The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-08-15

I ihlngs in the fall and it seemed to be
 the consensus of opinion that business conditions would almost resemble the
 great boom times of other days, begin
 ning with September.
 . me real estate men are optimistic 1 and one rental agent with whom I 1 talked said month ago he had a list ol residences for rent almost two feet long. He now has but three houses Tor rent and is receiving applications Tor houses daily.
 Activity in Mining District In the mining district there is great activity. But one mine remains to be opened on full time. Reeders' mine Is : working night and day and employs a Iull force of men for both shifts. The tennessee company blew in the last of US hve furnaces in Bessemers last Fri day, adding about 200 men to the pay roll line in that city.
 At the United States Cast Iron Pipe company there is great activity. all though the plant is closed down for re- pairs. This plant is practically being repullt, new machinery of the most modern type being installed and new buildings in course of construction. No one could be induced to talk here. and nothing could be learned concerning the plans of the company although It Is understood it will open on or about october l at full time
 The lumber men are optimistic, and one of the largest dealers in Jones valley, located in Bessemer. said he had several contracts for buildings to be erected in Bessemer. These contracts are now being filled and many men are employed at the lumber plant
 pr. J. c. Curry president of the fcssemer Board of Trade and a pioneer of the city, said last week that he thought the city was on the eve of the greatest era of prosperity it had en- Joyed since it's foundation in 1887 Dr. Curry has been resident of Bessemer since it's founding. He has seen the place when it was but wilderness. He has observed its growth into a metro- politan city. He is proud of his town. and he believes in it. So thorough is his belief in the future of the city that only recently he expended s1O,O0O in the erection of new buildings in the business district, all of which are oc- cupied by good tenants
 Or. Curry was one of the leaders in the wonderful fight Bessemer made to force the railroads to build adequate passenger stations This fight lasted seven years and the railroad comrnis- sion decided last year that the stations must be erected. The Louisville and Nashville and the Alabama Great South ern railroads now are building passen- ger stations that will be a credit to Besscmer. Each road is expending a sum approximating s35,0O0 on the depots
 pr. Curry said Bessemer did not de- pend solely upon the mining and iron making industries for sustenance: that 1t had a vast farming section to fall back upon and that this depend- ence in the farms this year had been or great aid In weathering the storms of industrial diversity that swept the country with the advent of the Euro pcan war. The country from Bessemer to the Warrior and towards Tusca-. loosa Is one of the richest farming sec tions in the state. The farmers of this section are prosperous and they turn towards Bcssemer rather than to Tus- caloosa, for their needs.
 Should Trade in Bessemer
 Jack Clay, president of the Citizens bank of Bessemer. Is an enthusiastic believer in Bessemer. He believes that the people who live in BessemAr and get their living from the Bessemer dis trlct should trade in Bessemer He ad- mlts, however, how easy it is to forget and go to Birmingham. But. he says the merchants of Bessemer can fiji every need of the citizens of that city
 He knows the merchants of Bessemer iloNS ally tHiuB that can De secured in birmingham and knows that the price is just as low and that the quality is just as good as articles purchased in Birmingham. Yes, MT. Clay trades in Bessemer!
 T have been out in the mining dis tricts quite lott said MT. Clay, "and have noted with pleasure the general trend of the thought of the people. All seem to be optimistic. The mines are opening up now and every mine in the district with possibly one exception. is working full time. Some of them are working night and day. Thus far, we have had but one pay day, and the local merchants have not felt the in- creased pay rolls as they will later on. The main trouble now appears to be the lack of men to do the work that must be done However, this will be ad-