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THE SOUTHERN WORLD. MAY 1,1885. 199 Idltorlal Correspondence Southern World.J AMNIBTON, AUBAHA. Her Various Industries, Furnaces and Mineral Resources -The Mercantile Guild oftbc Rlslun Young City—Names and Avoca tions of Her Business Hen-The “Anniston Inn" and Its Magnifl cent Appointments. In a romantic valley, set like a beau tiful gem, amid the Blue Mountains of AlaDama,nestleB the erstwhile village of Anniston, now a busy city of six thousand inhabitants and possessing all the improvements of modern civilization. In the past, the rise and progress of towns and cities have usually been slow and giadual. Many that date their origin to mediceval times more than a thousand years ago, are still insignificant places, only remarkable for the hoary traditions that clus ter around them. Not so with this Young Giant, which, in a single leap, sprang from his swaddling clothes into the arena fully equipped, s'.rong and vigorous. To THE WOODSTOCK IRON COMPANY more than any other agency is due thi* wonderful transformation. Its officers are A. L. Tyler, President; Samnel No ble, Secretary and Treasurer; Charles Noble, Superintendent of the Mines and furnaces, and George Noble, Coai Grove Manager. These gentlemen art also more or less interested in a majori ty of the other manufacturing establish ments of the city. The company settled Anniston 10 years ago,then a bare cotton field, by the erection of the fir-t char coal furnace which was “blown in,” April 1st, 1873. Their other furnace, No. 2, was completed in August, 1879. These structures are most substantially built and have been running without inter mission, save for necessary repairs, ever since. The ore is the Brown Hem atite from which the finest and toughest iron known to commerce is produced. ' Charcoal is used in lieu of coke in its manufacture, and it is of this material that car wheels are exclusively made. PIO IRON is the molten metal drawn from the low er part of the furnace and running through earthen moulds at right angles to, and communicating with, shorter moulds, four feet in length, called “pigs.” The latter suck in the flowing liquid as it passes from the lower mould which is called the sow. When all are full, and the smelted ore has been al lowed to cool, the moulds of sand are broken, and the numerous “pigs” piled up for use or shipment. Some of this ore will yield sixty per cent, of pure iron to the ton. The writer has full notes relating to the out-put of these furnaces, and all statistics connected therewith, but at request of the proprietors will re serve them for a subsequent issue when magnificent cuts of the buildings and furnaces will be presented. THE CAR WHEEL WORKS are supplied with iron from the furnaces of the Woodstock Iron Company. They are owned by the Messrs. Noble Broth ers & Co., and have a capacity of two hundred wheels per day. They embrace a foundry 334 feet long and 74 feet wide, a machine shop of brick, two stories, 60x150 feet, and an immense forge 80x215 feet. HOW THE WHEELS ARE MADE. The charcoal pig iron having been re duced to a fluid mass in an immense cupola furnace, and conveyed into the reservoir constructed for the purpose, is ladled out into metal tubs and poured into the wheel moulds which are made of sand, the fiery metal being churned all the while to prevent interstices or hollow places in the cast ing. When sufficiently cool, these moulds are broken, and the fragments removed, leaving the rough wheel, which must still undergo several processes. . It is first buried in a vast tank of black sand for about eight days, during which it cools gradually, and passes through the annealing stage. Afterwards, by the aid of powerful machinery, the axle holes, if imperfect, are drilled out and S ound smooth, the rims polished, and e wheel is then ready for use. The chilling or toughening process, which is done after the casting, is a very simple process, the hot iron being brought into close contact with a wheel of hard steel and curiously absorbing its peculiar properties. The machine shop is run by a 90 horse-power steam engine made by the Company, of the Corliss beam pattern. The iron for tne axles is also rolled in their own forge and the axles manufactured. The wheels are war ranted to run 150,000 miles without breaking. They are used all over the South. Everything is driven by hy draulic machinery, the water being forced into an accumulator with a pres sure of 400 pounds to the square inoh. THE ANNISTON CAR COMPANY is (mother incorporated organization un der the charge of Major C. E. Lu cas as Superintendent. This gentleman has recently invented and patented a ventilated fruit car, which bids fair to supersede all others. Mr. Lucas is also the original patentee of the popular “Lucas Sleeping Car.” On this occa sion, in his absence at the North, he was gracefully represented by Mr. A. D, Smith, Assistant Superintendent, Sec retary and Treasurer of the Company. At present, owing to the general dull ness in all manufacturing circles, the force of operators has been greatly re duced. These works were removed here from Cartersville, in 1883. In addition to