The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-05-01
BY PERCY CLARK.

Using that went around the world, when with U cyolonio moving ma chine she cut a swath about 300 yards wide on the southern end of the city. Save for striking two important business houses B small hotel a livery stable and the destruction of fertilizer factory some distance out. the damage fell upon small homes and shacks.
 To follow in it's path as l have done. and see the work of restoration going on so rapidly so confidently and systematic ally gives the very best index of the Me rjdian spirit as I have found it.
 It Is all too true that there was loss of some $400,000 in few moments of time with the very sad phases of loss of life, personal injury to many, and no ln- surance to cover the total property loss.
 It is even true that this game self reliant home made city of T000 popu- iation tol dthe world she would heal her wounds, bury her dead care for the needy and rebuild their homes for the humble Local subscriptions and outside assistance was rendered to the extent of some S40000. committee of patriotic cit- izens went promptly to the task of bury Afl8 lue u6du ttiltIt nave ptti h"NAiNJ seven deaths up to date with a likelihood of one Or two more), also rendering aid to a number of injured. In the matter Of relief. the scriptual order seems to have been reversed: To those who had but little of this worlds possessions. but who owned the houses wherein they dwelt, and whose homes were destroyed, finan- cial aid was given to rebuild; this without regard to race, creed or favoritism. It is pleasing sight to, view the cot tages here and there lighted up, with new patches, perhaps a new roof; in yet other. cases the houses were either entirely rebuilt or practically so.
 To me the path of the cyclone reveals more of the self-reliant. plucky conf1- dence in their town of the Tribe Of Sowashee' than any other first sight im- presson. New buildings are already ris- ing from the debris of the most im- posing structures destroyed
 Historical Data.
 Fifty odd years ago the Mobile and Ohio railroad, having been constructed through Lauderdale county, Miss, estab- lished a flag station, which was nrst called Balls. then changed to "SoWa- shee," taking its name from the creek which flows nearby In a few years this station became a full-blown village and took unto itself the name of Meridian Next the Vieksburg and Meridian rall- read came this way, now known as Ala bama and Vicksburg, tapping fertile prairie country and linking Meridian with the mighty Mississippi. As a stratateglc point Meridian was contended for by both armies of "the war between the states" Like many another loyal, heroic cba maid tribute therefore. After this she had all the trials of the smallpox and plague or reconstruction, and she slowly climbed until In 1880 there was about 1000 in pop ulation. Then gathering herself together for progress and development, the slogan went forth that Meridian was to be the finest appointed city in Mississippi all in all; 1t must be the largest in popula- ton. I think fair count will show she has achieved both of these
 Meridian was destined to be the great est manufacturing city of this great az rieultural state. It is already making rapid progress along that line, and from present indications will not only outrank any rival in Mississippi. but become a po- tent competitor in many line of manufac- ture with Nashville and Atlanta.
 Typographical Features.
 When old Dame Nature was rolling out this crust whereon we do abide for brief season, she laid the dark, rich allu- vial of the delta, followed the Missi- sabe" with fertility farther reaching on either side than the Nile, and in this par ticular section tossed rolling hills of clay, then smoothed the land into far-reaching sayannahs save that vast forests or long leaf pine add untold value thereto. When we think of Mississippi somehow comes to most of us pictures Of vast pral- ries inexhaustiby fertile, divided into naoplpd by thousands Of negroes with an occasional white face, showing in the picture here and there; or else areas of swamps, miles In extent, Ted annually by the overfiowing river. It is not so here. Topography makes types just as climate makes color and characteristics These rolling hills where on progressive Meridian sits in confident pride are very like the hills of Georgia. The men and women who throng It's busy streets are strikingly alike the pest types of Georgians in their manner ana speech' was forcibly struck with thls Disuhct- ly southern, gentle in manner In speech home-loving and hospitable, even the many northerners, who have come among them have been assinilated and nave become absorbed into the social life until one hardly knows the difference. There is no noise about the business or the city though the streets are thronsed believe that the soft breeze that start ing from the gulf, passing over the vast pine forests that lie between which, bears on it's wings the soothing balsamic ozone, has soothing tonic effect, quieting the nervous unrest that follows too often the too close devotion to enterprise. Meridian reminds me of a busy bee hive. Everybody seems to be carrying his part. There Is no jostling; the rewards of days of we'll applied enegry and enterprise are on every hand. It Is in it's five banks; or in it's lovely homes; or in its splendid buildings or yet still it's manufa4urinA plants
 The Tide of Progress.
 During the early days of Meridan's life population turned to this point more as matter of convenience for school and church purposes. The growth of the vil- lage to a city and the building of a com usrcial entrepot came by such steady