USA > Alabama > History of Alabama and dictionary of Alabama biography, Volume I > Part 28
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More than three hundred species and sub- species are known to exist here. While the wild turkey and the wood duck have been reduced in numbers, stringent game laws have served to arrest reckless and unneces- sary slaughter. The State game laws for the protection of birds, together with the Federal migratory bird acts, have served to increase the numbers of the nongame birds, and the prohibition of market hunting and bird-bait- ing has tended to increase the native game birds.
The principal collectors in the Alabama field have been William Bartram, John James Audubon, Philip H. Gosse, Dr. Wm. C. Avery, Nathan Clifford Brown, Aretas A. Saunders, Lewis S. Golsan, Ernest G. Holt and Arthur H. Howell. The collection made by Dr. Avery consists principally of scientific skins, though a small number have been mounted, and are on display in the Alabama Museum of Natural History, maintained by the State geological survey at the University of Ala- bama. The collection made by Mr. Howell, and some by Mr. Golsan and Mr. Holt are in the Bureau of Biological Survey, United States Department of Agriculture, Washing- ton. Mr. Golsan's principal work as a col- lector has been done for the department of archives and history, where the specimens collected by him are to be found.
The Birmingham High School has a collec- tion of 197 North American birds aud 17 mammals, known as the "Mary Griffin Col- lection," maintained principally for study pur- poses. The Young Men's Christian Associa- tion, Mobile, has a few cases of specimens collected in Baldwin and Mobile Counties. Mr. James K. Glennon has a case of mounted birds in the hotel at Point Clear. Miss Bessie R. Samuel, of Guntersville, has a col- lection of local birds mounted by herself. The State Normal School at Florence, has a small museum, and the Alabama Polytechnic Insti- tute at Auburn has, in its general museum, a few specimens, without data, many of which, however, came from localities outside of Ala- bama.
The Alabama State Department of Archives and History is endeavoring to bring together a complete collection of all Alabama birds. The specimens have been largely collected by Lewis S. Golsan, though a few trappers and hunters have contributed. The taxidermy for this collection has been done by C. H. M. Barrett, Larry Chastain and F. F. Brannon.
ALABAMA BIRDS
Anhinga, Anhinga anhinga.
Bee Martin, See King bird.
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HISTORY OF ALABAMA
Bittern.
American, Botaurus lentiginosus. Least, Irobrychus exilis. Blackbird.
Red-winged, Agelaius phoniceus predatorius. Florida Red-winged, Agelaius phæniceus phœniceus. Rusty, Euphagus carolinus. Blue Darter, See Hawk, sharpshinned.
Bluebird, Sialia sialis sialis.
Bobolink, Dolichonyx oryzivorus.
Bobwhite, Colinus virginianus virginianus.
Bull-bat, See Nighthawk.
Bunting, Indigo, Passerina cyanea. Bunting, Painted, Passerina ciris.
Butcher bird, See Shrike, Loggerhead. Buzzard.
Black, See Black vulture. Turkey, See Turkey vulture. Canary, wild, See Goldfinch.
Cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis cardinalis.
Catbird, Dumetella carolinensis. Cedar-bird, See Waxwing.
Chat, Yellow-breasted, Icteria virens virens. Chewink (See Towhee).
Chickadee, Carolina, Penthestes carolinensis carolinensis.
Chimney sweep, See Swift, chimney.
Chuck-will's-widow, Antrastomus carolinensis. Coot, Fulica americana.
Cormorant, Double-crested, Phalacrocorax auri- tus auritus. Cowbird, Molothrus ater ater. Crane.
Blue, See Great Blue Heron. Sand-hill, Grus mexicana. Whooping, Grus americana.
Creeper, Brown, Certhia familiaris americana. Crossbill, Loria curvirostra minor. Crow.
Carrion, See Vulture, black. Fish, Corvus ossifragus. Rain, See Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Southern, Corvus brachyrhynchos paulus. Cuckoo. Black-billed, Coccyzus erythrophthalmus. Yellow-billed, Coccyzus americanus ameri- canus.
