The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-27

factory has about 66000 spindles, and both are yarn mills. For some reason one of these mills uses Egyptian cotton, shipped to this point from that far-away coun- try, and this mill Is in sight of southern cotton fields. The cotton goods expert can better understand this proposition than does the writer.
 There are also located here two large steam ginneries, rimbend factory, plan ing mills, saw and grist mills and bottling works. A company has just been formed to manufacture healing oil. Mr. w. c. Bentley formerly of Birmingham but now a prosperous citizen of this place, proposes to establish here large can ming factory at an early day.
 Piedmont people claim that this Is the best farming section of Calhoun county. They say that their town is sustained agriculturally by the three rich valleys Goshen Valley, Terrapin Creek Valley and Naney's Creek Valley, and that each of these large and rich tracks of land pro- duce in abundance any and all farm pro- duets indeginous to Alabam soil, and that these valley lands present a most inyit- ing field to the home-seker and invester who desires quick returns. and rapidly increasing market. It Is claimed that these hill and mountain side lands pro- duce unfailingly fruits, grapes and ber- ries of the finest and earliest varities, and that for truck farming there is no bet ter section of the south.
 Peaches do especially well, and just now MT. George D. Harris and MT. Buford are each devoting many acres to the cultivation of the peach and will make this their chief investment and oc- cupation. Others propose to do likewise, and so Piedmont promises to become the center of a great fruit-growing section.
 Section Rich in Minerals.
 Certain it is that Piedmont is in the midst of and surrounded by a section rich in minerals. To enumerate the speci- mems of iorn orces, copper, corundum, slate bauxite, oil stones, marbles, and hundreds of other species, shown to your correspondent today would fill more space than is allotted for this letter. But 1t Is all here within a short distance of Pied mont.
 E. D. Mcclellan, who takes much inter- est in matters industrial. and who Is thoroughly acquainted with the resources of this section, has samples of black and yarigated marble which he discovered near by This black marble has been polished and fully tested by skilled mar ble men of the north. and they pronounce it of very superior quality. Tn fact they offer to take all that can be shipped them in merchantable shape at most remunera- tive prices. Here is chance for in- vestment and for development.
 Indications of Oil.
 MT. Mcclellan and his associates have also, in prospecting. discovered lands which indicate the possession of oil. Bor- ing with diamond drill a depth of 1400 feet. flow of gas came to the surface and. ignitng it. a bright light burned four feet above the surface hole and the scent of the rock fairly indicates the presence of naptha oil.
 With such a wonderful future so surely assured for Piedmont, Birmingham, such a close-by neighbor, should claim closer kindship with this people and this sec ton. that the two may move forward in the march of progress hand-in-hand, and the writer is sure the Age-Herald will act well its part in consumating this union. So will the Piedmont News, the local weekly paper published here by that princely young journalist Walter ]. Clark.