passenger and freight cars, the Com pany manufacture doors, sabh and blinds, together with balustrading, pan- neling, etc. A specimen of their skill may be seen in the interior finishing of the “Anniston Inn.” The main struc ture of the concern is 300 feet by 90, besides which are attached five work- nhops 250x40 feet, and a two-story car- shea of similar dimensions. THE COTTON MILL, owned by the “Anniston Manufacturing Company,” is a very imposing building, chree-stories high, and built of brick. The officers are A. L. Tyler, Presi dent, J. B. Goodwin, Treasurer, and W. T. Fanar, Superintendent. The ma chinery embraces all the latest improve ments, and the capacity of the mill is over 11,000 spindles. The sheeting and other fabrics turned out are of the best quality. It is to be regretted that the -lull demand for goods and general stag-, nation in trade will necessitate the tem porary closing of the mill when the present orders have been filled. Better thus than to run on at a loss. The Presi dent, Mr. Tyler, told the writer, how ever, that he should have no difficulty in gathering his operatives together wnen it was decided to reaume business again* which it is to be hoped will be in the early future. THE ANNISTON MILLS are owned by the Woodstock Iron Com pany, and turn out thirty barrels of flour and two hundred bushels of meal per day. The flour is of superior quali ty. The genial Major E. H. Barron is in charge of the business, and his mill is a great convenience to the farmers and people of that whole region. THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK. This institution, under the manage ment of President D. T. Parker and Cashier O. E. Smith, has a paid-up capital of $100,000 and is doing a safe and flourishing business. Its deposits foot up $100,000 annually, and at the close of the first year of its existence, after carrying a snug sum to thesurplus fund, a dividend of 8 per cent, was de clared. It is needless to add that they do not speculate in bonds and futures. THE MERCHANTS OF ANNISTON. Albeit so young a city, Anniston en joys a lucrative trade, and numbers many sterling men and capitalists in hei mercantile guild. Let us look over the list of those who have established themselves in business here, and given their names as sub scribers to the Southern World. ULMER BROTHERS have an immense stock of diversified goods with clothing and millinery as specialties. Wm. M. Lindsay carries on a large job bing and retail furniture business,and is about to add another store to his already crowded establishment. Also acts as an undertaker. Springer & King, General Supply Store, have a widely extended trade, and rank among the most prominent merchants of Alabama. LEDBETTER A CO. These gentlemen are wholesale dealers in com, staple groceries and plantation supplies, and are also engaged in the cotton warehouse business. Their store is conveniently situated near the rail road depot. W. H. Williams carries a very heavy stock of clothing and dry goods, and is one of the most opulent merchants in Motley and McOary are popular real estate insurance agents and merchandise brokers. They spare no pains to please their patrons. In the drug line we have Drs. Mabbett & Mathews, both physicians, J. J. Mc Pherson, and Dr. J. L. Wiklo. The latter sells drugs, both at wholesale and retail, and is one of the oldest merchants in Anniston. He has grown up with the town. R. H. Oobb has a splendidly arrang ed fancy stock of goods, and an elegant millinery department. He is from Geor gia, and full of enterprise. • Riddle & Go., dealers in groceries, grain and provisions, sell exclusively at wholesale to the trade, and do an im mense business. Their annual sales foot up $250,000. J. H. Whetstone has a fine line of staple and fancy groceries, and keeps fully abreast of the wants of his cus tomers. Stilson & Rounds are jewelers and watch-makers. They also do repair ing. M. F. McOaHy, undertaker, in addi tion to his stock of furniture, coffins, etc., has with him Mr. J. Dermott, who is a skillful embalmer. Major S.B.Brewer is in the real estate, fire and life insurance business, and is both reliable and competent. Under the head of General Merchan dise come Isaac Linsky, the Bee Hive store and others. Livery, Feed and "Sale Stables, J. N. Dobbins and A. C. Wheeling. Coleman & Miller, Wholesale and Re tail Groceries. W. H. Langley, Newsdealers and Fruits. Family Groceries and Confectionery, C. A. Tyson, Branch & Son, Rev. J. W. Dsvenneau, and M. K. Jarvis & Co. The latter keeps a first-class bakery also. T. H. Tyler, Cutter and Maker of Gents’ Furnishing Goods. Nathan Stanley, dealer in musical in struments, books, fancy stationery, etc. M. H. Walters, Meat Market and Groceries. Hon. H. M. Hight is the enterprising Mayor and Chairman of the Board oi Education. A FLOURISHING SCHOOL. The Public School of Anniston is un der the charge of Prof. W. Y. Titcomb, an erudite scnolar and experienced ed ucator, who has for his assistants Miss Caty Cullahan and Miss DaisY Brewer, both elegant and accomplished ladies. The writer visited the school and was much pleased with Mr. Titcomb, who is doing a noble work. There are one