Curlew, Hudsonian, Numenius hudsonicus. Long-billed, Numenius americanus. Darter, See Anhinga. Dickcissel, Spiza americana. Dove.
Ground, Chaemepelia passerina terrestris. Mourning, Zenaidura macroura carolinensis. Dowitcher, Macrorhamphus griseus griseus.
Long-billed, Macrorhamphus griseus scola- paceus.
Duck.
Baldpate, Mareca americana. Black, See Red-legged Black. Buffle-head, Charitonctta albeala. Canvasback, Marila valisineria. Gadwall, Chaulelasmus streperus. Golden-eye, Clangula clangula americana. Mallard, Anas platyrhynchas. Black Mallard, See Black.
Merganser, American, Mergus americanus. Merganser, Hooded, Lophodytes cucullatus. Merganser, Red-breasted, Mergus serrator. Old-Squaw, Harelda hyemalis.
Pintail, Dafila acuta. Redhead, Marila americana. Red-legged Black, Anas rubripes. Ring-necked, Marila collarıs. Ruddy, Erismatura jamaicensis. Scaup, Marila marila. Lesser Scaup, Marila affinis.
Scoter, American, Oidemia americana.
Scoter, Surf, Oidemia perspicillata. Shoveller, Spatula clypeata.
Summer, See Wood.
Teal, Blue-winged, Querquedula discors. Teal, Green-winged, Nettion carolinense.
Whistler, See Golden-Eye. Widgeon, See Baldpate.
Wood, Aix sponsa.
Eagle, Bald, Halicetus leucocephalus leuco-
cephalus.
Eagle, Golden, Aquila chrysaëtos.
Egret, Snowy, Egretta candidissima candidis- sima.
Egret, White, Herodias egretta.
Field Lark, See Meadowlark.
Finch, Purple, Carpodacus purpureus pureus. pur-
Flamingo, Phonicopterus ruber. (Extirpated.) Flicker, Colaptes auratus auratus. Northern, Colaptes auratus luteus. Flycatcher.
Acadian, Empidonar virescens.
Alder, Empidonax trailli alnorum. Crested, Myiarchus crinitus. Least, Empidonar minimus.
Olive-sided, Nuttallornis borealis. Scissor-tailed, Muscivara forficata. Wood Pewee, Myiochanes virens. Yellow-bellied, Empidonar flaviventris.
Fly-up-the-creek, See Heron, Little green.
Gallinule.
Florida, Gallinula galeata. Purple, Ionornis martinicus. Gnatcatcher, Blue-gray, Poliaptila carulea
cerulea.
Godwit, Marbled, Limosa fedoa.
Goldfinch, Astragalinus tristis tristis. Goose. Blue, Chen carulescens.
Snow, Chen hyperboreous nivalis. Grackle. Boat-tailed, Megaquiscalus majar major. Bronzed, Quiscalus quiscula aneus.
Canada, Branta canadensis canadensis.
Florida, Quiscalus quiscula aglæus. Purple, Quiscalus quiscula quiscula. Rusty, See Rusty Blackbird.
Grebe.
Horned, Columbus auritus. Pied-billed, Podilymbus podiceps.
Grosbeak, Blue, Guiraca caerulea caerulea.
Grosbeak, Rose-breasted, Zamelodia ludoviciana. Grouse, Ruffed, Bonasa umbellus umbellus. Gull.
Herring, Larus argentatus. Bonaparte, Larus philadelphia. Laughing, Larus atricilla. Ring-billed, Larus delawarensis. Hawk. Broad-winged, Buteo platypterus platypterus. Cooper's, Accipiter cooperi. Duck, Falco peregrinus anatum. Fish, Pandion haliactus carolinensis.
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HISTORY OF ALABAMA
Hen, See Red-shouldered.
Marsh, Circus hudsonius.
Pigeon, Falco columbarius columbarius.
Red-tailed, Buteo borealis borealis.
Red-shouldered, Buteo lineatus lineatus. Florida Red-shouldered, Buteo lineatus alleni. Sharp-shinned, Accipiter velox.
