davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1912-12-01
MOBILE WELCOMES STRANGERS

The writer however does not lose
sight Of the fact that there are stili other
tbsn business considerations. important
AS are these, that 60 far toward deter
mining a man, for or against. Inc cast
ing In his lot with Tor planting an enter
prise in the midst of any community
That which usually weIS MS most, Win
the family man at least. Is the question
How Will MY loved ones and myself be
received socislly?" As the writer's report
upon Mobiles attitude toward the
stranger might not-for obvious reasons
prove convincing, II VIII DC weli 10 ih.ro
prominent In business circles here, ana IL
may be equally In point to add that their
evidence Is buttressed by the Wnoie-
hearted epressions or those whose blttn-
right II 10 to speak for the various contln-
gents OF this socially delightful community.
T. j. Davis says: Strangers coming here
TO live are cordially received. ana ne
adds enthusiastically; Mobile is an ex
ceptional place in which 10 i've. Ana
Theodore * Jackson cordially testifies
that ANY gentleman IL welcomed with
open arms" MIR. Kelly, a native MO-
blllan says: mo place can surPass MO-
bile I'm the cofdiality OF Its welcome TO
strangers coming to cast In their lot with
this community" Noah Schwarz makes
one feature Of Mobiles social life Is
particularly to be remarked upOn-its
handsomely housed) than commonly tc be
found in cities OF its size. The most i'm
DOSING of the purely social club edifices
is perhaps that OF the Jews the ffdsiie.
Strictly Jewish institution, il extends It's
hospitality. as Jacob Il. Bloch says, 10
visitors to the same extent as do the
others All Mobile clubs give frequent
ENJOYABLE entertainments, which-South-
ern hke-sre graced By the presence Oh
4 L. fair NJ
New-York tribune., 1912-12-01
EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES.

These might be described. and very
briefly, In the words of c. l.. Spots"ooo
Her school buildings are not up 10
modern requirements, although in the last
TWO years she has made great progress
in this particular, but in textbooks, cui
riculum and teachers, she ~ quite aprcao.
the times Mr. Jackson thinks that
THE schools are excellent, ana tna,
Children learn better and more quichis
than In the North; attrioutins this ~
the drawing power OF the teachers,
averring that, 1T is next to Impossible
to keep a child away from schooi ar.
Kelly believes, Mobiles school system
Is one of the best in the South, ana says:
Boys are we'll fitted for the battle OF
life. This is shown by the great num-
ber OF young men graduated by II WIN
are holding responsible POSITIONS mere.
There are In the city thirteen school
edfices mine for white and four for
negro pupils); In all Of these the COED
system prevails. and In six OF them there
are "kindergartens" There were In lsii
in the grammar grades l,bS5 male anm
I,65s female white. and S29 male and l,USS
female negro pupils; In the kinoerearten.
POI male and 2S female whites, anu ~
the high school, Al male and 40 femaie
whites.
The School Board maintains summer
training school (for six weeks) for teacn,
ers. its faculty comprising experienced
Instructors who receive extra pay, anu
who besides supervising young teachers.
conduct examinations. Here, TOO, pupiis
who desire TO progress more rapldly tnan
In possible In the regular term are taugnt;
by the county through tax levy. Inc
public school system Is admirably sup
piemented by Mobiles private SCHOOLS
colleges and seminaries.
New-York tribune., 1912-12-01

