The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-24
"GREATER DECATUR"
 BILL BRINGS FIGHT Opposition of Two Legislators Is Not Understood MAYOR LEADS THE FIGHT It Is Believed By Many That If Put to Vote the Consolidation of the
 Two Decaturs Will Be
 Effected
MAYOR LEADS THE FIGHT

! Decatur January 23-lSpec1al.) 1.-TWO delegations from the Decaturs left for Montgomery tonight to appear on tomor- row before the committee on municipal corporations of the state legislature These two delegations will favor and op- pose the Greater Decatur" bill that was introduced in the legislature a few days ago by Capt Dan Walden of New De- catur, one of the members of the state legislature from this county.
 The fight against the bill is led by Mayor Henry A. Skeggs of Decatur and members of his city council, while the delegation that is favorable to the bill is composed of business men of both of the Decaturs. The fight promises to be one of much interest. It Is understood that A.. G. Wilhite of Falkville, the other member of the legislature from this county, is op- Sherrod of Courtland, the state senator from this senatorial district. What their reasons are for opposing the bill are not known here. The people here are at loss to know why MT. SherrOd and MT. Will hite, who do not reside in the Decaturs, are opposing the bill when Capt. Dan Walden, who is a citizen anl property owner of New Decatur favors the bill
 The opponents of the bill argue that the vote together on consolidation and that they think they should vote separately This is their main argument.
 Friends of the bill claim that consoli- dation is for the best interests of the two Decaturs and that the time has now come when there should be but one Deca- tur-a greater Decatur. They argue that with but one municipal corporation there would be government building, better police and fire protection, better mail ser vice and general improvement along all lines Besides Greater Decatur" would be the largest city in Alabama north of Eirmin gham.
 A travelling man in discussing the "Greater Decatur" said today: This is the best location for great city in Ala bama, Birmingham not excepted You have here the mighty Tennessee river, fourth in importance in the United States you have two great trunk lines of rail- road the Southern and the Louisville and Nashville great quantities of coal, iron and timber are in close touch With you the Tennessee valley, of which the De- caturs is about the center, is one of the richest agricultural sections of the south There Is only one reason why you do not have here today city the equal of Bir- mingham in population, wealth and i'm portaIlce, and that is the two munich palities, Decatur and New Decatur, with their continuous pulling against each other By all means consolidate the two and let all of your people work in har- mony and pull together for the Greater Decatur" and in very few years you will have here the city that your location demands
 This is the general opinion of every stranger that comes to the Decaturs They cannot understand why there is a Decatur and in very few years you cities have grown together and the stranger cannot tell where Decatur ends and New Decatur begins, unless the line is pointed out to him.
 Kills have been introduced in Congress for appropriations for government build ines in both Decatur and in New Deca- t,Ir but advices from Washington are that the department will not erect a pub lic building in each city, but that with the two consolidated into one city it will be no trouble to get a magnificent gov ernment building here.
 If the Greater Decatur" bill now in tl,e state legislature passes and a vote
  doubt but what the people would vote for consolidation nearly three to one today.
 Morgan county farmers are now making srrangements to SOW their spring oats and break their cotton and corn lands for nlanting when the time arrives.
 It is said that more oats will be sown in this county this year than ever before Many seed oats are now being received here, Today Charlie Mitchell, a farmer residing near Decatur. received by freight a car load of oats.
 A great number of fine mules are being shipped into Decatur now from Tennes- see. These mules are being sold to Nor gan county farmers at good prices.
 This part of Alabama Is one Of the best stock countries in the south, and why 1t is Alabama farmers do not raise their own mules is mystery The prices are high. an ordinary mule selling for as much as s100
 Birmingham Specisl,
 The Steel Gar Train