The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-03

good way to show appreciation is to knock some other city. He really didn mean to knock; it was just his way of telling what he thought of Birmingham. l was reminded of the boy who had a pair of new boots and the only way he knew to call attention to them was to say that they were handsomer than any other boots. He was heartily glad to see the other boys with boots.
 But this was an exception. Men were glad to talk of the prosperity of Bir- mingham, and to speak of the growth of other big cities of the south. In fact found sort of Birmingham pride in the big gains of Dixie, no matter where they are. Birmingham shares-yea, de- sires to lead-in a great southern halle lujah song of upward and onward to un- dreamed of progress and development.
 OIL AND LIVE STOCK
 Oil seems to have been found at Cor dova, an hours journey from Birming- ham. Down in the wiregrass they are learning to raise live stock to head off the boil weevil, and this is in Birming- ham territory. Iron is bringing a price that keeps the furnaces busy, while coal has value that makes good times certainty for many months if there was little else to depend upon.
 A travelling salesman, working the Bir- mingham section, said: 'I have never known the people so nearly out of debt And, what is more, they are never going to get in debt again as they have in the past. I believe that we are soon to see the most pronounced prosperity we have ever known. Of course, times have been tight of late in the sections where crops have been bad, but 1917 is going to see great change"
 MONEY TO SPEND
 What about your trade?'' I asked one of the biggest retail men.
 "Great!" was his reply. q have sold high-priced goods and low-priced. Rich and poor alike have had money to buy. As you know my stock Is classed as luxuries by many At any rate, in tight times what sell could be dispensed with But you wouldn't think it to see the way they bought. I am pleased. more than pleased. It has been a good fall and winter and a good Christmas season. hope the coming years will be as good"
 On the streets, in the stores and offices men met together or got was the same story. Glad to see you" said the president of a big bank. Some town we have here. eh?" And he went along with a smile than ran all over his face. Big gains over last year" said a life insurance official. He stated the figures and they run high. Better trade, better collections" vouch- safed wholesale man. And so on. The song was chorus, the story unanimous.
 All this made me glad. No man can nave lived in Birmingham without re- taining an interest in its growth and progress. It has no rival in the realm t has chosen and been by nature se- ected to fill. Its development is in re- ation to no city or section. In resources and advantages it is without a running mate. Its problems are but partly the problems of other cities. Its victories will be won only through the work and he brains of it's own people, who know ts possibilities.
 With it's iron and it's steel it's coal and ts other minerals, it's access to tide water, it's proximity to rich agricultural ands, its location in what must be a marvellous section of the universe, Bir- bingham may climb in spite of any con iitions. Nor can it prosper without aid ng every other city in the south. Rich n it's own possessions, subject of na- ures profiigate bounty, the Magic City ,annot but be a source of wide-reach- ng prosperity and progress to every other section of the south.