For long accessibility was limited In
meaning to the degree in which towns
were approached by water or rail routes;
indeed, 1t was only after the bicylists'
crusade for good roads had begun to
open the eyes of the farmers. merchants.
managers of land and water Transports
ton: and the states themselves. to It's
vital Importance that the highway was
included In the definition.
The Southern States have been back
ward In highway Improvement, and
greatly TO their own detriment, for las
by BENJAMIN b. Cox. the efficient secre-
tary Of the Commercial Club, Of Mobile)
Ii has cost them in twenty years the
enormous sum OF $685. in the extra
expense of hauling cotton. cotton seed
and fertilizers. But they have learned
their lesson, and are mendinS their ways.
And in the lead OF the penitents Is TO be
found this state which. ranking seventh
among sixteen Southern states In 1901.
was in 1911 fourth in the amount ex-
pended upon roads, although but sixth in
total mileage
Mobile County being. as said. In the
coastal plain" has no great engineering
difficulties to counter in Its projected
be expended the round sum OF half q
million dollars. And she already has
some four hundred miles of fine roads
leading TO the county's confines.
Her River Communication.
There Is no port on Uncle Sans long
coast line 80 fortunately situated with
respect to inland waterway c0mmunica-
ton. Alabama's river system alone drain
ing $3.50 square miles. Not all the million
and half people living on or near this
system are in touch with Mobile by
water. but the government is doing it's
very hest to remove that disadvantage;
canaliZation OF the Warrior Black War
rior and its Mulberry and Locust forks.
Should the re-eXamination of and report
upon a project to connect this river with
Bessemer and Birmingham prove favor
able. ii. e., should the accomplished en-
gineer In charge, Major &. f. A. Flaeler,
L. 5. A. recommend the undertaking..
Mobile Will have ready access by water
TO those ore fields. AT present there are
two packet lines running TO Demopolis
at the junction OF the Tombigbee and
Warrior rivers for eight or nine months
OF the year. according TO seasons.
While the present head of navigation
on the Alabama and Coosa "a tributary
is Wetumpka. 357 miles from Mobile.
when the canalization is completed. not
water to the Gulf City. but the latter
will be brought in touch with the coal
and iron fields about Gadsden, Ala. 0nci-
dentally Major Flagler says that only
the Father of Waters" and It's tribu-
taries will then present greater stretch
OF navigabe river than will this system)
There are now running TO Montgomery.
save at annually low water, and always
as far as Selma three packet lines.
New-York tribune., 1912-12-01
HER ADVANTAGEOUS LOCATION

Much has bees said and written OF
that. but il is doubtful IL there can be
found any mention of the factor that most
contributes toward its EXTRAORDINARY
value. And yet TO that one factor may oe
attributed. largely. her founding anu
wholly. her survival.
That trade is at .its greatest where 'ne
sought products are concentrated In larg-
est variety and volume. Such foci are
only 10 be found where the transportation
leading TO them. from the interior, passes
through the greatest variety and volume
Of the staples demanded by world trade
II bv reason OF advantageous location
they should also prove the logical entry
way for the goods the world has to offer
in payment they. in due time, become
emDoriums of territories so wide as 10
embrace practically the whole trading
world. And is not Mobiles location, MO
bile the city whose Briarean hands are
extended 10 the Great Lakes on the north,
80 the Appa alachian Chain on the east. ana
IN the Rockies on the west, while In the
south they grasp alike Mexico. the car
ribesn islands and the east coast or Cen
trail and South America, and VIII soon
reach out to their west coasts, clearly
Indicated in that definition?
New-York tribune., 1912-12-01
TOPOGRAPHY OF SITE.

Mobile is singularly favored In this'
Although situated in the coastal piaih'
the land upon which she Is built rises
sharply to the west. in terracelike h,ils. 10
heights ranging from 20 feet Al Cottase
Hill to $50 feet at Spring HUI, that
stretching away below her, on the west.
ern shore OF her grand bay, TO mississippi
Sound, IL intersected by streams, as Is
that Immediately above her. -
New-York tribune., 1912-12-01
Promise to Suitable Indus
trials, Well Equipped Dis
tributors and Farming :
Element, Is Greatest.

a rendezvous for the old. the middle ageo
and the young of both sexes: where A.
not only charity and educational WorN
are planned and got under way, but ui'o-
cent entertainment Is to be had.
New-York tribune., 1912-12-01
TOURIST AND SOJOURNER.

