The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-10-08
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Jefferson cpunty's Growth

T love Jefferson county and am de
 lighted to see it increase in population
 and wealth, for 1t was in this county
 that 1 was born and reared and It IS
 here that I expect to end my days; pu'
 its population has grown so fast and has
 become so large that 1t makes us oid-
 timers feel bit lonesome if not lost,
 said we'll known citizen.
 Tn 1890 our population was SS'O0o ana in 1900 it had increased to 14oOOc. ihe census figures for 1910 have not yet been announced, but as the school census taken in July showed that we. had 6o'ooo children of school age, those ngures multiplied by 31s would indicate that our entire population was 223ooo-a gain oi 262.1 per centage in 10 years. How many counties in the south or any other sec tion can show such growth?
 Tn 1880 I was in politics and was per sonally acquainted with nearly every voter in the county. Today I do not know many of them. Nearly all the | faces in Birmingham are new to me; all which goes to stress the fact that the city is going ahead at a rapid clip Congratulations From Denver J. E. Shelby, formerly of Birmingham, but for the past two years resident of Denver. writes to a member of The Age Herald to express his delight at this city's splendid showing in the cen sus MT. Shelby came here several years ago as manager of the Cable Piano company and soon became recog- nized as one of Birmingham's most pro- gressive and public spirited citizens. The second year after coming to this city he was elected president of the Board oe Trade and after being here three years he became exalted ruler of the Elks lodge. It was with great reluctance that Mir Shelby left Birmingham, although he went to accept a most fattering offer with a piano company in Denver.
 1T cannot refrain from eongratulating the people of Birmingham through the columns of The Age-Herald," writes Mr. Shelby, Ion the remarkable growth of the city as shown by the census report While I am not now a resident of Bir mingham, my interest in the citys well fare is no less than in other years, and certainly no one could rejoice over the astounding figures more than I.
 T call to mind those who were so ill- directed as to oppose the enactment of The Greater Birmingham Bill but dare say that they are now as jubilant over the results as those who so diligept- ly labored for Its passage. While many of those who supported the measure, pictured to some degree the great ad- vantages made possible by giving to Bir- mingham that which justly and rightfully belonged to it, I don't believe that they could then or can now, in any full meas ure. foretell the great benefits that will be derived therefrom.
 "The people of the west, and particu larly in Denver. are marveling at the report of Birmingham's progress; they don't seem to comprehend the possibili- ties of such growth. And to say the least, the census report is attracting uni versal attention.
 T congratulate the citizens generally, the Chamber of Commerce, the Board of Trade. the newspapers, all of whom worked to bring the Greater Birming ham about And in this connection allow me to say that in all of my travels, in all of my experience in public affairs, l have never seen nor heard of American enterprise more bountiful or unified in purpose as obtains in the city of Bir- mingham. With it's destiny so carefully guarded, with such builders everlastingly at the helm, Birmingham will safely reach the quarter of a million class with in, tha naxt deca de :,