Sparrow, Falco sparverius sparverius.
Southern Sparrow, Falco sparverius paulus. Heron.
Great Blue, Ardea herodias herodias. Little Blue, Florida caerulea.
Green, Butorides virescens virescens.
Louisiana, Hydranassa tricolor ruficollis.
Black-crowned Night, Nycticorax nycticorax naevius.
Yellow-crowned Night, Nyctanassa violacea. Ward's, Ardea herodias wardi.
Hummingbird, Ruby-throated, Archilochus
colubris.
Ibis, White, Guara alba. Wood, Mycteria americana.
Indian hen, See Bittern, American.
Jay, Blue, Cyanocitta cristata cristata. Southern Blue, Cyanocitta cristata florincola. Joree, See Towhee.
Junco, Slate-colored, Junco hyemalis hyemalis.
Kingbird, Tyrannus tyrannus.
Kingfisher, Belted, Streptoceryle alcyon alcyon. Kinglet.
Golden-crowned, Regulus satrapa satrapa. Ruby-crowned, Regulus calendula calendula. Klte.
Mississippi, Ictinia mississippiensis. Swallow-tailed, Elanoides forficatus.
Knot, Tringa canutus.
Lark, Horned, Otocoris alpestris alpestris. Prairie Horned, Otocoris alpestris praticola. Loon, Gavia immer.
Man-o'-war-bird, Fregata magnificens roths- childsi.
Martin, Purple, Progne subis subis. Sand, See Bank Swallow.
Meadowlark, Sturnella magna magna. Florida, Sturnella magna argutula.
Mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos polyglottos. French, See Shrike.
Mud-hen, See Coot.
Nighthawk, Chordeiles virginianus virginianus.
Nighthawk, Florida, Chordeiles virginianus chapmani.
Nuthatch.
Brown-headed, Sitta pusilla.
Florida White-breasted, Sitta carolinensis atkinsi. Red-breasted, Sitta canadensis.
White-breasted, Sitta carolinensis carolinen- sis.
Oriole. Baltimore, Icterus galbula. Orchard, Icterus spurius. Osprey, See Fish hawk. Ovenbird, Seiurus aurocapillus. Owl. Barn, Tyto alba pratincola. Florida Barred, Strix varia alleni. Florida Screech, Otus asio asio. Great Horned, Bubo virginianus virginianus. Hoot, See Barred. Long-eared, Asio wilsonianus. Screech, Otus asio nævius.
Short-eared, Asio flammeus.
Oyster-catcher, Hematopus palliatus. Partridge, See Bobwhite. Parquet, Carolina, Conuropsis carolinensis.
(Extirpated.)
Pelican.
Brown, Pelecanus occidentalis.
White, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos.
Phoebe, Sayornis phoebe.
Pewee, wood, See Flycatcher.
Phalarope, Wilson, Steganopus tricolor.
Pigeon, Passenger, Ectopistes migratorius. (Extirpated.)
Pipit, Anthus rubescens.
Plover.
Black-bellied, Squatarola squatarola.
Kildeer, Oxyechus vociferus.
Piping, Aegialitis meloda.
Semipalmated, Aegialitis semipalmata.
Snowy, Aegialitis nivosa.
Upland, Bartramia longicauda.
Wilson's, Ochthodromus wilsonius.
Raven, Northern, Corus corax principalis.
Rail.
King, Rallus elegans.
Louisiana Clapper, Rallus crepitans satura- tus.
Sora, Porzana carolina.
Virginia, Rallus virginianus. Yellow, Coturnicops noveboracensis.
Redbird, See Cardinal.
Redpoll, Acanthis linaria linaria.
Redstart, Setophaga ruticilla.
Robin. American, Planesticus migratorius migra-
torius.
Southern, Planesticus migratorius achrus-
terus.
Sanderling, Calidris leucophaea.
Sandpiper.
Least, Pisobia minutilla.
Pectoral, Pisobia maculata.
Red-backed, Pelidna alpina sakhalina.
Semipalmated, Ereunetes pusillus.
