The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-04-12
Gives the Town Excellent Rates
 on Freight
HAS PERFECT SANITATION
Location Is Such as to Always Insure Perfect Health to Inhabitants and Absolute Freedom
 From Mosquitoes.
BY FRANK V. EVANS.

 Guntersvlle ever enjoyed the delights suffered the consequence of a boom. the fact Is not in evidence here today yet Guntersville is accounted one of the most substantial business towns in the state. It is located on the most south erly bend of the Tennessee river and Is the county site of Marshall.
 These merchants enjoy heavy and profitable trade from the surrounding agricultural country, and are classed among the most solvent and independent business men of the state While located directly upon the banks of the Tennes- see, Guntersvi1e is also on Sand Noun tain, is blessed by perfect drainage, pure atmosphere and absolute freedom from mosquitoes. It is therefore a healthy town. This fact. added to the cordial hospitality of its citizenship and the charming mountain and valley scenery, make Guntersvllle pleasant place to visit, and a delightful dwelling place.
 Among the. Oldest Towns. Guntersville Is one of the oldest of Alabama towns-in fact, as old as the state itself. It was a great river trad
 
 was ever heard or dreamed of in this country. It was not so large until the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis railroad was completed to this point, in 1892, when new life was infused and bus mess increased at a rapid rate, and yet there was no boom. It was the energy, the wisdom and the capital of the natives and some new corners that seized the op- portunty presented and placed Gunters- vile on such a strong basis. Many lead ing citizens here have stated to the writer, however, that there Is lack of public spirit here, the peopIe generally being satisfied with conditions as they exist today.
 Guntersville has no manufacturing en- terprses of consequence. At Wyeth City. however, just adjoining this town, are located a large basket factory and a saw and blaming mill. Wyeth City, by the way, seems to be the outcome of an ef- fort to build boom town. It was founded by Colonel Wyeth, native Pennsy1vanian, who came down to Gun tersville prior to the civil war, and in- vested largely in lands hereabouts. He has returned to the north, but still holds these lands, except the few lots he has sold and donated. It Is said that he really holds the key to the situation here, so far as the future of Guntersville and Wyeth City are concerned.
 Greatest Basis of Strength.
 The Tennessee river constitutes Gun tersvi1le greatest basis of strength. This part of this great artery of commerce is navigable at all seasons of the year., and daily bears craft heavily laden with | freight to and from the markets Today l | find three steamers at the wharf, load | ing and unloading their cargoes, and it looks much like business. No town in the state enjoys a cheaper freight rate | than does Guntersville. and this fact alone makes possible great future for the place.
 With only one railroad for long time Guntersville bore the burden of heavy freight rates; until finally MT. A. c. Henry, one of the foremost business men and cotton merchants of the town, pur.. chased at his own expense an independ- ent steamboat, which piled the waters of the Tennessee between this point and Chattanooga on the north and to De- catur on the south, and thus forced the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis railway to reduce rates that Guntersville might enjoy the advantages which na- ture gave her This shows what compe- tition, determination and enterprise of individuals can accomplish for commu- nity.
 Most of your readers know that this is the transfer point of the Nashville, Chattanoooa and St. Louis railroad. That here the steel rails from Gadsden north ward, a distance of thirty-five miles, end. and that this railroad takes advantage of the splendid river, transferring it's freight cars and it's passengers by it's own boats to Hobbs Island, distance Of twenty-two miles down the river where lit meets again the tracks of the road fif- teen miles south of Huntsville.
 Proves Great Blessing.
 What saving of heavy grading and tunneling, and what a blessing does this waterway here prove even to railroad. This short run down the river discloses to the traveller the beautiful scenery on the majestic Tennessee. The river banks, the mountain scenery and the wide and deep flowing waters remind one of the | Hudson, for even the palisades are in evidence The transfer boat Is model | of neatness and convenience, and while | the time is slow the diversion In travel | is quite charming and refreshing. l By the way, fact which Is pleasing to l inc Age-Herald force, is that every morn l inc at 10 o'clock. when the transfer l steamer leaves the wharf at Gunters- I vile each passenger Is seen with a copy 1 of The Age-f4erald, and the paper Is read | with interest as the boat moves along ! the placid waters of this stream IL 's | inc first and only paper that makes connection with this line.
 Town Has a History.
 | GuntersviIe has history too long to relate in this letter. The town felt ee- l riously the heavy hand of the war pe- tween the states. Troops of both armies passed siong these river banks, and gun boats ploughed the waters of the Ten nessee. The rattle of musxerry ana the booming of cannon awakened the stlh- ness of these mountains and valleys. TO- day your correspondent was shown can. non balls, rusty with age, which had Just been found embedded in these hillsides. One incident occurred here which 's still fresh in the minds of many Of the