The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-26
CHERISHED DREAM
 REALIZED AS TWIN CITIES JOIN HANDS
Only Governors Signature Between Reunited City
 Of Decatur
TENNESSEE VALLEY BUREAU l THE AGE HERALD ! nACaXur Ala Au@ OK


 The long cherished dream of those citizens who sought to have one city here, where two cities formerly stood. has come true. By act of the Alabama legislature, the hyphen is taken out of Albany Decatur and there is in their place-Decstur, Ala
 The action of the state legislature unique situation existing among the municipalities of the state. Not, as many people believed, did a river separate the two cities, but their only dividing line was only that a forgotten engineer had laid out in years gone by. Only persons very familiar with the corporats limits catur and when in Albany. The line dividing the cities was not straight, which added to the confusion.
 In one place in Albany, Decatur territory made a ''V" which included part of Holly street. A few years ago Albany paved Holly street and a "V'' made of cinders, bounded on every side by cement, told the story of a dividing line, which divided only the authority of municipalities over street paving.
 Two Cities Overlap.
 The interests of the two cities overlapped. By agreement of au- thorities years ago. a license to do business in one city, held good in the other to the extent that when a firm paid a license in one municipal ity, he was permitted to sell and de- liver goods in the other. Licenses were paid in the city in which the headquarters of the firm were To- cated.
 The Chamber of Commerce for many months, has been representa- tive of both cities. The kiwanis club draws its members from both municipalities, while many busl- ness men live in one and have their business establishment in the other.
 The fact that the cities were so close together and still separate was the fundamental cause of the great CT part of the pickering of the past years. The rivalry was made more intense because of their proximity.
 Decatur is much the older of the twins. It was founded long before the Civil war and when that conflict begin the little city gave promise .9,o oi developing into one of the prlnclpal cities of the south. The war, how ever, left mostly blackened ruins where the city had been. The hardy nioneers persisted and during the ensuing years rebuilt their city.
 O Q ( Boom Days Recalled.
 Finally there came & day when boosters in large numbers began to arrive Major Gordon, one of the best known promoters of his day, became interested in the city. Those most active in the early boom days suffered a misunderstanding among themselves. Accounts differ as to the real reason behind the quarrel, but the fact remains that Major Cor don and his associates began the con- struction of a new city on the out skirts of Decatur.
 They incorporated the city of New Decatur, the corporation line of the new town almost surrounding that of the old, except on the side adJa . cent to the river Industries came rapidly. The builders planned city overnight and came near succeeding In their enterprise. They laid out streets and parks for city of 1O0,- 900 people or more.
 Then the yellow fever epidemic came and the boom lasted only a short time in the face of adverse con- tions. Like all boom towns, condi- tions were worse after the boom than they were before. The reaction sui fered then lasted for many years.
 A few who had come here and in- vested their funds during the boom stuck 1t out and today are reaping the harvest of their foresight.
 O O D
 Cities Now Growing.
 New Decatur and Decatur both prospered to some extent, but neither enjoyed the growth expected until a comparatively few years ago, when both municipalities really began to grow. The recent years have brought many changes. Sections that former ly vacant fields now accommodate handsome homes. Streets have been paved and sidewalks built.
 However rapid the present growth is, many believe the merger of the cities will speed up progress. Having attempted for many years, to bring the cities together by sundry means, the plan was conceived of having the legislature consolidate the munich palities.
 The new city has total popula- ton of more than 14,000 persons and boosters are claiming this number will be doubled by the time the next census is taken