Solitary, Helodromas solitarius solitarius.
Spotted, Actitis macularia.
Stilt, Micropalama himantopus.
White-rumped, Pisobia fuscicollis. Western, Ereunetes mauri.
Sapsucker, Yellow-bellied, Sphyrapicus varius varius.
Saw-bill, See Merganser, American. Shearwater, Sooty, Puffinus griseus. Shrike.
Loggerhead, Lanius cianus.
ludovicianus ludovi-
Migrant, Lanius ludovicianus migrans.
Siskin, Pine, Spinus pinus. Skimmer, Black, Rynchops nigra.
Snake Bird, See Anhinga.
Snipe, Wilson's, Gallinago delicata.
Sparrow.
Bachman's, Peucæa æstivalis bachmani. Chipping, Spizella passerina passerina. English, Passer domesticus. (Introduced.) Field, Spizella pusilla pusilla. Fox, Passerella iliaca iliaca.
Grasshopper, Ammodramus savannarum
australis.
Henslow's, lowi.
Passerherbulus henslowi hens-
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HISTORY OF ALABAMA
Lark, Chondestes grammacus grammacus. Leconte's, Passerherbulus lecontei. Nelson's, Passerherbulus caudacutus nel-
soni.
Savannah, Passerculus sandwichensis sa- vanna.
Scott's Seaside, Passerherbulus maritimus
peninsula.
Song, Melospiza melodia melodia.
Swamp, Melospiza georgiana.
Vesper, Poœcetes gramineus gramineus. White-throated, Zonotrichia albicollis.
Spoonbill, Roseate, Ajaia ajaja. (Extirpated.) Sungazer, See Bittern, American. Swallow.
Bank, Riparia riparia. Barn, Hirundo erythrogastra. Cliff, Petrochelidon lunifrons lunifrons.
Rough-winged, Stelgidopteryx serripennis. Tree, Iridoprocne bicolor.
Chimney, See Chimney swift. Swan, Whistling, Olor columbianus. Tanager.
Scarlet, Piranga erythromelas. Summer, Piranga rubra rubra.
Swift, Chimney, Chatura pelagica. Tern.
Black, Hydrochelidon nigra surinamensis. Cabot, Sterna sandvicensis acuflavida.
Caspian, Sterna caspia.
Common, Sterna hirundo. Forster, Sterna forsteri.
Gull-billed, Gelochelidon nilotica.
Least, Sterna antillarum. Royal, Sterna maxima.
Thrasher, Brown, Toxostoma rufum. Thrush.
Bicknell's, Hylocichla aliciæ bicknelli. Gray-cheeked, Hylocichla alicia alicia.
Hermit, Hylocichla guttata pallasi. Olive-backed, Hylocichla ustulata swainsoni. Wilson's, Hylocichla fuscescens fuscescens. Wood, Hylocichla mustelina.
Titmouse, Tufted, Brolophus bicolor.
'Towhee, Pipilo trythrophthalmus thalmus.
erythroph-
Alabama, Pipilo erythrophthalmus canaster. Turkey, Wild, Meleagris gallopavo silvestris. 'Turnstone, Ruddy, Arenaria interpres morinella. Veery, See Wilson's Thrush. Vireo.
Blue-headed, Lanivireo solitarius solitarius. Mountain, Lanivireo solitarius alticola. Red-eyed, Vireosylva olivacea. Warbling, Vireosylva gilva gilva. White-eyed, Vireo griseus griseus. Yellow-throated, Lanivireo flavifrons. Vulture, Black, Catharista urubu.
Turkey, Cathartes aura septentrionalis. Warbler.
Bachman's, Vermivora bachmani. Bay-breasted, Dendroica castanea. Blackburnian, Dendroica fusca. Black-and-White, Mniotilta varia. Black-poll, Dendroica striata.
Black-throated, Blue, Dendroica cærulescens cerulescens. Black-throated. Green, Dendroica virens. Blue-winged, Vermivora pinus. Canada, Wilsonia canadensis. Cape May, Dendroica tigrina.
Cerulean, Dendroica cerulea.
