The Birmingham age-herald. [volume], July 11, 1915, Page 4, Image 4

About The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950

Image provided by: University of Alabama Libraries, Tuscaloosa, AL

                
DIVERSE INDUSTRIES MAKE FAYETTE CITY AND COUNTY GREAT
CBy REVUES A. LEWIS
AYETTE, .luly 10.—(Special.)
Where four years ago charred
ruins were the only indication
of Fayette, today there loom
upon the horizon a number of
«MM»ua*icent buildings, which support, the
activities and enterprises of 2000 people.
From a casual glance at the big struc
tures in the city, one could scarcely con
jecture with reasonable accuracy the pop
ulation of the thriving town, located In
the heart of a great agricultural section.
Fayette is a new city. When a sweep
ing devastation reduced the city to ashes,
only the railroad station remained after
March 22, 1911, to Identify the. little city
of Fayette. But the strong hearted sur
vivors were not dismayed or discouraged
by the horrible cataclysm and hopefully
assumed the task of building anew the
city. But in building, the citizens de
veloped the city on a larger scale than
ever before and have continued along the
*amo plan until now Fayette is a model
town.
Growth of City Amazing
The growth of the city has been amaz- j
tng. In 1900 the census report showed that
there were only 361 within the confines
of the city. In 1910, the number had
swelled to 631. Despite the discourage
ment that always follows a sweeping de
vastation were a count made now, it is
highly probable that the total would
swell to the 2000 marfc. But not only is
Fayette developing and growing, but the
fertile country around the county seat i3
experiencing a similar growth.
Nature has smiled upon the residents
of the county. Nearby the city are bub
bling gas wells that have been harnessed
end furnish natural gas to light, heat and
provide fuel for the city.
The use of coal is unknown in the city.
Two hundred and eighty-three consumers
are supplied by the ample supply of the
natural gas. which makes possible abso
lute cleanliness in all pursuits. Statistics
compiled by the natural gas operators
show that the average cost to a family
for heat, lights and cooking purposes is
just $30 a year.
The fertility of the land makes it pos
sible for the farmers to raise almost any
product. The crop diversification move
merit has gripped the county. While cot*
ton will doubtless remain the principal
commodity of the county for some years,
the cotton acreage has been diminished.'
Wheat has been planted and the govern
ment agents have the promises of several
hundred farmers that they will sow their
land to wheat.
Waiting the huskers in the field is one
of the finest crops of corn that tae county
has yet produced. It seems that there
is nothing which the soil will not yield
for harvest. Corn, cotton, oats, hay,
wheat, and many other products help to
swell the revenues of the county.
County Has Done Big Things
The county has done flnd is oorng big
things. Since the year of 1912, Fayette
county has spent over $40,000 in improv
ing the roads. At the present time, two
greut highways are in course of con
struction and, by virtue of the county
warrant system, thousands of dollars are
being expended. One highway, called the
East and West road, is being constructed.
Beginning at the eastern part of the coun
ty, the road runs to the western border.
Berry, Bankston and Fayett* are the
principal cities on the route.
The oth^i* great highway, which •
42 miles in length, runs from the Mar
ion county line to the Tuscaloosa road.
Each mile of the road is costing $1200.
Fully $100,000 will have been spen;
in the construction of these two great
roads. In no county do the citizens
believe more firmly in the doctrine of
good roads.
Not alone in good roads is the county
expending its many sheckles. When tile
si hool sessions open In September,
Fayette county will possess one of the
finest and most modern high schools.
The finishing touches are now being
added to the structure, which will af
ford a four-year course of Instruction
ta the scholars. Every modern feature
In the course of Instruction and In the
building, has been Included In the high
school, which will accommodate nearly
300 students.
How High School Was Built
The high school was insured when
the city of Fayette carried a $5000 bond
Issue almost unanimously, while the
county commissioners added an addi
tional sum of that amount. But this
proved insufficient to finish the nec
essary educational unit, so the publio
hiinded citizens Joined In a mutual
movement and subscribed $6000 which
Insured Its completion.
Due to that spirit of "doing big
things," there Is $65,000 county court
house In which the county officials aro
quarteded In Fayette. It Is a magnifi
cent structure and presents an impres
sive sight to the visitor.
The spirit of progressiveness has as
serted itself among the farmers.
Throughout the county, shorthorn bull
clubs have been organized to Improve
the breed of live stock. The stock
lalscrs have organized themselves Into
one body, which seeks to Improve the
breeds and to find suitable markets
for their live stock. The truck farmers
have organized a truck farming asso<
elation to get better transportation
rates for their products from the rail
roads and to find suitable markets.
