The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-12-16
MODERN MONTGOMERY
 SHOWS WONDERFUL GROWTH
RepuIation of AIabama's Capital city Has Increased Fifty Per cent since The Last Census and 1910 Goal Is In slght.--somethinE of the city'S Advantages.
By W. NJ. TEAGuE. Mayor.

when YOU say that the population of a certain city has uch-and-such on certain date, and has grown to so-and- so at a later time, and cite the Federal census in support of your statement, it is irrefutable. convincing and im- presses people. But when you affirm that the population of Montgomery was sO. .346 in 1900 and is now conservative ly estimated at from 4S,00O to 51,000 fine statement loses It's force for the reason that faith in figures is largely limited to their exactness.
 To counteract this natural, gentle skepticism the school census and other accessible statistics might be quoted, logical differences drawn from many sources and compelling arguments pre- scented to demonstrate that the popu- iation of our city has actually increas- ed more than fifty per cent since the i last census was compiled. in 1900 some ! eight thousand of this increase is ex- plained. or accounted for, by the an- nexation three years ago of outlying ! districts having an approximate popu- f lation of that number.
 Remarkable Increase.
 Every indication by which we may fudge and gauge the growth and de- velopment of a city, however, justifies the deduction that the number of in- habitants of Montgomery, irrespective
  tion act. has remarkably increased within the last seven years. Postal bus ihess, railroad traffic and saving de- posits, to make use of metaphor, may be termed the pulse of progress and prosperity and investigation reveals the gratifying and reassuring fact that it is beating healthily. exultingly.
 The immense amount of mail ham dled in recent years has increased in volume over that previously passing through the local post-office to such an extent that several additions to the carrier and clerical force have been necessary to insure it's prompt trans mission and delivery.
 Our mail order business has grown to greater proportions and every mail brings letters from architects, builders, manufacturers and other industrial agents in all parts of the country who, noting the rapid development of our of our business-letters spelling dollars and profits to both recipient and send er.
 The railroads have richly participat- ed in the general prosperity and, in turn, have invested a part of their vast Receipts in the products of Alabama Roundries which, in their turn, contri- ! bute to the wealth of Montgomery. @ But primarily, Montgomery and sur rounding territory is an agricultural : region. Fertile hills and valleys stretch away from either bank of the A Alabama, rewarding intelligent effort with ricn yields of cotton and corn, and it is from the industrious tiller of the soil, the farmer and the planter, that Mont gomery, directly or indirectly. derives her greatest benefits. Stores spring up to supply their needs; factories labor to produce the implements with which they wrest subsistence from the soil; banks are organized to safeguard their savings and pay, a tithe for their tenn poTary pse; buildings are erected on ; the prod from their harveats which, passing through various channels hn- ally enter into the steel and concrete of towering structures, As in ever aGe, however mitch his importance may be overlooked and ig- nored by those who deal in the dol- lars which his work created, it Is The Man With the Hoe" the man who coaxes food and clothing from the bounty of our common mother who is the fount of all country's wealth, the sinews of its strength and the main stay of its independence.
 Inducements to Farmers.
 No section of these broad and unique Iv blessed United States offers great CT l16Gcement to the farmer The soil is fertile the climate salubrious There is no need of artificial irrigation; the Alabama and tributary waters and numerous creeks and lakes which dot the topography of our state, keep the soil constantly moistened, Tightening