Chestnut-sided, Dendroica pensylvanica. Golden-winged, Vermivora chrysoptera.
Hooded, Wilsonia citrina.
Kentucky, Oporornis formosus.
Kirtland's, Dendroica Kirtlandi.
Magnolia, Dendroica magnolia. Myrtle, Dendroica coronata.
Nashville, Vermivora capilla. rubricapilla rubri-
Orange-crowned, Vermivora celata celata.
Palm, Dendroica palmarum palmarum.
Parula, Compsothlypsis americana americana.
Pine, Dendroica vigorsi.
Prairie, Dendroica discolor. Prothonotary, Protonotaria citrea. Swainson's, Helinaia swainsani.
Tennessee, Vermivora peregrina.
Wilson's, Wilsonia pusilla pusilla.
Worm-eating, Helmitheros vermivorus.
Yellow, Dendroica astiva estiva.
Yellow Palm, Dendroica palmarum hypo- chrysea.
Yellow-throated, Dendroica dominica do-
minica.
Water-thrush, Seiurus novebaracensis boracensis.
nove-
Grinnell's, Seiurus noveboracensis notabilis. Louisiana, Seiurus motacilla.
Water turkey, See Cormorant.
Waxwing, Cedar, Bombycilla cedrorum.
Willet, Catoptrophorus semipalmatus semi-
palmatus.
Willet., Western, Catoptraphorus semipal- matus inornatus.
Whip-poor-will, Antrostomus vociferus 00-
ciferus.
Woodcock, Philohela minor. Woodpecker.
Hairy, Dryobates villosus villosus.
Ivory-billed, Campephilus principalis. ably extirpated.)
( Prob-
Pileated, Phlæotomus pileatus pileatus.
Red-bellied, Centurus carolinus.
Red-cockaded, Dryobates borealis.
Red-headed, Melanerpes erythrocephalus.
Southern Downy, Dryobates pubescens pube- scens.
Southern Hairy, Dryobates villosus auduboni. Wren.
Bewick's Thryomanes bewicki bewicki.
Carolina, Thryothorus ludovicianus ludovi- cianus.
Western House, Troglodytes adon parkmani. Long-billed Marsh, Telmatodytes palustris palustris.
Marian Marsh, Telmatodytes palustris ma- rianr.
Prairie Marsh, Telmatodytes palustris iliacus. Short-billed Marsh, Cistothorus stellaris. Winter, Nannus hiemalis hiemalis.
Yellow-hammer, See Flicker.
Yellowlegs, Totanus flavipes. Greater, Totanus melanoleucus. Yellow-throat.
Florida, Geothlypis trichas ignota. Maryland, Geothlypis trichas trichas.
REFERENCES .- Avery, Dr. Wm. C., "Bird migration," In American Field, vol. 21, p. 545; "Migration of the coot," in Ornithologist and Oologist, vol. 11, p. 107; "Domestication of the
140
HISTORY OF ALABAMA
wild turkey," in American Field, vol. 26, p. 343; "Wiles of the Peregrine falcon," in Ornitholo- gist and Oologist, vol. 12, pp. 74-75; "King rail in [Alabama]," Ibid, vol. 13, p. 80; "Observa- tions on the grasshopper sparrow in Hale County," Ibid, vol. 14, p. 122; "Chondestes grammacus," (lark sparrow) in American Field, vol. 32, p. 200; "Notes" on a male bob- white incubating, Ibid, vol. 32, p. 223; "The woodcock," Ibid, vol. 33,
p. 584; "Swainson's warbler in Hale County," in Ornithologist and Oologist, vol. 15, p. 157; "Number of eggs in a set of the cardinal," Ibid, vol. 15, p. 185; "Birds observed in Ala- bama," in American Field, vol. 34, pp. 584, 607; vol. 35, pp. 8, 32, 55; "Notes," Ibid, vol. 40, p. 7; "Rapidity of flight of the duck hawk," in Or- nithologist and Oologist, vol. 18, p. 144; Golsan, Lewis S., and Holt, Ernest G., "Birds of Autauga and Montgomery Counties," in Auk, 1914, vol. 31, pp. 212-235, also issued separately and containing an annotated list of 184 species; Nuttall, Manual of Ornithology (2 vols., 1832, 1834); Gosse, Philip H., Letters from Alabama (1859); Brown, Nathan C., "List of birds observed at Coosada," in Nuttall Ornithological Club Bulletin, 1878, vol. 3, pp. 168-174, 1879, vol. 4, pp. 7-13; Ridgway, Robert, The Birds of North and Middle America (U. S. Natl. Museum Bulletin 50, Parts i-vii); Saunders, A. A., "Some birds of central Alabama, 1908," in Auk, vol. 25, pp. 413-424; Holt, Ernest G., "'Notes on the loggerhead shrike at Barachias, Montgomery County," in Auk, 1913, vol. 30, pp. 276-277; Howell, Arthur H., "Descriptions of two new hirds from Alabama," in Biological Society of Washington Proceedings, 1913, vol. 26, pp. 199-202. Mr. Howell has made an ex- hanstive study of the birds of the State, of which he has prepared an account, and which is to be published by the department of archives and history of Alahama.
