The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-18
STRONG OPPOSITION ID CONSOLIDATION Two Decaturs May Unite in Spite of Politics ARGUMENT FOR UNION Economy of Administration and Im- provement in Postal and Other
 Facilities Are Presented
 to Favor Union
ARGUMENT FOR UNION

Decatur, January 17-(Special.) )-"There will be quite strong local political op- position to the passage of the bill which has just been introduced in the lower house of the state legislature by Capt. Dan Walden, one of the members of the state legislature from this county, gv- ing the people of the two Decaturs the right to vote on the consolidation of the two Decaturs." said a we'll known citizen of Decatur today. But said he, If the bill is passed and becomes a, law and if the matter of consolidation under this bill Is left to a vote of the people of Decatur and New Decatur I am quite confident that it would carry at least three to one in favor of consolidation and the Greater Decaturs. "
 This seems to express the general sen- timent here with the exception of few politicians in both of the Decaturs. Con- solidation would mean that Decatur would then be the largest city in north Alabama north of Birmingham and 1t would give the city a much better standing away from home This would necessarily con solidate the two postoffices and give the Clly u ldI SupCflOI llicli SOi NiSo tO nho' it is now receiving or can ever hops to receive with the two municipalities. It would give better police and fire pro- lection, better lights and more of them and would mean general improvement all along the line.
 Under the bill as introduced in the state legislature by Capt Dan Walden upon petition by number of the citizens of each city an election must be called flor consolidation" and "against consolida- tion" Is
 Mayor Henry A. Skeggs of Decatur has just appointed the following delegates to attend the meeting to be held in Wash ington within the next few days to urge the Congress of the United States to take speedy and definite action in the development of the Muscle Shoals water power, about 30 miles below Decatur on the Tennessee river: w. R. Spright, s. s. Broadus, J. L. Echols, B. P. Wallace, George D. Williamson, James A. Nelson, w. w. Callahan, Capt. J. N Rike, J. H.. Calvin, Frank Brown, A. M. Higgins. J. T. Jones, John A. Thomson, w. W. Garnett, John Pointer, T. M Jones, c. Ed Ables Col. c. c. Harris, A. B. Lamp kin, B. F. Holmes, J. M. Bailey, Thomas Marshall, D. D. McGehee, A. B. Cart wright and Dr. w. l.. Dinsmore. In all there will be 800 delegates go to Wash ington on this mission from north Ala bama The exact date of the delegation S departure for Washington has not yet ie o1, bo ba dala tpc will all go on a special train provided for that purpose solely.~ Among the so- ciaI features of the Washington meeting will be a banquet.
 The funeral of I. N. Austell, who died last Sunday morning. took place yester- day afternoon from his late residence on Ferry street and the interment followed in the city cemetery. Both the service at the home and at the grave were at tended by large number of relatives and friends. MT. Austell was a native of Tennessee, but had resided in Decatur for the past ten years or so. He leaves wife and an infant son. He was one of the best known and most popular business men of the two Decaturs. His death was due to a second stroke of paralysis, which came last Saturday night and from which he never rallied. The first stroke came several weeks ago as he sat one morning at his desk in his place of business on Bank street He
 Mayor Robinson of Cullman and several members of the city council of that city were in Decatur today in consultation with Mayor Henry A. Skeggs. the city engineer and several others of the city officials of Decatur getting estimates of the cost, the method of building, etc, Of the cement sidewalks and the bitulithc streets of Decatur with a view to making like improvements in Cullman. They in- spected the streets and sidewalks here and pronounced them the best of any they have seen in the state and ex- pressed the opinion that Cullman in the near future would build number of streets and sidewalks in Cullman similar to the ones in Decatur
 Dick Adams Rifles, Company E, Ala bama National Guards, of the Decaturs, returned from the inauguration of Gov Emmet O'Neal this morning at o'clock and report most pleasant time. Thirty members of the company attended the inauguration and took part in the in augural parade They were under the command of Capt. Roy c. Horton.
  morning at 9:45 o'clock from Montgomery and left within few minutes after their arrival on the Southern railroad for home
 The directors of the Morgan County Building and Loan association of the De- caturs, have just increased the capital stock of the association from $aO0000 to s5OO. GOO Since its organization few years ago this association has grown remarka- bIy until now it is one of the strong in- stitutions of the Decaturs. It's officers and board of directors constitute the best b,isfffess brains of the two cities.
 William T. Lowe, ex-state senator from this senatorial district, has just re- turned from Montgomery where he att tended the meeting of the Alabama Bar association and the opening session of the state legislature.
 Senator Lowe is an applicant for ap- pointment as associate member of the state convict board. He was an out-and- out ONeal man and an anti-amender MT. Lowe is a well known lawyer and is regarded as one of the best citizens of the Decaturs He was the state senator from this senatorial district duling the last term For several years he was the city attorney of New Decatur.
 This afternoon at o'clock the funeral of J. I. Transue, well known contractor of New Decatur, took place from the family residence in New Decatur and the interment followed in the city cemetery. the services being conducted by the Rev. T W Bartlett