The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-17
DECATUR WILL HAVE
 HAPPY CHRIST TMAS General Conditions of Pros
 perity Prevail SOME CHANGES AHEAD Many New Industries Are Preparing to Start Business-Farmers Are More Prosperous Than Any Time
 Since Civil War
SOME CHANGES AHEAD
BY WILL W. NELSON

Decatur December 16-(Special 1.-The indications are that the two Decaturs this year will celebrate one of the most prosperous and happiest Christmases for many years The commercial, financial and industrial interests of the two De- caturs are in a much better condition now that before another Christmas comes of years and the future for the two cities seems more promising than ever before The indications are that this will be the last Christmas that will be celebrated by Decatur and New Decatur, for 1t seems no wthat before another Christmas comes and goes there will be but one Decatur greater Decatur forming not only one of the principal cities of the state in population and wealth but one of the greatest commercial and manufacturing points of the state and of the south.
 Many substantial business blocks and numerous magnificent private residences have been constructed during the year that is now fast drawing to a close Much street and sidewalk work has been done in the two Decaturs during the last
 
 that the Decaturs have the best paved streets and the best sidewalks of any city of the same size in Alabama. Com mercially and industrially the two De- caturs during the past 12 months have surprised themselves. All the banks Of the two cities show larger deposits and greater dividends than ever before. On every hand prosperity smiles and is only waiting for the man who is willing and ready to grasp it.
 Great improvements have taken place in the rural schools during the past 12 months. A number of new school houses in the country have been built, old build ings remodeled and there has been a general improvement not only in the rural school buildings but also in the number of months taught and the i'm provement of the course of study Dur ing the year many miles of new turnpike roads have been built, until now Nor ties in the state.
 Morgan county farmers have raised good crops not only or cotton but of other products as well. Their cotton and other products they have sold at good prices. Nearly every Morgan county farmer has money in the bank and at homel his graineries and smoke houses are full. He is more prosperous than he has been in many years. This Christ mas he will sit by his f1reside, a king within his own domain. He owes no man dollar and is surrounded with plenty. He will commence the New Year with full store and balance to his credit. Today the Morgan county farm CT is better off than he has been since the close of the civil war.
 According to present indications the future Is most promising. Many things are in store for the New Year that is now knocking for admission. A number Of large manufacturing plants are seek ing location here, large educational institution wants to locate within the city, work will soon commence on the construction of a new railroad from De- catur to Falls City, in Winston county, within a short time the Central Mortgage and Trust company of Birmingham will commence bearing for gas and oil in ltilS NiSlillyb OI new business blocks and residences are contracted for and many other things are in sight for the coming year that will add to the commercial and industrial wealth of the two Decaturs and of Morgan county.
 The new line of railroad that is to be built from Decatur to Falls City will open up a fine timber, coal, iron and agricultural section of the state that is now without 8 railroad and will bring the greater amount of these products to the Decaturs. The Central Mortgage and Trust company of Birmingham have oil and gas options on a number of thou sands of acres of land near the Deca- turs and in this county. They mean business and will spend large sum of money during the coming year to de- termine whether or not there is oil and gas in this section. Their machinery has already been ordered from Pittsburg. Pa, and just as soon as 1t arrives they will commence operations.
 When the state legislature meets in Montgomery in January, 1911, Capt Dan Walden of New Decatur, one of the members of the lower house of the state legislature from this county, will intro. duce bill allowing the people of the two Decaturs to vote on consolidation. By a vote of the people the two cities would uhlte today. pnuer the proposed bill they will likely be united by April l, 1911. Assurances has been had that as soon as the union of the two Decaturs takes place the United States govern ment will erect a suitable government building here for postoffice purposes. The union of the two cities will give bet ter mail facilities, better police protec- tion, better fire department, but above all 1t will make Decatur one of the principal cities of Alabama.