Metropolis weekly gazette. (Metropolis, Ill.) 1???-19??, 1914-06-12

Carbonda.e. which was hostess TO
the Southern Illinois Editorial asso-
citation during their annual convention
May 20 and 23, can well be called the
Convention City of Egypt, not only on
account of its location, It's railroad ia
eilities, It's shaded streets. but most
specially because of the whole.souled
welcome that permeated the very at
mosphere from the time the first Wis
hing edtcr stepped foot on Carbon
dale son TIL the last adieu had been
spoken. Every citizen. from the young
est TO the Oldest. seemed to have re-
ceived their instructions from somo
unknown source to show ye editor the
best time ever. and how well they
oboyed their instructions only those
who were fortunate enough to attend
this, the eighth annual convention.
wlii ever know.
Carbondaie Is located 308 miles
south OF Chicago. on the Illinois Gen.
fral railroad; 90 miles from st. Louis:
95 miles from Paducah. Ky, and s.
miles from Cairo. carbondale derives
its nainc from the coal fields in this
vicinity, and was named by Gen. u. Fl.
Brush, one of the first settlers. The
town was laid out about the time the
Illinois Central railroad entered this
part OF the state, 1852 On the 4th
day of January. 1859, the first public
sale OF lots was held. 1t Is said that
the lot now owned and occupied By
the Carbondnie National bank brought
SIT. tho highest prico paid for lot at
the sale. In 1881 less than 10 acres
were under cultivation. valued at al.
most nothing. and tho implements Of
cultivation wero Of the rudest kind. In
contrasting the farmer or earlier days
with the present. It is evident that the
advancement has been unparalleled
Today the greater portion OF land is
valued at from $50 TO 800 per acre.
and only the most modern machinery
10 used, and in a great many cases the
farmers home Is fitted with all the
conveniences Of tho modern city
home.
The first newspaper printed In Car
bondale was called the "carbondale
Commercial" II was published on the
18th day Of November. 1856. by d. D.
Rock.
Tho Retail Merchants Association
has probably done moro to advance
the interests of Carbondale the last
five years than any other one organ
ixation In the city's history. Its mem
berBhip comprises oyer-so Of the clty's
brightest and best business men, each
one forming part OF one grand com
mittee whose object Is to benefit the
social and commercial interests of
Carbondale. 1t was through this as
sociation that the invitation came to
hold our eighth annual convention In
their city.
Among the many improvements this
association has secured for their homs
city. they point with pride to the
building of IA miles of hard roads.
which is now being completed under
the direction of the state highway
commission This. taken in connec-
tion with about 10 milos of brick and
macadam-taTvia paving constructed
within the last five years, makes q to-
tai of almost IS miles OF continuous
hard roads and streets within Carbon
dale township. Through the efforts Of
the merchants association. Carbon
dale was among the first TO adopt the
commission form OF government,
which was voted In most four years
ago.
Carbondaie has a number of indus
tries which contribute to its prosper
ity. Chief among these are: tD The
Illinois Central railroad. with its head.
quarters for the st. Louis division.
roundhouse, six dlverging lines. Cha.
caao-New Orleans double track. 80
passenger trains and % freight trains
= r.
Ed;tor Ga1effe