The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-26
WOMEN
 AND THINGS

man.
 Now, made bad start in calling 1t little city for it covers more terri tory than nearly any town l know Of in all the country. and if it all gets built up, big Birmingham will have to reach out and grab some more neighboring villages or she will be outdistanced.
 l I asked my cicerone who was show 1 ing me Cullman, to explain to me the magnificent distances. and he said it happened in this wise: That in it's early settlement by the Germans, they want ed elbow room and built home in the midst of large acreage and in ithis way the city limits became some what extended
 | I had heard all my life of town being split open by a railroad, but never had seen it so we'll done as in the case Of the Louisville and Nash 1 vile, which literally carves it's way right through the heart of Cullman coming in at the south and disappear 1 ing into the north, without being visi- l ble to those doing business in the cen ter of the city.
 Now, I remember the day when the tracks were on level with the streets and traffice was tied up at all hours of the day and night, either waiting for the fast passengers to unload their | coaches or slow freights to discharge their cars or do their shifting. The situation became intolerable, and so the tracks, at a great expense. were sunk
 You think of Venice as a city of bridges. and London and Paris and Petrograd and other European metrop- olises are famed for their structures over the canals or rivers, but Gull man has got them all skinned on the bridge question, for four imposing ce- ment ones connect the east and the westside, making almost two distinct towns.
 The old depot gave way to mod ern station which gives the town the air of being what it is an up- to date one in every respect Its paved streets. well-1it homes, stores and churches, it's water supply all set down Cullman as progressive city, filled with active men and forward looking women.
 l have never seen such a scattered business section. Stores are to be found in every residence section Some of the department stores are really marvels of well-kept establishments, and some of the show windows would do credit to the Magic City, and you know we boast of our windows and window dressings
 The Catholic church. which cost $150,Oo0, being built of cut stone, is really a beautiful piece of church ar- chtecture, and dominates the business section of the city. St. Bernard, about one mile from town, Is solidly and at- tractvely built and the grounds are well-kept and the convent, the-Sacred Heart-for girls is we'll located These institutions evidence the fact that the Catholics are wide awake in Cullman.
 
 But the Protestants are also alive, and have strong churches. 1 merely mention here the new and commodious Baptist church, with it's handsome au- ditorium. it's well-built Sunday school annex, and it's many other modern fea- lures, making 1t one of the best re- only single 1t out as I had the privi- lege of preaching in it, and did no. get to visit any of the churches of the other denominations.
 I was struck by the fine public | of the interest taken in it by it's pat rons. I rode out by the County High l school. which is situated in a lovely 1 part of town and Is surrounded by l some of the handsomest residences in | the city It is growing in favor and |
 
 of throughout the surrounding coun- | try. many of the boys and girls com ing to their classes each day on the trains from the adjacent towns.
 
 Cuilman has ample banking facili- ! ties with her three bhnks. There are | several grist and one flour mill, two cotton seed oil mills, handle fac- tory. a wagon factory, an ice factory, | two fertilizer factories. In fact, the i business men are wide awake, and al- i ways on the lookout for paying in dustries It is a city of attractive homes.
 Cuilman county proved its patr'ot- sm by more than doing all that was asked of her, and Cullman took the cad in all of the war activities. I came nome greatly impressed by the ag- sressiye spirit of her young men. Keep fout eye on our neighbor to the north, .or it's coming into the limelight.
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