The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-28
UNIQUE WARFARE BEING
 WAGED IN TUSCALOOSA
By WALTER HARPER.

Tuscaloosa, April 27.-(Special) )-Tusca- loosa is in the midst of warfare that promises to be long and bitter. The sound of battle is reaching out to every corner of the state and even beyond. It is struggle to the death and every citizen of the state is watching the result with keen interest.
 It Is a struggle between commercialism and sentiment.
 Tuscaloosa, at one time the seat of the states political government, has always been recognized as the heart of Its cul- ture and refinement It's every building Is on those fine plans that give an air of hospitality, delicacy of mind and strength of character The homes are modelled after the architecture of the south's age of glory and the liberal sur roundings. the broad shaded streets and giant oaks that have been allowed to stand from the earliest days, all breathe that fine sentiment that has filtered down from the glorious days gathering the rich perfumes of the finest elegance as 1t came.
 The warfare began a few years ago when the city officials began to cut away some of these fine old trees to make way for the stream of commerce that came pressing at the gates of the city The opening of the Warrior river to the gulf is another factor in the new era.
 Thousands of men and women. scattered from Maine to California, constantly turn the eager eye of memory back on Tusca- loosa and it's grand old institutions This beautiful town enshrines the best hopes and the happiest recollections of many of these lives. It Is the sacred mecca to which the heart loves to turn. Every tree and every shady lane here breathes the spirit of sentiment and holds in trust 1000 romances of young and ambitious souls.
 But commercialsm that monster of hu- man greed, is creeping in and would de- spoil this treasure house of beauty and sentiment.
 Boast of Growth.
 The business men of modern Tuscaloosa love to boast of a growing population and the sinuous advance of commercial supremacy. These are mainly young men who have been trained up in the modern school of business where sentiment is barred. Their ideal of the modern city the community of power-is based on the ring of the dollar, and knows nothing of the delicate atmosphere of soul beauty. Refinement and elegance of mind are well enough in their places but they must not interfere with the progress of the money god.
 Tuscaloosa would remain great and the center of our affections even if its popula- tion should remain at the same figure for 100 years; block the river and rip up the railroad tacks.
 But Mayor Faulk tells me that the city is spending thousands of dollars in the i'm proyement of the streets and sidewalks, on the water works system, sewerage and betterments The city has recently cut away some of the "unsightly' trees that stood in "ungraceful' rows down the mid de of some of the avenues and streets. The shades induced laziness among the citizens and were in the way of drays and other methods of 0 growing traffic.
 A new courthouse has just been com- pleted at a cost of $95,000 The furnishings ran the cost up to considerably more than $10o,0o0. It is said by many who have seen it to be the finest in the state of Alabama It stands near the center of the city I am glad to see that the arehi- tect and the commissioners adhered to the old colonial idea in the construction. It is an evidence that the people have not en-