The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-09-25
OBSERVATIONS ON 4 FINE OLD TOWN Not All Montgomery's Products
 Find Ready Sale BEST ROADS IN THE STATE Has Some of Finest Farming Lands In Alabama But the Farm
 CTS All Live in
 Town.
BEST ROADS IN THE STATE
BY WALTER HARPER.

Montgomery, September A.-(Special)- Montgomery is sS miles from Birmingham and is an important station on the Louis vile and Nashville railroad.
 The population consists of politicians. near politicians, policemen and ordinary residents. The ordinary residents as a rule are good and peaceable citizens.
 The town Is coming to be quite an im- portant manufacturing center. The prn- cipal manufactured products are fer tilizer. politics and Blackstonian liter ature.
 The output of the later product has been largely increased during the past three years, due, it is said, to a new superin- tendant of the plant. It is, indeed, claimed by some consumers that there is an over production of some grades, though 1t is thought probable that the stock will be considerably reduced when the goods are inspected by the board of final reviewers.
 This law-making plant is operated by the state with free labor and while the operating expenses have been heavy the town of Montgomery has been benefited.
 My attention was called to a rather pe- culiar incident today. The clock on the dome of the state law factory has refused to run during the administration of the present managers The theory is ad- vanced by some that time is standing still awaiting the completion of the sal all the energy about the building is ex- pended on the ground floor and in the leg islative hall. The hands on the right hand dial as your approach the building stand at 3:2o, whether a. m. or p. m. I am un- able to say Only one hand remains on the front dial and that points to o'clock if it is the hour hand and 20 minutes to something if it is the minute hand. The hands are gone entirely from the left-hand dial.
 I intended to cite some conclusions on this painful incident but the men who are employed around here are my per sonal friends and I want them to re- main so.
 But the state capitol is dear and grand old building. From its decaying dome looked down on scenes of great historical importance covering more than half a century.
 Here was the capital of the shortest lived and busiest nation in the history of the world. Even Montgomery can lay claim to some of the most active activities in the entire history of the American con- tinent. Perhaps she deserves the long sleep she is taking now.
 1 stood on the brass star in the tile floor where Jefferson Davis stood when he took the oath of office as President of the Confederate States of America. made a hurried mental review of the stirring events affecting the state and the south that have crowded upon each other since that day. In the department of archives and history l saw the old Bible on which Davis took the oath of office 1 contemplated with reverence the bier on which his body lay in state after his death. l stood for a moment in the su- preme court room where the body lay and was viewed by thousands of his patri- otic followers.
 These things are inspiring and ennobling and I am glad they are being perpetuated as they are.
 From the dome of the building l looked down on city of goodly proportions that is justly proud of it's conservatism and it's traditions and I realized that I am truly proud that Montgomery is in Ala bama.
 Some of the citizens I met attempted to excuse the quietness of the town. It needs no excuse. Every citizen of the state should love Montgomery just as she Is. The people live long and happily here, in spite of the frequent meeting of the legislature
 There is good word I want to say for Montgomery county. She has the finest roads l have seen in the state More money has been spent here than in any other county in the state and the result Is pleasing to every visitor as well as source of satisfaction to the people who use them.
 The county has some of the finest farm ing lands in the state, but the farmers live In town. The country appears de- serted and desolate You travel for miles and miles and see nothing in the shape of human habitation but the ordinary cabins of negro tenants. But I will have more to say about this unfortunate condition in later article.
 Montgomery shows some signs of de- cisive development along many lines. Ac- tyity in building, especially in the resi- dence sections, seems to be strong. These sections are being extended and many handsome and expensive homes are being erected. There are also a number of very creditable business blocks of modern con 'struction.
 Montgomery is a solid business town and It's people are the best in the world.
 Commercial Club Officers.
 Florence. September 24-(Special. )-The annual election of nfficerS of the Flor