The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-18

steel world being entirely of a speculative
 nature and this very uncertain condition
 probably had something to do with the
 intenseness of the situation in the camp of the politicians, the blind tiger oper- ators, the gambling houses and the poor merchants who, like the rest of them, had cast their lot in the new town and who
 were watching things closely, especially one another.
 Decide on Incorporation
 In January 1899, an election was called for the purpose of deciding if the twon should be incorporated. About 75 votes were cast and it was unanimously decided to seek an incorporation under the gen eral laws of the sate. A feature of this and the succeeding election in February. 1900, was the voting of the colored popl- lation. Following this action an election was called for mayor and council. the race being between N. w. Scott and D. R. Hay, Scott winning With Scott as all dermen were elected Charles Fraser, Sam
 Brown. Joseph Webb. C. NJ. Robinson and
 Rudolph Hoehn. who was a member Of
 the opposition ticket, but who it is stated
 was 'counted in.'' No primary was held for this election. They saw one year of service and in February, l900 Scott did not stand for reelection. Fred Swoon op- posed Powell who owns the building In
 question in this article. Swoon was de-
 feated and with Powell were elected on
 the board James F. Echols, T. G. Mackey,
 James Perkins, T. L. Sugg and c. H.
 Mandy, who also acted as treasurer. C. F.
 Camp was appointed chief of police and l. F. Appling was named clerk.
 The negro vote also cut quite an im- portant figure in this election.
 Powell and his council faced many perplexing questions and fought many hard battles among themselves as well as against lawlessness and disorder II
 was in those days that blind tigers
 Chat could see) and gambling houses
 of the true western style hourished, and they say that the kind of whisky sold was awful, being calculated to induce a rabbit to fight bulldog. II was so mean they say that with a pint bottle they gave away small whisk broom to brush a clean spot In the sawdust to have fit in.
 It was during the year 1900 that the big fire occurred which came near wiping the town off the face of the
 earth The origin of this fire is laid at the door of a blind tiger. operator who, having aroused the ire of his opponents, sought redress by attempt ing to burn up the town. According | to good authority they had blind tiger every IA feet. His efforts were almost successful, few buildings escap- ing the flames. In December, 1900 Ensley was chartered by the legisla- ture and Immediately the blind tigers were withouxa lair. Saloons were au- thorized on December 20, and it Is a matter of record that Frank Wren still citizen of Ensley, paid the new I,, o,.'e tn ma ate saloon for the remaining 10 days of 1900. His was the only saloon in town. Toward the end of Powells ad- ministration. with an eye for the fu- ture, a working mans club was formed and they took it upon themselves td suggest four aldermen, which was done Then a citizens club was organized and they suggested four aldermen. The two clubs held joint meeting and agreed on the eight aldermen and with Scott at their head as the choice for mayor this ticket was elected without oppo- sition.
 City's Warmest Fight
 In passing 1t may be said that here occurred the warmest political fight l that Ensley has ever seen, mass meeting was held in the present Ma sonic hall. which grew riotous and bloodshed appeared imminent. The | meeting DIOhc uP anu iiN ui9oiUCi and adjourned to the building in which w. L. Clark's store is now located. A | bit of fresh air, it was thought, would cool the hot blood of the citizens and | give them time for sober second thought But in the new place they were worse than ever and 1t was with
 difficulty that the cool heads averted bloodshed.
 l Presiding over this meeting was A l w. Muckinfuss. J. Hoke Perkins oc- cupied the secretarys desk. Forty Hours and guns of larger and smaller calibre were as numerous as the men in the audience. The lie was passed and invf- tations to come outside and shoot it out were plentiful. But the old adage that one was scared and the other glad of 1t prevailed to fortunate ex- tent This meeting also was broken lup and the crowd again sought satis- faction in the Masonic hall, where quiet was finally restored and after much warngling the slate was made the working mans club naming Bill Cusick, Hardy White, w. c. Dennis and John F. Smith and the citizens club named E. w. whips.f E. B. Pennington z. T. Fuqua and George R. Byrum Tn ey were unopposed and on going into of fee c. F. Camp was appointed chief oi
 police and J. E. Whitten clerk.
 Built Moore School
 | During the administration of Powell the, erected the Moore school on Avenue G
 momentous undertaking at that time
 with the limited finances at the disposa
 of the pioneers. The Moore school is con ducted today by Greater Birmingham
 Powell was a good mayor sand worked ! hard for what he thought was to thu
 best interest of the city. During the con