to possibilities, saw that, with the advantages of a great water-way and the near vicinity of some of the best coal, iron, and limestone deposits, they could make the finest quality of iron right on the river banks, and ship it to good markets the year round, without fear of the closing of navigation, thus having a margin of profit above those localities dependent upon railroads for transportation, a significant factor. At this period other towns in Alabama were forming plans for great industrial development. This roused the wise men of Florence. They felt the spur of competition pricking their sides, and yielded to the inevitable, accepting the good fortune which the rising tide of Southern development bore in upon them.

The city lies between the Tennessee River and one of its finest tributaries, Cypress Creek, a clear, rushing stream, which furnishes a plentiful and excellent water supply, sufficient for a large city, and also a fine source of water power for manufacturing purposes, with opportunity

upon which the government has spent some four million dollars to render the river navigable from its mouth to its upper reaches, and afford an outlet for the commerce of such places as Chattanooga and Knoxville. This grand work is now substantially completed, and large steamers will pass daily through the canal.

When the rare possibilities of the place became clearly manifest to its leading citizens, they roused themselves to take advantage of them. They entered into negotiations with an enterprising, pushing business man, promising him a large commission on condition that he should bring in new business to the amount of one million dollars within two years. Lo, the unparalleled result! In one year the investment of manufacturing, mining, and other capital has reached fifteen million dollars, and is still on the rapid increase. The promise of future expansion into a great commercial and manufacturing city was never so hopeful. This promise lies in the opportunities for diversified remu

pine, and cypress. Cotton fields are close at hand, to furnish the raw material for extensive cotton mills, some of which are already built, and others under contract. A few miles north of Florence lies a vast field of brown hematite ore, a wonderfully rich deposit, yielding from fifty to sixty per cent of pure metal and furnishing the finest class of foundery iron. The facilities and low cost of excavation are exceptional.

To the southward lie the celebrated Warrior coal-fields, practically inexhaustible, and furnishing the finest quality of coke. These coal and iron fields are covered with magnificent forests, furnishing abundant material to be worked up in the city and its suburbs. Beyond this, limestone, so indispensable as a flux in reducing iron ore, abounds in vast quantities in

abundant materials, exceptional transportation facilities, four railways already built, and others building, with fifteen thousand miles of river navigation made accessible by the Tennessee River. The advantage of working up raw materials on or near the spot where they are produced is now fully recognized as an economic measure. This it is which is giving the South and southern industries such a rapid advance. Florence ranks among the first cities in that fair land in this regard.

Among the industries established in Florence within the last year, and largely within the last six months, are iron furnaces, hardware works, cotton bagging factories, cotton mills, rolling mills, shoe factory, suspender factory, tapestry work, jeans factory, box, bucket, spoke, and handle factories, wagon works, wooden ware factories, saw mills, planing mills, agricultural machinery, pressed brick, stove foundery, and chemical works; and while I write, others are crowding in and coming to the front. It seems like the wonderful creations of the genii of old.

Abram S. Hewitt, than whom there is no higher authority on iron manufactur

every direction. Marble, sandstone, and clay supply abundant building material and material for other industrial purposes. Could capital or enterprise ask for more complete elements of success? Every facility for manufacturing under the very best conditions is here offered,-cheap and

ing, has carefully studied the resources of the South along this line. He says "that Northern Alabama can produce iron for ten dollars a ton, and some grades for much less. There could hardly be found a place more favored in respect of this industry than Florence, while the cost of marketing

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State Normal School, Florence.

it can nowhere be lower. The great Tennessee River, navigable at all seasons, forms an instrument that serves to keep the railways on their good behavior in ratemaking." I have before me the Manufacturer's Record, in which I find this statement: Attention has been called to the rapid increase of new enterprises at Florence, and the remarkable diversity of her industries. No other city in the South, we believe, has ever made such progress in these two lines, in the same length of time. Florence sought wisely to widen the scope of her enterprises and lay the broadest possible foundation for permanent prosperity." The blood in the human body flows through a great number of arteries and veins, instead of in one trunk artery, and is distributed to every part of the system, carrying vitality, strength, and beauty. So, when the life blood of a city flows through a great number of industrial channels, instead of in one great trunk business, there will be continuous growth, stability, and vigor. This law of business vitality Florence has wisely observed in bringing in a wide diversity of business. She has made sure her permanent and solid growth.

Situated, as Florence is, on a rolling plateau one hundred and fifty feet above the Tennessee River, with broad, fine streets, shaded by stately elms, live-oaks, and magnolias, bordered by handsome, homelike dwellings, with carefully kept grounds; enlivened by a luxuriant growth of flowers and shrubs, that abound in that charming

climate; with a salubrious and remarkably even temperature, with a mean average of about sixty-seven degrees, it can never cease to be an attractive place of residence. The fears of the people that the city would lose its charming social life as a city of residence and an educational centre were groundless. In all these respects the incoming of new business enterprises, the touch and ferment of a more vigorous life, has improved society, and a new impulse has been given to all its educational institutions. In intellectual things, also, Florence is a growing and not a decaying city.

As a select boarding and day school for young ladies, however, it has exerted a wide and beneficent influence in the states of Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Texas.

In the autumn of 1888, when the wave of new life touched Florence, and a new era set in, Rev. M. L. Frierson, for many years connected with the Normal School work, became principal of the Synodical College. Under his energetic management it has come once more to the front. It now possesses a full corps of competent teachers in every department. All branches, including art, music, etc., are taught. The buildings are massive and substantial, almost hidden by the dense foliage of great trees, and the institution is the idol of the people.

The State Normal School is another flourishing institution. It is beautifully located in the northern part of the city. The building is modern, tasteful, commodious, built originally as the seat of the

James K. Powers.

Like Nashville, if not indeed so conspicuously, Florence is a centre of learning. With a wise and generous foresight in the highest degree commendable, the original Cypress Land Company, to which the town owed its origin, gave eligible lots to schools and churches of all denominations. A fine body of land was given the Wesleyan University, and a square in the very heart of the city to the Synodical Female College, the favorite institution of the Florentines. In this college Mrs. Caroline Lee Hentz commenced her career as a teacher. She was succeeded by Rev. W. H. Mitchell, a Presbyterian divine of fine scholarship and marked ability. Under his administration the college was made one of the leading and most influential institutions of the Southwest. After his lamented death it fell into gradual decay, under several principals, owing partly to sharp competition of numerous other similar institutions, and partly to the progress made in public schools in the Southern States.

Rev. M. L. Frierson.