The tourist will find as much TO interest
him or her in this old town OF very varied
historic associations-for each OF the
dwelIers under the five different nass
French. Spanish, English. Federal and
Confederate) have left their impress not
only upon the city itself. but upon lis
suiroundings-as can be found In almost
any of the places for which he or she
trots the world over. Nor do the above
exhaust the list of attractions: TO them
must be added the Joy OF sail down the
Atlantic through that mighty. deep blue
river. the Gulf Stream, within sight Qi
the picturesque, palm-bordered Florida
coast around the KEYS, through the Mex-
can Gulf. sailing course of that tihy
mariner. the nautilus: and lastly, o..
tween the grim jaws of Forts Gaines ana
Morgan. and up Mobiles magnificent bay,
TO say nothing of the stopping en- route
OF these floating hotels .miscalled steam,
ships) At Tampa and key West. Ana
when he reaches Mobile he need fear
no dlscomforts. so far as quarters go.
such as he. too. often has 20 put up with
in towns OF similar Importance, Tor Mo-
bile has several hotels that. as regsrus
buildings, accommodations. appointments
and cuisine will compare favorabiy with
those OF most OF the great cities OF the
country. while among her many restau-
rants may be found several that rank
well
A Hotel Opportunity.
In this connection there is suggested by
Mr.. Adams, SO often quoted. an enter
prise which necessarily would employ
large capital 1t is "A big motel at Cot.
tage Hill (or Spring HID With spacious
grounds. allowing plenty OF room for
cottages and having ample provision for
golf and other outdoor games. he oe-
lieyes such a hosiery would attrace
both Northern and southern VISITORS ana
winter colonists OF the class and In sum-
cient numbers to make the venture per-
manently lucrative" and for these rea-
sons. Not only Is Mobile an Ideal base
of operations for yacht owners and tour
lists generally. being in striking distance
of the very picturesque countries 70 tne
south OF II, but she has excellent nshina.
hunting and boating opportunities IN her
environment"
To the sports that would prove attrac.
tions must be added automobilinG and mo-
torIng through the beautiful wooded lands
Of this section. and along the picturesque
coast of Mississippi Sound. 80 studded
with lovely seaside resorts, and also the
extraordinary canoeing. sailing and meeeq
a
New-York tribune., 1912-12-01
MANUFACTURERS INVITED.

M AN Ox nv i " 4bAAst~ ~~'
There are certain enterprises that arc
suited only to centres Of population In inc
interior. those that are suited 10 both III
terror and tidewater towns; others tha'
are hest adapted TO seaports, and sun
others that can successfully Do opera
nowhere else than at these lasti ;soov.r N
I'm "A Jealous endeavor 10 oisco'oi "
which Of the long and varied llst OF In
dustries arrayed in the three iast uisi )
sions. Mobile offers the best inducenienar 70
10 locate within her limits, or ~ nei
nearby territory, the writer mas lntei
viewed those representatives OF her Dusi,
ness world whose interests have causeu
them TO make a more or less eXhaustive
study of the question, WheTe tnoso op'n
ions coincide with the cOnciuslons q,
Which he has arrived. after tnorougn
investigation of conditions here, ne leeis
sa fa On presenting them here az Vslluapie
both 10 Mobile and TO manufacturers Oh
the lookout for such opportunities. mus
when Theodore X. jackson, JACOB ~, ~,
block. j. Howard Wilson, Louis j. DAVIS
ana X +. Adams suggest that any ana
every Industry using the hardwoods VIII
do well here" when the hrst ana iss.
named gentlemen lay even more stiess Sizes otI VI
any and everything made from pig IRON
a soon as the locks Of the rive; system
are completed" when the SECOND, ioui "A ~
and last reinforced by L. w. Sims. auu'
shed steel products" and John I. Schley
.anv and every one Of the industries com
mon 10 timber and lumber. 10 estdoIsn
the weight and value OF their testimony
he has only to array the facn aho msu. Jo -
he himself has gathered. But as general
izations are seldom satisfying, the matter
had best be given more In detail
Cheap Raw Material.
steel and iron industries would do well
here for the reason" says Mr.. Jackson
chat this is such q splendid point iof
the exportation OF their finished pro1ucts'
and the latter will be shipped TO fhiia-
delphia and New York more cheapiy tnai'
can the raw material from Pennsylvanls'
because Mobile Tll Maidr nave GenNon a wa.e thinks
1Blakeiy Island is an ideal site Tor q
huge rolling mill TO utilize the CUBAN
ard Alabama ores. and for the same rea,
SON wire and nail plants certainly shouio
be located nere says the n Si.tTSuters al
nresent have to pay freight on these nm,
ished products from Gadsden's million ano
a half works ito which that town gave
Sl5O.O00) to this port. ....,
,and of products of these metals In which
ere ,,sed the woods. as welD not men
tioned a. having been suggested py tne
rentlemen interviewed, would run into 3
list that would consume ha more nor space hut ~
there are some that urgently claim notice,
ord FOR the asons that Will accompany
their enumeration. Light rails and cant
hooks and log handling implements un
which there's big TRACE mere. ana meh Me
their wood part comes from the Tombig.
heel. OF which the numbering interests o!
this section alone gould take an tha'
could be made; pipe md tubing In COM
New-York tribune., 1912-12-01
HER INCREASING POPULATION.