BIRMINGHAM. The city of Birmingham was founded in July, 1871, by an association of business men and financiers, of whom Josiah Morris, of Montgomery, was the leader. The site selected was near the village of Ely- ton and at the point where the Alabama Great Southern Railroad, between Chattanooga. Tenn., and Meridian, Miss., crosses the South & North Alabama Railroad (Louisville & Nashville Railroad). The occasion for estab- lishing a city there was the mineral resources of the vicinity, which centered in the neigh- borhood of the place selected for the rail- road crossing mentioned; but until transpor- tation facilities were provided by the coming of railroads, little or nothing could be done toward developing the natural wealth of the country, however great it might be. Thus the founding and the striking growth of the State's industrial center have been determined by the location of extensive mineral deposits and the provision of adequate transportation for raw materials and finished products.
Topography and Geology .- Birmingham is situated in the east-central part of Jefferson County, in Jones Valley (q. v.), and in the midst of the most extensive mineral district of the State. The valley was once a mountain
and is wholly due to erosion, having been cut out of the mountain-top by the action of the water. Thus it presents the unusual spec- tacle of a valley which is a water-divide. The streams that rise within its limits flow some to the east and some to the west. None flows for any considerable distance within the valley hefore breaking through its rocky rim to the rugged country outside. The floor of the valley for most of its length is higher than the mountainous country surrounding it, and its raised edges or rims of millstone grit are the highest points of the locality. These facts cause the site and surroundings of the city to be exceedingly picturesque, and also have a marked influence on its climate. Some of the most attractive residential sec- tions are in the more rolling parts of the city and its suburbs.
The geological formations represented in the valley are the Carboniferous or Coal Measures, Devonian or black shale, and the Silurian. The first-named group contains the coal seams; and the last-named, the iron ores and fluxing materials. Nowhere else in the State, nor in the United States, are the three essentials to the manufacture of iron and steel, coal, iron ore, and limestone, present in such close proximity and in prac- tically unlimited quantity. This fortunate circumstance has enabled the manufacturers of the Birmingham district to make iron and steel more cheaply than others, and, as a result, practically to control the market-price.
Elyton Land Co .- The plan for developing an industrial city in the heart of the mineral district originated with John T. Milner, the engineer who located the line of the Ten- nessee & Alabama Central Railroad, which was virtually the same as that on which the South & North Alabama Railroad subsequently was built. The financing of the town-building scheme was handled by Josiah Morris, a friend and business associate of Milner, who purchased about 4,000 acres of land in what is the central part of the present city in 1870, paying $100,000, or approximately $25 an acre, for it. In 1871 he and several asso- ciates, among whom were James R. Powell, Sam Tate, Campbell Wallace, H. M. Caldwell, Bolling Hall, J. N. Gilmer, B. P. Worthington, Robert N. Greene, W. F. Nabers, John A. Mil- ner, and William S. Mudd, incorporated the Elyton Land Co., capitalized at $200,000, for "the buying lands and selling lots with the view to the location, laying off and effecting the building of a city at or near the town of Elyton James R. Powell was presi- dent. The land in Jones Valley purchased hy Mr. Morris was transferred to the company at a valuation of $200,000 and this consti- tuted the capital stock, which was divided into 2,000 shares.
