The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-04-11
ALBERTv|LLE |S 4 WIDE AWAKE TOWN Progress Has Been Rapid for
 Twelve Years IS A FINE POULTRY MARKET High Altitude and Salubrious Climate Makes It One of the Most
 Healthy Cities in
 Alabama.
IS A FINE POULTRY MARkE I
BY FRANK V. EVANS.


 Abertville, April s.-(specfal.)-And this is another of the delightful noun tain towns of this beautiful north Ala bama country, not quite so elevated as Boaz, and not bearing a Biblical name. Yet 1t occupies a position 1900 feet above sea level on Sand Mountain; and enjoys fine water and the salubrious atmosphere of this much blessed section of the state.
 This branch of the Nashville. Chatta- nooga and St. Louis railroad was not built until 1892, and Albertvilfe had it's real beginning then. However before this date there was a postofhce and one or two stores near the present town site, and 1t was called Alhertville. yet was only a cross roads trading point The town is named in honor of the Albert family. who were pioneer settlers and many of whom still reside in this neigh borhood
 The Albertville of today looks quite city like and boasts a population of about 1500 people, who seem happy and prosper ous. There are more than thirty business houses here. many of them substantial brick structures. and more of this kind now in course of erection. In fact there Is general building movement. and new houses are In evidence on all sides. These are to make room for the incoming pop. ulation, and the increase of the volume of business.
 City Is Very Prosperous. The city is an orderly as we'll as prosperous one The Hon. R. H. Harris is the mayor, and the following aldermen assist him in administering the affairs of the city: Messrs. T. B. McNaron, A. B. Hooper. William H. Scarborough, James A Walker and Walter Shipp. These constitute wide awake and pro- gressive administration. The tax rate Is one-half of per cent, and half or the funds thus derived are appropriated to the public schools. These schools, with an enrollmen of about 250. are controlled by a board of education, of which the mayor is ex-offco chairman. Professor Self is the superintendent, and he has a corps of well qualified assistants.
 Albertville is also the home of the Sev- enth District Agricultural school. This institution is under the superintendency of Prof. J. B. Hobdy, and ranks among the most successful schools in the state. It has a handsome and commodous build ing and an enrolment of about 250 young men and young women. who hail from the different counties of the district There are three churches here--the Methodist, the Baptist and the Christian. and these have large memberships, The homes of the people are attractive comfortable and cozy, and the commun- ity is one of intelligence and refinement. The Masons, Odd Fellows and K. of Ps. all have flourishing lodges here. Albertville has several very large mer- cantlle firms and they handle an immense trade, covering an area of thirty-five miles or more. One or two of these firms do a business exceeding s100,000 and the volume Is annually increasing. The firm of Davis & McNaron sold this season s45 900 worth of commercial fertilizers, and one firm has a list of 1610 regular customers. These figures are presented to show something of the importance of AL bertville as a trading point.
 The farming country which affords such rich trade to this fourishing young city, is similar in character to that de- scribed from other Alabama mountain counties. The valleys and hillsides are we'll watered and yield abundantly un- der proper cultivation, cotton corn, small grain, the grasses, fruits. and grapes. On this mountain, as heretofore stated, ap- pies and peaches grow 1uxuriantly, and of the very finest quality. And this too, is in the midst of the great chicken and
 
 cases being shipped from here annually. ard yielding valuable returns to both merchant and producer.
 Receives Many Bales of Cotton. Albertvile receives about 5000 bales of cotton annually, which is produced near by. The planters are declared to be in excellent shape financially, and are wig orously at work on their new grounds and increased acreage in cotton and the food crops. The cash system Is said to prevail generally with them now, and they are buoyant with hope for bounti- ful harvest this year. Their homes too are much improved.
 | Albertvile has large cotton oil mlll and fertilizer factory. ginnery. saw and grist mill, a splendid weekly newspaper, | the Banner, by Editor Meigs. the sub stantial and prosperous banking house of | ]. F. Hooper, a fine hotel the Albertville l hotel. by Mrs. Anderson. who has reno- vated 1t since she assumed charge. and made 1t quite attractive
 | There are seven doctors in this healthy town. but 1t is said they have to cover many miles of territory to busy them 1 selves at sick-beds for there are only few | in Albertvillc.
 It is said that Mir L. g. Emmet now deceased. was the real pioneer of Albert vile. having opened a store near here 22 years ago. where he did the mercantile business of this section for nine years l all alone. iany of his family still re- side here, and are useful and prosperous citizen'.
 Albertvile is twenty miles from AttalIa 1 and ten miles from Guntersville the county site of Marshall county