bunured and forty pupils of both sexes in attendance. THI ICS FACTORY li an incorporated concern, with J. W. Itushtou, President, W. J. Cameron. Secretary and Treas urer, and J. W. Dixon, Manager. They use the Boyle ice machine, and the company and ready sale for all the ice they can manufacture. TBS WATER WORKS. Anniston is abundantly supplied with water from a well sevenly-tlTe feet in depth and ten feet in diameter. The pumping engine and ap purtenances were manufactured by Noble Brothers. The reservoir Is located 235 feet ab we the city, from which the water, which Is very excellent. Is distributed by pipes all over the place. This dispenses with tne necessity ol lire engines, as the hose companies can throw water overtnetopol the loftiest bunding. These works were erected at a coat of 875,000 by the Anniston Land and Improvement Company. TBR ANNISTON FOUNDRY, owned by Murrey & Stevenson, was removed IromCartersvlUe.ua. Tne improvements are substantial and convenient. Here all the east ings are made lot the Woodstock Iron Com pany’s furnaces, and the Anniston Car com pany, save the car wheels, and repairing and a miscellaneous business is done besides. THR ANNISTON LAND AND 1BFROVIMRNTCOMPANY own 800 seres oi land in one body upon whioh the city la built. The officers arc D. T. Parker, President; E. L. Tyier, Vice-President and Ma jor E. W. Hull, Secretary and Treasurer. Within less than two years they have disposed oi (iSO,. 000 worth of town lots and invested every dollar in building Improvements. Tnls Is certainly a wise and tar-seelug policy, and has doubtless greatly accelerateo tne growth of the town. A BRISK BUT STABTLINO HISTORY. Anniston was incorporated ln.1870.bnt not dl. vlded into lots and placed upon the market untU June, 1883, less than two years ago. Since then lta progress Uas been almost phenomenal. The city to day coutains o.uoo inhabitants, loo tele phones, two horse companies, eight churches, one bank, forty stores, a good system of public schools, supported In part by taxation, and la Ut by TWRNTY ARC BRUSH ELECTRIC LIGHTS. Three railroads afford every possible facility for transportation, and the city Is substantially built ol brick, some of tno stores resembUng metropolitan structures. The streets are mac adamised and weU drained, and the aupply of pure water unfaUlng. How true has it been shown that manufao- turea will Invite population and business, and aro great developers of wealth and Industry. The town Is most plotureaqueiy situated, ranges ol low mountains dottca with graceful peaks almost encircling it, and clad in the tender verdure of spring, looks very beautiful. TUeso hills abounu In rloh brown hematite Iron ore, which even crops out In some places on the sur face, and la found scattered over tne earth. It Ilea usually In veins, however, which are easy 01 aceess by horlxontal digging and tnnnelli g. One hlll-slde tunnel la within the corporate limlta ol the olty. Close at hand, too, are Inex haustible beds of lime rock, thus furnishing the necessary Uox In the process of smelting, while all the coal needed Is in easy reach ana very cheap.. . NEWSPAPERS. Anniston U represented and Illustrated by two Journals, the weekly "Hot Blast," owned and edited by that brilliant and well-knoWH S oung Georgian,Mr 0. H. Williams,and the “Lil le Watchman,’’ a dally publication recently commenced by Milton A. Smith, late of Gaines ville, Ga. Tne "Hot Blast" has reached a circu lation hardly second to that of auy Journal in the State, and beginning life with the birth of the inchoate olty, baa Imbibed inspira tion and vigor from Its constant and ab normal progress. Both papers are laboring In dustriously In behalf of tne community, and the “Little Watchman" la doing Its whole dnty. We wish onr contemporaries all tne success they so richly deserve. There still remains to be mentioned and described one salient objeot in Anniston that challenges the admiration ol every visitor. ThJ of course Is the "ANNISTON INN," which was formally opened on the 15th instant. It may appear extravagant and perhapi pro voke a smile of Incredulity, but the fact u nev ertheless Indisputable, that in no olty of the Union ia there to be found a more elegant, recherche, and better finished and equipped hotel than tho"Inn.” This applies to every teat save that of size. There are hundreds of struc tures more roomy, hot not one that la auperipr in lta appointments. This Is equally true of the cuisine and the dally menn tnat la served np lor the guest. The establishment ia under the charge of Mr. Henry Harden, a noted Pennsyl vania hotel manager, who brought with him his French cook and entire staff of trained ser vants and waiters. His gentlemanly assistants In the office ire Geo. W. Hinkle and A. Brants. Mr. Hardell was the late lessee of the "Mount Carbon House," a famous rammer resort, owned by the Philadelphia A Reading Railroad Com pany. In the dining-room the guest is courteously recelvedand seated by the head waiter, Perry H. Wilson, of Philadelphia, who has had a long experience In We same capacity at he "Conti nental," Philadelphia, and other noted hotel* In the North. He auowa you to want for