Everywhere one 1b impressed with
the spirit of co-operation. The farmeis
of the county, having concluded that
the tick must be eradicated, have Joint
ly subscribed enough funds to erect il
dipping vats. And the work goes on.
The people have become awakened to
the benefits of co-operation and are
notng big things and profiting thereby.
Fayette, possessing so many re
sources and such a splendid environ
ment, is bound to grow. Indeed, the
county is growing day by day. But de
spite all this, there are facilities to
meet the growth.
Lumber Industry
While the principal business of tlie
county is farming and stock raising,
Fayette's principal Industry Is the saw
mill. The plant of D. H. Brown & Sons
is one of the largest sawmills in the
state. It has a capacity of 100,000 feet
of lumber a day. Its annual payroll for
the 200 men who find employment is
$75,000. Due to the activity of this plant
alone over $25,000 a month is poured
Into the town to swell the coffers of
the merchants.
There are 43 concerns doing business
In Fayette. The Southern is the only
trunk line railroad entering the city,
but good service is offered, as there
are four trains dally. While the South
ern connects Fayette with the outer
world, there is the Baskett railroad of
15 miles in length which runs from
Fayette to Elrod, where it communi
cates with the Mobile and Ohio road.
TheBe 15 miles of standard gauge rails
are in the center of the rich Slpscy
river valley and should be of appreci
able aid In opening -up the river valley.
In the conetructlon of the road, which
does an Immense lumber hauling busi
ness, over $100,0000 were expended.
^ Municipal Water Plant
Fayette has the neceeeary facilities
The municipal water plant, which waa
erected In 1912 as the result of a $25,
COO bond Issue, affords the city a suf
ficient supply. However, the movement
to increase the supply has been started,
and It may be asserted that, if the citt
aens decide that it is needed, few idle
weeks will be spent before action iu
taken.
The thriving little city possesses two
splendid hostelrles in the Graham hotel
and the Turner hotel. Both are amply
commodious to meet all the necessities
of travel and are neatly equipped.
Churches of three denominations are
maintained by the people of Fayette,
the Methodists, Baptists and Presbj
terians having buildings of worship.
While the interest is running high
in agriculture and in the development
of the county's natural resources, the
people are not neglecting education.
During the past six years Fayette coun
ty has made an enviable record In the
fields of education. Alex Smith, county
superintendent of schools, reports that
75 per cent of the buildings have been
replaced by new structures or repaired
within the last six years.
How Children Attend School
There are 4700 scholars within the coun
ty who are attending the public schools.
While the schools ran on an average of
only 100 days during the past year, there
is a decided movement in the county to
increase the length of the session. The
county superintendent reports that there
are but 1200 of school age, who are not
matriculated in the institutions of learn
ing.
By virtue of the organisation of school
improvement associations, the grounds
surrounding the schools have been beauti
fied and other touches of beauty added.
The climate of the county is very tem
perate, with sufficient precipitation to
make the soil fertile and productive. In
the summer, the temperature rarely ex
ceeds the 90 degree mark, while the resi
dents suffer little from cold weather in
winter. The country is ideal for farm
ing, with its rolling country and splendid
pikes.
One of the most phenomenal facts in
the growth of the city of Fayette was
recorded in 1914. Fifty residences wert
erected during this year. Every indica*
tion—of growth points to permanencj
rather than a boom.
With the people fully aroused to the
opportunities and resources that Fayette
county affords, there is every reason te
believe that it will experience a period
of tremendous growth and prosperity.
Burglar is Routed By Parrot
From the St. Louis Globe-Democrat.
Chicago.—“Lonie, Lonie, get your
gun; he’s a devil," screamed a parrot
as the door of a flat at 6545 St. Law
rence avenue was pushed open and a
burglar entered.
Lonie M. Blank leaped from a couch
m which he had been sleeping, paying
no attention to the linging of the
bell.
The burglar faced Lonie, who held a
revolver. The burglar ran for th«
door. Just at that moment John B.
Flank and his wife, who had been to
a cemetery, entered. The burglar al
most upset Mrs. Blank as he rushed
past her.
Behind him wras Lonie with a re
volver. Lonie chased the thief to th«
street. The burglar escaped unhurt.
But the parrot had won* fame.
Three weeks ago burglars tried lo
enter the flat of J. H. Rafferty, who
owns the building and lives on the
second floor, while the Blanks live on
the first. Wfcen the burglars reached
the Blanks’ flat the parrot shouted
and screamed when he heard a noise
at the door. The burglars fled .
After the first attempt to break into
the flat Lonie, the son of Mr .and Mrs.
Blank, had provided himself with a
new shotgun and an old revolver.
When the parrot warned him he
grabbed the revolver, though he had
always planned to use the shotgun.