The naming of the proposed city caused some perplexity. The selection of the name is described by Truman H. Aldrich-quoted by Miss Arms in The Story of Coal and Iron in Alabama (p. 222, footnote)-as follows:
"When this good town of Birmingham was organized, there was a great discussion as to the name that would be given it. . Some
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HISTORY OF ALABAMA
suggested calling it Powellton after Colonel Powell, at the head of the Elyton Land Com- pany; others wanted to name it Milnerville or Morrisville. Mr. Josiah Morris objected very strongly to these names, and, looking out of the window, said there was a distinguished citizen who was a native of an adjoining town whose name would be particularly ap- propriate, and to name it after Judge Mudd and call it Muddtown. As a matter of fact, nothing could have suited the place more at that particular time, and indeed for a good while later. The town just missed it."
The name Birmingham was then suggested and adopted; and the principal industrial center of the State, and of the South, which then existed only in the imagination of its promoters, was named for the seat of iron manufacture in England.
Soon after the organization of the company, a few sales of land were made, and the build- ing of the town had been started. The first building on the site was a small frame black- smith shop. The first town lot sold was the northeast corner of 19th Street and Second Avenue, 50x100 feet, which was deeded to O. A. Johnson, October 26. 1871, for $75. One-half this lot has since been sold for $175,000.
The increase in population of the city of Birmingham has been phenomenal, and has been referred to by statisticians as "the cen- sus wonder of the country." The rapidity of the progress made is exhibited by the follow- ing population figures: 1880, 3,086; 1890, 26,178, an increase of more than 748 per cent; 1900, 38,415, 46.7 per cent; 1910, 132,685, 245.4 per cent. The increase from 1900 to 1910 is partly accounted for by an- nexations of suburban territory to the city proper. Its growth in population, wealth and commercial importance has caused the city to be given the popular name of Magic City.
Cholera Epidemic and Financial Panic, 1873 .- In 1873 the young community was almost depopulated by an epidemic of cholera; and in the same year its financial ruin was all but completed by the financial panic which began in New York on the famous "Black Friday" in September. The town's recovery from these disasters was slow. During the succeeding 10 years its promoters had a struggle to prevent the collapse of the whole enterprise. The market value of stock in the Elyton Land Co. fell as low as 17 cents on the dollar of par value. There were for several years practically no sales of lots, amounting in 1874 only to $7,955.83. From 1873 to 1878, inclusive, the aggregate sales of property amounted only to $55,516.70. Five years later the remarkable growth of the town had set in, and the value of the prop- erty transferred had increased proportion- ately. In 1883 the Elyton Land Co. paid its first dividends. In 1886 it declared a divi- dend of 340 per cent. In each of two months of the latter year the land sales aggre- gated more than a million dollars. The company continued prosperous until 1896, but during the next three years it was in finan- cial straits, and in 1899 its property was sold
under foreclosure, bought in by a committee representing the bondholders and the stock- holders, and transferred to a new company known as the Birmingham Realty Co.
Establishment of Waterworks .- Almost be- fore the building of the town of Birmingham had been commenced, the Elyton Land Co., with confidence in its future development, began the construction of a waterworks sys- tem to supply its needs. Work was started in November, 1872, and continued through 1873 and 1874, some additions being made in the latter year. The plant consisted, on January 1, 1875, of a small steam pump, about 412 miles of mains, and a reservoir of about 1,000,000 gallons capacity, all of which had cost about $60,000. The source of supply was Village Creek, 2 miles north of the town. In 1879-80 the mains were extended to the Alice furnace at the rolling mills, and increased pumping, storing and distributing facilities were provided during 1881-2. The system has since been extended to meet the growing needs of the community.
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