Mobile has seemingly 9Rde only the
mean increase of the, ,fortys Southern
cities. but II to census figures had been
added her suburban dwellers, her stand
ing would have been greatly improved
for Ia the growth Of her suburban popu-
latlon. Mobile, ranking third among the
cities Of the United States, was second
ameng those OF the South. Contrasting
her gain Of 33.S per cent with the average,
DIS per cent, of the ten major ports OF
the Atlantic and Gulf coasts OF the United
states. her showing was remarkable
Mobile is conservatively> estimated 10
have now a population OF 5000, and in
her. miscalled, suburbs" there are s,Syo
more souls, making In all. $500, gam
IN dozen years OF $50 per cent. Mobile
County (Which, TO all intents and pur-
poses, is within the Industrial and ter
minal area Of the city, had, according 70
the 1910 census, so,So4, an increase Of 2s.I1
Per cent over 1900, which showed only
ll.H per cent gain over 1890 IL TO all
The above be added the population Of her
domestic trade area tbefore dcscrioeo)
and OF the countries TO the south or her,
and 70 which she has the readiest access
q all American cities. Mobile may justly
claim to be the centre OF distribution for
h0th Manufactured and raw products, Tor
q greater number OF people than can be
served by any town In Uncle Sans do
riri0uc
New-York tribune., 1912-12-01
inducements to Capital, in
Her Preparation for Service
Of E.arth's S People. Oh
tanning Recognition.

