The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-09
Some Kentucky Cities

''Of the Kentucky cities only a few of them made large showings in the census" said an old resident of Bir- mingham, who is native of the Blue Grass state.
 Il have just been looking over the census bulletin announcing the popula- tion of cities in Kentucky In excess of 5000. Among the cities showing fairly good gains are Lexington, Paducah, Owensboro and Covington. Lexington grew from 26,3e9 in 1900 to 35.Os9 in 1910. Covington increased a little more than 10000 in the 10 years and Pa- ducah over 5000, but Louisville in- creased less than per cent. its 1910 population as officially counted, being 223,92S. Ashland, in the northeastern part of Kentucky, Is situated in a min eral district. and there are extensive iron works In and around the city. It has first-class railroad facilities, and is on the Ohio river; yet. notwithstand- ing all its advantages, Ashland had a population of only S6SS. It had $500 in 1900 and 41s5 in 1890. I Spent some months in Ashland when was youth in the early 70s. and I thought then that that city would in 20 or 30 years be in the 100000 class was disap- pointed to see 1t still below the 10,- 900 class in the last census.
 ''Maysville, one of the oldest towns in this country. dating as it does from 17S5, had fewer inhabitants in 1910 than it had In 1900. Ten years ago the census figures were 6423 and in the last count they were only 6141. When I was smal boy I never heard there was such a thing as the United States census. I never saw an enum- orator, and never knew anyone who had seen an enumerator. but suppose that such an official was on hand every 10 years and turned in his report. l used to ask prominent citizens of Mays vile what the population was and they always answered, About 500O.' I was told that 1t was about 5000 in 1900 and that. it had been about 5000 until 1870. when it began to pick up a lit- tie. No town of It's size has turned out so large a number of men who became distinguished as Maysville. AL bert Sydney Johnston, educated at West Point. and a full general of the Confederate army (mortally wounded at Shiloh). and one of the greatest sol
 diers who has lived,- was born two or three miles from Maysville. General Grant went to school two years to the Maysville academy, taught by Rand and Richeson. He had relatives living in Maysville. and after the war paid at least two visits to the town.
 Prof. Warfield c. Richardson of Tus- caloosa. one of the most distinguished educators in the south. is native of Maysville, and attended Rand and Richesons school up to the time he left home to enter college. Professor Rich ardson has often spoken to me of the fine scholarship of the late W. w. Rich eson. of the firm of Rand and Richeson, his early preceptor. MT. Richeson was native of King William county, Vir- ginia, and matriculated at the univer- sity in MT. Jefferson's day. He took his master of arts degree before he was Is years old. He thought equally well In Latin, Greek and English, and was an excellent French scholar; and as for mathematics there were few equal to him. The last time I saw Professor Richardson. who. by the way, is in his eighty eighth year, I asked him If he had been to Maysville lately. Hs
 replied, Not very Then. thinking 9
 moment, he said: Well. haven't been l there for 71 years But from his pleas ant reminiscent talk of old Maysville families and old Maysville landmarks
 ina gined he had kept. up his interest | in his native place by frequent visits Professor Richardson is one of the best preserved men have ever known. He | is as active mentally and physically as
 most men at 50 or 65.
 But, getting back to Kentucky, Ala. | bama presents list of cities that beat those of the older state from a point oi rapid growth"