron
ore not far away, but every one recog-
nizes the fact that the Alabama manu-
facturer must have In close reach the
| great Birmingham district for coal and
iron, and for the accomplishment Of this
end Selma has been making efforts for
some time Her people tell me that they
need only one more railroad line and that
| one must be a direct road to Birmingham
up the Cahaba river.
! The writer is informed that surveys
have been made, much right OF way pro-
cured and a complete organization form
ed for carrying out this proposition which
will mean so much for Selma and for
Birmingham. Mr.. II. L. EcKee, now OF
Meridian Miss. is among the moving
spirits and promoters of this enterprise.
Would Be Great Advantage.
The road would bring Selma and Bir-
/ mingham within less than seventy-five
miles of each other 1t would give to
Birmingham her nearest perfect and con-
slant water way to the sea; and to Selma
iron and coal almost as heap as that
which Birmingham enjoys. And this will
surely come. The road will pass from
/ Selma through noTLD DdlidS iulo tdSl
Perry and Bibb, touching Centreville and
Blocton. The route is sale to be quite
practicable-the Cahaba valley affording
a most economical way for the road bed.
The Selma Street and Suburban Rail
way company is one Of Selma's enter
prising institutions. Unit, a few years
| ago, this was a mule car system. Now
1t Is a modernly equipped electric line,
| with heavy, smooth rails, comfortable
cars and quick schedules. Mr.. Francis
M. Abbott Is president Of the company,
and into Its management infuses much
Of the spirit of the man at the helm.
The company has six and half miles
of track covering all the principal parts
Ct the city, Its main line runs from
Water street out Broad for more than a
mile to Elkdale park. This Is one Of the
most beautiful parks in the state. 1t is
natural woodland, covering more thar
fifty acres, delightfully."- shaded. In the
| center thereof is bold artesiap well
| throwing out many gallons of pure, spark
ling water from. depth of more than
/ eco feet Adjoining this park is a magnih-
! cent tract of 600 acres, all plotted for res
idence lots with fire plugs already estab-
| ,ished and the whole soon to be quite
| ready for the homes of the people who are
rapidly coming here to make the Great
| er Selma
Choice Residence Portion.
These lots are to be sold to whites only,
| and this North Selma" is to be made g
| choice residence part of the city, enjoying
| close proximity to the business center
| and to the passenger station without the
| unpleasant noise. dust and smoke of busy
| city life President Abbott has charge OF
| this enterprise also, and he is not the
| man to do things half way. He is strong
| believer in the future or Selma, and an
| advocate of a liberal and inviting policy.
| Selma is surely blessed with an abund-
ant water supply Besides the great river,
underneath the town are numerous SUBJ
! terreanan streams of purest water, and
more than one hundred artesian wells
are constantly flowing from these afford
ing this very necessary and health-giving
commodity for domestic manufacturing,
snrinkling and fire protection purposes.
There is no necessity here for sparing
use of water. 1t flows abundantly and
the people are allowed to enjoy 1t liber-
ally.
And say what you may, but water is
a great consideration In measuring the
strength and happiness of urban life,