=. ,,e mort story il was sought to show {:
~ Mohile's claim to the sceptre of the
,.,1f ,d Mexico. as its chief seaport Ito
,., ard .he natural gateway to Panama,
.rd t9 the extent to which these un-
n.,sllcled advantages have been utilized.
,rhs importance of that information to
49,. "nuidinG mentalities in the counsel
:, nations. especially the captains Of in
a,stry and Of commerce and its argosies."
o,,., az the "raison detre" of that first
s,ory applies with equal force to this,
saouol in which will be shown: In how
f.r Mobile possesses the remaining essen
,s,s OF a great seaport city, and the
,..diness with which she can herself sup
,lv the deficiencies. To these will 10
.adAd some little description Of the In
Sucements she offers others more capable,
~ reason Of their greater experience.
.n.rior equipment, or heavier financial
hacking. of adequately providing the
needed accessories.
The sending Of raw material to foreign
ann distant domestic) manufacturers, Is
~. sconomy, and, therefore. her greatest
,.sd is competent machinery OF conver-
.,.n and her next greatest that for the
.a.ouate distribution Of finished products.
a.. she must be equipped to turn most
=, raw products into these to reap the
.,~.tar profit, to economze carrying
.n.SA and to establish herself rs one OF
IN. worlds greatest emporiums.
( valuable lesson may be learned and
.,nng these very lines. by comparing the
Conditions Of her infaAkSdays with those
.h,ch. to-day are crystallzing. out of the
,-....,ches of economic theorists. into
recognised business practice. The loca-
zion that made Of the Mobile W Bien-
vi,,.,s day the focal point ferktlr, con-
.c.n,rat,ou of trade and for tIeTy and
L,nerry making, while 1t has, throughout
,hA centuries, waxed and waned in Its
i,mportapce to world-trade, with varying
conditions of commerce and Industry. and
q, changing political conditions. Is now
beginning to receive recognition as being
relatively OF like Importance to the
world of to-day. She wnl never receive
her due NEED Of recognition from that
world. however, until she has brought
that Importance to its maximum by hitting
herself TO meet the demands OF the TWEEN
tIeth century commerce. And tms,' as
said. she cannot do unaided. To obtain
that aid she must advertise her induce
ments 10 educated brains, TO vast capitai
and to big industries-and not the least
effective advertising opportunities are the
wealthy and influential tourists visit and
the winter colonist's sojourn.
New-York tribune., 1912-12-01
The City's Property.

The municipalities buildings and plants
are valued at .2.G7s,0Oo. Mobile has %
miles of paved and 100 OF unpaved streets.
II has six parks and Fairgrounds. with
an aggregate area of 81 acres; they are
valued at $1,000 To these should De
added "A new 6I-acre tract on the pay
front valued at sH,0U. and a half dozen
privately owned. and devoted TO sinuse-
mcnt purposes.
New-York tribune., 1912-12-01
cLIMAroLoGY OF MOBILE.

Emotional reports Of that government ma
Chine. the Weather Bureau, upon which.
New-York tribune., 1912-12-01
Commerce and Industries.

According to census taken III lsIV,
Mobile had 100 industrial and CONNER
cial enterprises The Chamber of COM
merce estimates the number 10 be al
nies.nt l.eW-a healthy growth. Through
In. courtesy Of Benjamin Thurley tsec-
retarv OF the Chamber OF Commerce w
IN its merging into the present body. ahu
a man whose statements and estimate,
are 70 be relied upon, II was iearh.u
that Mobile distributes In her dOInestiS
territory annually 2,JU,WO bushels vi
oats 900 barrels OF fiour. SG carioa1s
of provisions, II, ,s0v barrels OF sugar 'ZOo
oalIons of m1lasses. $500 cases OF CANNED
Goods $4,000 worth Of boots and SHOES,
!. O,, DO OF drygoods, s., 10000 OF mlli
snnniles. and $4,000 of hardware ana
.ericultural implements.
MIR. Joseph Espallas tan eApeiiaT.nlceo
realty operator) suggestion that IheIe
Is a first class opportunity Tor nrst ~ ~cisss
vholesale houses and manufacturers
AGENTS here" would seem 10 nave vaIuo,
as would his opinion that, Wh9ies,lie si
variety establishment would DO wei' 10.
toih are supported by the propssahda OF
Tho Mobile Chamber OF Commerce Ahu
pusiness League There Is no line OF
wholesaling and jobbing which would not
succeed in Mobile.
New-York tribune., 1912-12-01
HER LAND AREA. \

Mobile has not followed the prevailing
fashion Of tfor census purposes) extend
ing her "city limit mantle over every
little neighboring hamlet-so she modestly
claims only an area Of 176 square miles.
But her city line Is indistinguishable;
80 far as Il Is shown by any unlnproVeo
interval befween city and suburbs. These
add about one third TO Mobiles area.
New-York tribune., 1912-12-01
Lower Tax Rate.

