The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-25
LETTERS TO EDITOR
Praises Edgewater and Docina
, the Eidtor of The Age-Herald

lO tHt ISiutOT OI The Age He efald.
 Knowing how much you are inter- ested in the wonderful progress be- ing made in the Birmingham district and especially the welfare work being done among our people, l take great pleasure in haSding you herewith some observations made at Edgewater the other day.
 While walking from Mulga to Wy lam last Friday l accidentally found myself standing on the hill overlook ing the Edgewater plant and although l have visited this beautiful plant twice before, l could not resist the desire to go over it again. For as you know, there is a symmetry about this oper- ation, a something majestic in outline that makes every line impress itself upon ones mind But I had only been on the ground about five minutes when l met that excellent and genial man, Mir. -McHugh. superintendent of Edge water After few minutes conversa- ton he invited me to visit their new church and school. of which he is very proud, and rightly so, for these build ings would do credit to any town of 50,000 inhabitants. The church is built of dull red brick, and is built in fine proportion, and large enough to meet the demand for years to come. The ex- terior and interior finish of this build ing simply beautiful the roof being finished in. .oalS,-swhich gixes it the ca , thcdra1 touch. and makes us think there might have been a Ruskin here or in Grays words, "The heart that's pregnant with celestrial fire" may find in this twentieth century mining vil- lase church an opportunity for that heart to burst out into the larger world of usefulness and beauty.
 The company has furnished it throughout in most handsome fash ion; the regular church pews are used instead of the old time bench. pulpit and pulpit chairs all to match. Indeed the impress of the artist Is everywhere present. So much for the church.
 Now we come to the school building. Another handsome building in every respect. with every modern attach ment that goes to make up the high cfas city schools. It is equipped with the best furniture on the market to- day. using the individual desk with adjustable seats. so that the child is always comfortable. Sanitation and hy- siene have been given careful atten- tion. Looking the school over as a whole, it is the equal of the best gram mar school in Birmingham with the dc- mestic science department of the high school additions 1ne Kindergarten IS almost completed. It Is small build ing off by itself. but has received the same careful consideration in working out of detail as that shown the church. and school The grounds around the church and school are being laid out along the most beautiful and artistic lines, which in a generation or two will be reflected back with interest and credit to the Steel corporation. for the foundation of many useful and sue cesful life will be laid at Edgewater. For Hugo reminds us that 1t is art that makes a free people great.
 "'Tis art that makes slave people free. Iris art that makes free people great.
 They say a corporation has no soul. But if Docena and Edgewater represent the soul of the Steel corporation. then let us pray for a soul like that.
 With best wishes. l remain, yours very truly ROBERT LANG.
 1908 North Thirty second street, BIT mingham. September 22, 1914.