notUlng. The labio la abundantly supplied with the cnolcest viands that can be procured at home or abroad, prepared to suit the appetite ol the most exactiug epicure. The writer visited the kitchen rad crockery, plate and Uneu closets. Everything is ths very ‘iture of neatness and well-ordered system, e china and plate are very costly and beauti ful, and were made to order lor the ’’Inn.” The kitchen, whli U is 17xjU feet In dimensions, eon- talus a twelve foot range, and Is completely filled up rad furnished with every possibleeuu nary article and convenience. There are three dining-rooms; the main apart ment, 88x81) feet in sixe, and two smaller cnam- bers lu me rear, each 18x80 feet, one intended for children and nurses, and mo other for ser vants. The main ball la magnificently wain- scotted and celled with panel work ol Calilor- uia red wood and oak. it Is 111 like me mid-day sun by eight elegant chandeliers, burning forty- eight jets, ualf ol wmub are electric lights, rad me remainder arranged for gas. Tne able linen, napkins, glass, etc., are all of the finest aud most costly description. The notel, which is owned by the Anniston Laud aud improvement Company, Corns 380 ieel on the south aud 134 feet uu me west. It Is lour stories high, and built of brick aud stone iu the Queen Auue style of architecture. Perched upon quite a commanding elevation, witn the laud gently sloping lu trout to the level of the plain, au '• a maguiucenl landscape of mouutaln aud volley all around, wulle the busy little city with its towering smoke-stacks aud handsome stores aud dwellings lies at yout feet, me per spective is iudeed charming. lu from tne grounds nave been neatly laid off and sodded with gross, and the approaches are by broad roadways, smooth as grass aud per fectly hard. J ust below the enclosure stretches out a level field, sixteen acres In extent, Which will be planted with trees and grass. Inside the edifice we find eighty-six bed rooms, reached ou the several fioors by a mas sive spiral stairway whioh ascends to the roof of me building, while those who prefer It can make use of the elevator. Some of these chom bers are in suites for the accommodation of families, and all are elegantly furnished with Brussels carpets, splendid plate glass mirrors, aud bedsteads, bureaus, tables aud washstauds of ash, cherry or walnut, and luxurious beds and chairs, llalls rad stairway are alike covered with heavy Brussels oarpetlug, aud every cham her is provided with au Incandescent electrio light whoso sott rays cast a mellow radiance npon tne scene. Ol these electric llgnts there are about 880 in the building. Gas also may be used In the rooms at will. This Is said to bo the only hotel in me United States,save one In San Fran cisco, in which every chamberla lit by electrici ty. Electrio bells also connect every apartment with the business office. The gentlemen’s read ing room rad ladles parlor are superbly fur nished aud decorated, the walls rad ceilings panelled with oak, walnut aud yellow pine, all polished in all finish, while the windows ara draped with suit damask aud elegant Madrass lace curtains. The office Itself is a model of convenience and neatness and the attentive manager is ever on the qul vlve to comply with the wishes of his guests. Below, the water-closets, bath-rooms, laundry, barber shop aud the apartment con* structed for the bar, are finished iu the most ap proved modern style. The building isprotected from lire by hoseoneauh floor sad supplied throughout with water. It Is also heated by steam. In the basement the eloctrle battery aud endue aro located, aud the bakery, drying* • room, refrigerators, boot room, eto , are appro priately placed. Indeed, all the appurtenances aud conveniences of the hotel ate simply per fect. The visitor, as he views the two Immense open fire-pltces in the gentlemen’s sitting room and office, the breasts of the chimneys exquisite ly decorated with terra cotta wora, anu each with the oapaclty lor nearly a quarter cord of oak logs, naturally coucludes that the word "Inn” has been appropriately bestowed upon the premises. When of a eold winter’! night those wide chlmnoys send forth their floods ol light and genial warmth it will be like reviv ing the days of old in "Merrle England,” when the benighted traveller, basking before the genial blase was wont to exclaim, ”1 will take mine ease In mine own Inn.” Exhausted time and space—not any laok of material—must close thoso Jottings lncontt neat ly Just here. H. H. J. "I owe my Restoration to Health, and Beauty to the CUTICURA REMEDIES, m TMthnoptstefR T'VtSFlGURIM’lliumor*. Humiliating Erup IJ ttonx, Itching Tortures, Scrofula, Salt Rheum and Infantile Humors cured by the Ou- TICUBA Remedies. CuncuRA Resolvent, the new blood purifier, cleanses the blood rad perspiration of Impuri ties rad poisonous elements, and thus removes the cause. Cuticura Soar, an exquisite Skin Beantlflex —■--- prepared from Cuticura, ~~ Skin Diseases, Baby Cuticura SajfiuiaaK only * the Beantlflers. Bold eve Soap 25 cei OEEXIOAL infallible Blood lever ywhere. Price, Cuticura, to cents; a# cents; Resolvent, 81. Poms Drub and iioal Co., Boston, Mass.