..*..
The Fayette County High school, now nearing completion
_-— -.. : -
The Southern railway station
v/ '/
“You can’t get away from the law ^
of averages, any more than you can Sf
escape the first of the month.”
—Mister Squeegee
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Nowand then even atail-end base- •
ball team will play a wonderful game.
Thepitcher will have everything on the *
ball, everybody will bat well and field fault
lessly, and luck will break right all the way.
But the good games that come once or 1
twice a month are not the one9 on which the
standing of the cellar champions is figured.
The team that stays up in the first di
vision must play well day after day.
So it is with tires. Their excellence is
not based on the extraordinary mileage that
the occasional one gives.
It is the general average of service that
must be considered in estimating tire values.
Diamond Squeegee Tread Tires are in
favor, not because of the performance of an
occasional one, but because of the superior
merits of more than 99% of them.
Buy Diamond Squeegee Tread Tire* at theie
. “FAIR-LIST” PRICES:
size Diamond _ Diamond
“lze Squeegee E>lz0 Squeegee
30x3 $9.45 34x4 $20.35
30x314 12.20 36x4^ 28.70
32 x 3M 14.00 37x5 33.90
33x4 20.00 38x5^ 46.00
PAY NO MORE
Distributers for Birmingham District—Hardware Dept.
View of Main street, Fayette, showing the $65,000 courthouse and the business section.—Photos for this article taken especially for The Age-Herald by Aubrey Whitney, Fayette
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The po stoffice
■ttMMMttlftlllMMitatlMtMItlMttMKtttMIftiMMtaatiatMitdaada.. , „
First National Bank of Fayette
The magnificent Fayette county courthouse
ARBECU
RASS BAND
OAT RID
Beautiful Lake Bankhead
JULY 24,
CORDOVA DAY
COME ONE! COME ALL!
ENJOY A DAY’S OUTING ON
THE WARRIOR RIVER
JOIN THE BUNCH, EVERYBODY’S GOING
TWO BEAUTIFUL * RESIDENCE LOTS GIVEN AWAY ABSOLUTELY FREE
(PARTICULARS ON REQUEST)
Amusements and prizes of various kinds will be provided by the Business Men’s League. Something doing
all day.
See what has resulted at Cordova, Ala., from the $17,000,000 expenditure by the United States government.
On this day there will be sold at
AUCTION
Ninety-three (93) desirable business lots having navigable water and rail transportation
YOUR OPPORTUNITY
To secure a business location at your own figures. To benefit by this stupendous development. To partici
pate in the certain enhancement of realty values in this growing town.
REAL ESTATE Is the foundation
of every great fortune. Here la an
opportunity for you to take advant
age of the best Investment you have
ever been offered. Property value*
In Cordova are Increasing by leaps
and bounds..
Remember that Cordova has all the
modern improvements of any city—
paved streets and sidewalks, electric
lights and waterworks. It is only
about an hour and a half ride on an
excellent and picturesque highway
from Birmingham. Cordova nas a
population of 3600 people, good
schools and churches. Cordova has
four trunk lines of railroads, four
teen passenger trains each day.
Cordova has sixteen coal mines, with
an estimated daily output of 7000
tons and a combined payroll month
LOCK 17 ON THE WARRIOR RIVER
ly of $100,000. Cordova has 53 busi
ness houses. Cordova is at the head
of the largest artificial lake in the
world. It Is, therefore, readily seen
that it is indisputably the logical
gateway to the Gulf and to the Pan
ama canal.
$25,000 will immediately be spent
adjoining these lots to provide ship
ping facilities for the output of the
coal mines.
The Warrior River De
velopment Co.
has secured all the available proper
ties of Cordova, “The head of naviga
tion dnd the gateway to the Gulf,**
and this property literally surround*
the center of activity.
nrMCHA DUD This is the greatest money making Investing opportunity you have ever had in the Birmingham district,
Kl, lYIr lYmrK You bu* this Pr0Perty at your own prices. Make your arrangements to be at Cordova and enjoy a day’s
** outing on Lake Bankhead July 24. EVERYTHING FREE—music, plenty to eat, boating and bathing. Make
your arrangements to be there; take your family, you'll have the time of your life.
SPECIAL TRAIN OVER SOUTHERN RAILWAY LEAVING TERMINAL STATION 8:30 A. M.
INFORMATION, RATE8, MAP8, ETC., CHEERFULLY FURNISHED
THE WARRIOR RIVER DEVELOPMENT CO.
GENERAL SALES OFFICES
627-28 Jefferson County Bank Bldg. Main 1690 BIRMINGHAM, JV.LA.
LEE ROY SMITH, Sales Manager