The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-11-28
TAKES ON NEW SPIRIT

IAh ES ON NEW SPIRIT
 Fort Payne is the county seat of De- Kalb county, and the center of a great agricultural district It has much to boast of in the matter of location, health and prosperity. Old citizens say that the town is more active than it has been for 12 years, and has caught the spirit of expansion and inn provement. It already has a large pay roll from it's substantial indus tries and is locating others. Pennsyl- vnnia capital is building one of the largest fire brick plants in the south, and the fire clay deposit in this section
 is estimated as being inexhaustible. It is of extra fine quality, and it is ex- pected that the new company will turn out large number of brick, for which there is always a good demand. 1t is planned to work several hundred men in this pit and plant.
 The Alabama Cooperage company, manufacturers of high grade slack cooperage, have one of their largest plants here and 1t is considered one of the towns best assets. Owned by local men, this company has operated here for many years, buying the tim Der as it has been cleared from the lands, and distributing a handsome pay roll among the townspeople.
 The Fort Payne Milling company Is encoura ging the farmers of this sec tion to grow more wheat by furnish ing them a market for their product Time was when wheat mills were scat tered here and there over the state, and every farmer raised his own flour. Now, these mills are few and far be- tween, hence the lack of enthusiasm among the farmers in raising wheat This mill has a capacity of 100 barrels of flour a day, and the only reason 1t is not running that amount is be- cause the wheat is not obtainable It is here that the simon Pure" and the Alabama Seal" flour is manufactures and it's fame has travelled throughout the state The farmers of this county are practically supplied from this mill.
 COAL MINE NEAR CITY
 Near Fort Payne and owned by the Fort Payne company is a coal mine l v&ich has a good output and gives em- 1 Yoyment to a number of miners. These mines are located upon the side of Lookout mountain. and further devel- l opment is being planned.
 The town also has big blaming ana lumber mill. The timber is found on l the mountain and hauled across the 1 narrow valley. Another mill Is being | built and it is announced will begin | operations in about Is days.
 Fort Payne is 50 miles south Of Cbattanooga and 93 miles from Bir- mingham on the Alabama Great South. err railroad. It has population or l 20O0 and is steadily growing
 To accommodate the many new ar rivals being brought into carry on the work of the industries, many new houses are being built and the town IS waKiis up generally to it's possibilities and the business men are working with the 1n- vestors to make a real town.
 The boom of Fort Payne way back years ago is still well remembered, and older citizens say that things begin to look 'boomish' again. The town is also remembered as a great summer resort where tourists used to spend weeks dur ing the hot months. enjoying the pure old summer hotel still stands intact, reminder of the days of pleasure.
 MANY IMPROVEMENTS
 Many improvements have been made | sirce that time, when the business houses | were limited to a few general merchan- disc stores Electric lights, waterworks l the supply being furnished from what is called bottomless spring-handsome buildings, fine residences, good hotels | churches and schools. mark the change.
 Within few weeks public school building which will cost $l0o00 to build and S30GO to equip. will be completed. |
  KaIb County High school which has the usual facilities for equipping the young for their part in life.
 Fifteen miles south of Fort Payne in the same county is Collinsville. While not as large, it is of much importance from the agricultural standpoint. One of the largest mercantile houses in the county is located here. An estimate of what it is doing may be had from the fact that during this year this firm has handled more than s1O0,oOO worth of poul- try and eggs. The town has a population of about 800 and is noted for it's relation with the agricultural trade in this sec ton.
 North 10 miles is Valley Head and other towns not so large. but all Of which con- tribute to one of the greatest sections of the state It is great because here the tilers of the soil are rewarded for their labors by large percentage of abun- ds.nt yields. Evidences of improved methods of farming and prosperity among the farmers are found every where.
 Cotton brokers estimate that the cot ton yield for this year in this valley will go above the 6OG0-bale mark This Is not normal, as the average yield is about 10000 bales The shortage is largely due to the incessant rains of the early summer, while the diversfication of crops is partly responsible Being a cotton country, the farmers have been reluctant to yield cotton for diversified crops and cattle raising. However. much progress has been made in the last few years,