The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-05-17
THE NEWS OF SELMA
Advertiser Bureau,

- 81 - aN@S W
 Advertiser Bureau,
 Selma, May 16.
 At the meting of the Commercial and Industrial Association which will doubtless be held In the city hall to- morrow night, it will be definitely de- cided whether the proposed electric line between this city and Marion will be built. The meeting has been called for tomorrow night by President J. F. Hooper of that organization. and as the matter of the electric line will be taken up and thoroughly discussed large crowd of citizens Is expected to be pres ent.
 The committee which had been solic- iting subscriptions from the citizens has been very successful and will make report to the meeting. It Is also thought that there will pe- present delegation of citizens from Marion, and that Summerf1eld and other points along the proposed line will have rep resentatives.
 SeImidns seems to be equally divided as to the building of the line. Some cannot see the necessity of the line or what benefit could be derived from 1t, while others are heartily in favor of the proposed electric line and are doing all that they can for it. The doubters can not see the benefit, for they say that Selma elnd Marion are already con nected by a great railroad system, and to them 1t seems a useless expenditure of money and energy.
 The believers in the suggested line see a great future in store for this part of the State if the line Is built. They do not see the terminal of the electric line built to Marion, but they picture It as 1t will be built further and think that 1t would be only a matter of few years before 1t would be extended on through Perry County by Uniontown into Marengo and Hale, where 1t would make d loop and double back into this rff hxy fsraanqhnrn and number OI other numerous smaller places.
 This is an age of progress and the believer sin the line are doubtless right in the theory that they advance, for if the line is once built as far aS Marion there is no reason why It should not be extended further and in a few years extend to all of the smaller places in Perry, Marengo and Hale Counties. Such a line would go through the richest territory in Central Alabama and would not only be of great benefit to this part of the State, but It's ad- vantage would be experienced by other sections of the State as well.
 With the money that has already been subscribed in Dallas and Perry Counties, the ringnts- -of-way and the cross-ties that will be given TOT the easily accomplished. So much energy displayed and such determination to have the line should be a good induce ment to got outside capital to take 
 the line.
 Much Speculation.
 Much specuatilon is being indulged in by some Selmians as to the meaning of the surveying by corps of engi- neers which Is working it's way to Sel- ma. The only information on the sup feet comes to this city in telegrams In newspapers dated from Bessemer. Ev- cry day or two a telegram from that place mentions the progress of this corps of engineers and the route 1t Is taking to reach this city.
 For the past two months there have been a number of railroad engineers in this city; They % nave ch Pr1hVa.e sarooin room anyone except themselves ever enters What their business is no one seems to know, and not one of them VIII teiL Bessemer and which seems to be work ing its way towards Selma Is a part of the body stationed in this city Is
 These frequent telegrams have start ed a number of Selmans to guessing as to what the meaning Is and many ideas are advanced. The route that the en- gineers are taking does not seem to be that of the survey of the Old Cahaba Valley, which, 1t Is said. was bought by the Louisville and Nashville. The Old Cahaba Valley route has been surveyed several times within the past few years but nothing has ever come Of 1t.
 Some are of the opinion that this
  Illinois Central Railroad. and that it is the intention of this system to reach the Gulf by g route through the mine ral district of Northern Alabama. With this line the road would be strong competitor for the immense amount Of business that comes from the mineral
 Another idea that is advanced Is that a route is being surveyed for new road that Is to be built from Memphis vanced or whether there is any reason for 1t cannot be learned. but those en- gineers in the field near Bessemer and those in the city here are wt9SrryIng tS na tience to wait and see what the nor row will bring forth.
 seIma's "BrIdge of sIghs."
 That Selma has a Bridge of Signs" as well as New York Is not generally known. But, nevertheless, 1t has, and many a prisoner has heaved sigh that came from the bottom of an anx- ious heart as he or she has walked up it. for it should rather be called an "Incline of Signs" than Bridge Of Sighs."
 in the recent accounts of the New York newspapers of the Nan Patterson trial. there were many instances men tioned of a pathetic nature when the young woman crossed the Bridge of Signs" from the famous Tombs prison to the building of the Court of Gen eral Sessions. All wno nave seen this famous Bridge of Signs" know that 1t is not a bridge of architectural grandeur. but is exactly the opposite. That famous prisoners have crossed 1t and left hopes of freedom behind is also a fact that is generally known.
 The Selma Bridge of Signs" like the New York bridge, is no magnif- cent structure, Neither is it as strong or as grand and imposing as the New York one, but 1t answers every pur- pose for this city. No famous pris- oners have as yet crossed it and 1t Is probable that few ever will. The New York bridge spans a small street and is level. The Selma bridge spans a small alleyway and has an incline CF ahotFf fhrfy-fVa deOrRaR