Mobile levies ii general tax OF % cents
nm the 300 dollars. and special or re-
funding bond tax OF 30 cents on the ~"
was levied for the year lsll-lslZ. Ihe last
assessed valuation was made ~ lslv'
pal estate opcrators generally consider
tnjs TO have been about half the actual
value Of Mobiles realty. The city Tax
rate amounts To ii mills, and that oil
state, county and special 10 ID mills Oh
said valuation The city's revenue Tor
fhe wear 1911. amounting 10 siss.As b5. Ihe
bonded Indebtedness OF Mobile ON June
/ 1872 was $B,1sv,,y1
New-York tribune., 1912-12-01
Even SmokeIess Powder.

II the sugar and molssses factory sug-
gested by Mr.. Schley tand indorsed by
W. T. BurgetD should induce the farmer
10 plant IL. the cane. after being crushed
can b- used I'm making nitrate cellulose
for smoksiess powder. as well as beau
tiful strong fibre for mixing with me
chauical pulp 10 make news print
paper. with over 10000 acres In this
county OF Norfolk loamy sand and
Orangeburg and Norfolk sand. that will
produce en- early cane of fine quality ito
saw nothing OF the other lands that Will
raise good. though later. crops with proper
fertilization and expert methods) II should
be possible TO keep several mills on full
time" contributes Mr.. Mechem.
New-York tribune., 1912-12-01

1t may appear a DEPRESSION. but 1t 10
really In line with the foregoing to intro
duce here an idea OF John 7. schley that
at first glance might seem chimerical
(aIthough that astute gentleman is not
given TO Chasing rainbows'o. but upon
closer scrutiny will be seen 10 be as
with trade and manufacturing conse-
auence to Mobile. He thinks that "A
great business will be built up in fruit.
via the Panama Canal, through the use
OF refrigerator vessels. for the reason
that this port has such ample rail- facili-
ties for It's distribution. and because OF
cheap fuel. and Of the low cost OF other
requirements-but particularly: because or
Mobiles quick lines to the East tn the
Middle West and 10 the Northwest" He
adds that, Mobile is the cheapest port
TO run in and out Of" and that Then.
New-York tribune., 1912-12-01
Crackers and Soap.

kTACNOTU au0 SSat
And what Is there to prevent the manu-
facture Of crackers, which Mobile now
gets from Birmingham and New Orleans
And molasses, with which she Is 1ur,
nshed now BY MOatEomsry; lon ooxdsr x,s 1nq for
the supply Of which she relied on Rich
mond, Va, and New York? And soap
(f0r which one firm takes three carioads
or more) when here are two abattolrs.
seventy thousand people. right at handE
And Dairy Products.
ION every forty acres" says Mr..
Mechem, in Mobile County there is
small spring. and water the year round
ON every 100 acres, a spring running to =
brook. This. with the abundant grasses,
should mako the finest Kind OF stock
raising country. Yet Mobile buys all Oh
its butter from Illinois and Wisconsin.
Why should not q creamery nj In 10 tne
to that Of this city and port; with butter
selling at 80 cents to 40 cents ana VIII"
a big steady demsnd?'
Tho able management OF the ChamDer
of Commerce and Business League dis
PLAYS economic foresight In its recogni-
ton Of the fact that citys greatness
rests largely upon the upbuilding and the
prosperity of it's Immediately supporting
territory. and IL strenuously engaged In
the making Of conditions that will pre-
sent the required inducements TO agri-
cuIturists and stock raisers OF desirable
class.
The preceding chapters tmore especially
that devoted to an attempt 10 show MO,
bile's extraordinary accessibility VIII
have been written to little purpose II
they fail to indicate a wide range OF mar
kets, including the local. the domestic
and the foreign. In which all described
factory and cannery products may be
roId and her possession (and In salts
facrbry way) OF that portion OF the ma
chInery OF distribution IN which are com
prised terminal and transportation facili-
ties.
Concessions to Enterprises.
But. although the Chamber OF Com
merce and Business Leagues ian ener-
getic body comprising some eighteen hum
dred members from all lines Of cndeavor
I'm MobIIe) determined effort 10 add the
needed to existing markets. and 10 10