The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-19

building water system for the opera
tives and the mill. The water will be
brought from one of the purest springs
in the vicinity The company already
has a reservoir with a 1000 600 gallon ca
pacity for commercial and fire purposes.
The health conditions of Alabama CITY
are far above the average for cotton
mill towns The town was originally laid
out with a view to the thorough drainage
of the streets and lots. The land is roll
ing and every advantage has been taken
Of the natural avenues of drainage and
also with an eye to the beautiful. The
lots are large and commodious. There
are flowers and grass everywhere and
standing prizes for excellence insures
beautifully kept yards and gardens. The
company offers standing prizes every year
aggregating 500 for the best vegetable
gardens and the prettiest yards in the
homes of the operatives
One of the unique features of the town
is the variety of the buildings. There
is nothing painfully uniform. As l have
lust said the streets are not laid out
like a checker board with disregard for
the natural curvature of the surface.
There are beautiful curves and angles,
and, I will say the streets are kept in
most excellent condition. They are all
graded and graveled and stone cutters
assist in carrying all surplus water away
at once.
Handsome Homes.
There are no two houses built alike in
proximity to each other and all of them
have large porches. The outside archi-
tectural appearance is tasteful and invit-
ing and the inside is well arranged and
commodious. The houses are all plas-
tered inside and beautifully painted in
different colors outside. This gives dis
tinct individuality to every house in the
place. But for the gigantic mill standing
in the midst of the town one would never
guess that this is a cotton mill town.
One per cent of the wages of the oper-
atives goes to the physicians fund. This
pays for any service that any employee
may have for a good physician at any
time. This cost is considered nominal
and everybody seems to be satisfied with
it. The mill has no commissary. The
employees are paid in cash every two
weeks and they are allowed to trade
where they choose. If an employe de-
sires to draw wages earned before pay
day he Is given a check which Is good
at the stores in the village at face value.
w. r. Mccord Is Mayor.
Alabama City is duly Incorporated and
enjoys all the advantages and public pro-
lection of any town or city. The cleo
trio railway operating between Gads-
den and Alfalfa passes through the town
with cars running every 30 minutes each
way
w. T. McCord is mayor of the town.
The following is the board of aldermen:
John Reece, T. ]. Posey, j. M. Howard,
DR.. W. H. Acton and Ira Gray. DE-.
Acton is the mill physician.
Following is the board of education: G.
H. Moody, chairman; T. II. Williams, N.
II. Momer, J. H. Gibbs and w. d. Adams.
The Dwight mills have $1,000 spindles
and 1900 looms. They manufacture the
finest grade of sheeting made in this
country. The mill closed for one week
about a year ago for repairs. Outside
of this 1t has never closed down at any
time.
A few hundred yards south of Alabama
City stands the steel mill of the South
ern Iron and Steel company This plant
has been idle for some time, but plans
are now being made for resumption. This
is one of the most important manufac-
uring plants in the entire Gadsden sec
ton and employs a large number OF
skilled laborers> when In operation.
I was about to forget to say that these
elegant homes in the mill town are rent
ed to the employees of the mill at the
rate of 81 a room per month.
Homes of Officers.
The homes of the officers and foremen
are located just north Of the town proper
handsome structures and are supplied
with every modern convenience.
Another feature of the place Is the
large lake covering several acres provided
with flrst-class bathing houses and tho
recreation park near the center of the
town, which is provided with convenient
seats swings and large pavilion for
dancing and other occasions The base
ball park which, by the. way, is one OF
the best in the country, is located just
west of town. There is a large grand
stand and the ground is we'll arranged for
this popular sport, which have heard Is
quite interesting.
The officers of the mill take as much
interest in the diversion and mental Inn
provement of the employees as they do In
keeping up the cash dividends OF the
business.
Agent C. H. Moody, with all his modes
ty. and Superintendent Irving Southworth
are leaders In the sports Of the town. I
did not meet Paymaster H. M. Davis and
Yardmaster N. H. Bonner, but l under
stood they went direct to the ball park
without lunch as soon as the mill closed
down at noon to get choice seats in the
bleachers. Mr.. Moody is vice president
of the Alabama Cotton Manufacturers
association.