The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-09-12

I understand, has ever been arrested for speeding.
 But I am digressing, though before leave this subject I will add that the North Alabama Traction company has almost 10 miles of trackage that covers pretty much every section of the two cities.
 Imaginary Line.
 There is strong movement on foot now to wipe out the imaginary line that divides Decatur and New Deca tur and make one city. While there has been some agitation along this line nothing definite was done until it was suggested by the postoffice depart ment that the two postoftices here might be combined.
 Now that is more than probable that this combination will be ordered by the department officers of the two cities and the people are getting busy and it is probable that an agreement will be reached very soon.
 There Is nothing more certain than tn at the consolidation of the two towns will be consumated in time and it Is more than likely that it will be ac- complished in time for the next census.
 Such consolidation would give Is claimed and establish Decatur as one of the large towns of the state.
 Has Advantages.
 The Decaturs have many advantages for the building of an important man. ufacturing and business center. It has the advantage of the Tennessee river and the resultant low freight rates. It has already a number of manufactur- ing plants that give employment to large numbers of men make quite a neat monthly payroll.
 One of the most important indus tries are the shops of the Louisville and Nashville railroad located at New Decatur. This plant gives employment to 2500 men, most of whom are high priced workmen. There are a number of woodworking establishments, brick plants and other small industries that are of no little importance in the build ing of a prosperous community.
 The stranger visiting in the twin cities feels that the only drawback to the community Is the apparent divis- ion between the two towns. There is no visible physical division and the stranger Is impressed with the ad- vantages that would be derived through the closer cooperation between the cities.
 Towns Are Progressive.
 But both cities have been built on broad and progressive lines. The public off cials have been backed by the hearty CO., operation of their towns respectively and neither has Jagged in the matter of pub lie Improvements.
 H. A. Skeggs has been mayor of De- catur for number of years and has tablished a record for enterprise and public -spiritedness that is hardly equaled in the state.
 E. C. Payne was recently elected mayor of New Decatur and has begun an active campaign for the upbuilding of his city. He is head of big lumber concern here and Is closely identified with the business interests of tie community.
 The Decaturs have IA churches, eight public school buildings that would be d credit to any town in the state, 3 miles of water mains. good electric light and gas plants. two telephone systems, four banks, three large wholesale grocery and one wholesale hardware house. three river packet lines, one fertilizer plant, two ma- chine shops. two foundries, two stave mills one handle works, two shuttle fac tories, one pin and cross-arm factory, two steam bakeries. one steam launcry. two wholesale produce houses. two fire de- pa r-tments, two theatres one sheet metal building material plant and a cotton com presn with daily capacity of 100 bales.