The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-29
WORDS IF PRAISE
 FOR BIRMINGHAM Louisville Lawyer Charmed
 With His Visit Here "vIRlLE AND PROGRESSIVE" w. w. Watts, Former President of American. Law League, Predicts
 Population of soo,ooo for slr-
 mlngham In Five Years.
"vIRlLE AND PROGRESSIVE"

Among cities of its approximate size Birmingham is easily the most virile and most progressive municipality on the con- tinent.'
 That Is what W. w. Watts, a prominent lawyer of Louisville and former presi- dent of the American Law league, who has been here for several days on pro- fessiona1 business. said last night at the Hillman as he was leaving the city for his Kentucky home.
 His First Visit.
 "This is the first time," said Mir. Watts, it has been given me to visit Birming- ham or the Birmingham district. Wher- ever I have been the last ten years have frequently been asked questions re- garding your city. These inquiries have come from persons high in the financial, commercial and industrial world, and l have more than once keenly regretted that I was unable to answer the questions with an intimate knowledge of conditions here.
 T do not think exaggerate when say that Birmingham is perhaps the pest dQVeTIlSeu Clly Ol ltS SiAt iAi eiiS union. and from what I have seen since I have been here I am not in the least degree surprised that the eyes of the whole country are watching intently Br- minghams development.
 Census Figures Hurt Us.
 Tn spite of all this, however, I think Birmingham suffers unjustly by reason of the fact that the census of 1900 gives you only 3S,000 population. If man Of the world should come into Birmingham, ride through it's streets. remark the num- Der and quality of its business and resi- dentia1 houses and note how the towns whole life pulsates with industrial &C., tivity he would instantly conclude that Birmingham's population is not less than 1O0, 900.
 q understand an effort is making to correct this injustice that the census fg- ures work against Birmingham. It seems to me that it could readily be done by a process of municipal consolidation. If the suburbs of Birmingham within a ra- dius of fifteen miles were Incorporated with Birmingham into one great city there would develop here in five years an urban center with a population of 300, GOO and a wealth unexcelled relatively by that of any other American city.
 Birmineham's virlty.
 "Even under existing conditions Bir- mingham impresses the new conner as perhaps the most virile community in the south. There Is energy here-the great dynamic faculty that builds big things and builds them enduringly. You have here a firm foundation upon which to erect the superstructure of great city. Want here seems to be unknown Indo- lence is seldom if ever seen, and though the people are not always doing some thing, yet they seem alwayss to have something to do. They have learned the wisdom of relaxation, which suggests that the city will soon reach up after a great deal that is best in urban life and enter the charmed circle of spirit and of mind. As evidence of this one needs only to point to the large number of your parks, the excellent appearance of the residence sections, the remarkable cleanliness of the streets throughout the city and the impressive school buildings constructed or in the course of construction.
 City's Social Life.
 q was told before I came here that Bir- mingham was less southern and more cosmopolitan than any other city in the SOutn. rms may De true m a SenSe There are doubtless many persons here from all sections of the union. Besides the town Is comparatively young in years. Yet with all this there is in the customs and habits of the people an un- mistakabe graciousness that we are in the habit of associating with the old re- gime in the south. That this Is true has been forced home to me most agreeably by the courtesies I have been shown while here. l can pay the city no higher compliment than to say that one who lives in Louisville will always feel at home in Birmingham. The two cities possess the indefinable quality of per sonal charm though of course we think there is only one Louisville on the planet.
 Architectural Possibilities.
 ''If I am not mistaken" concluded MT. Watts, Birmingham in ten years will be in architecture and in landscape one of the most beautiful cities in America. It has a most enviable natural situation, flanked as 1t is by the beautiful hills When the avenues and baulevards that increasing wealth will surely build here are completed Birmingham will become one of the most attractive cities possible. It may never possess the picturesque charm of New Orleans, for you know money cannot grow an avenue of oaks one thousand years old,' but 1t will be community that will ircite ambition and hope just as older cities like New Orleans revive memories and quicken the sense of romance.
 ''I have highly enjoyed my visit to Bir- inIngham and shall take home with me many pleasant recollections of the place and the people,