Business continued to boom during this period just before the turn of the century. A Twentieth Century edition of the News and Observer in August 1899 included a detailed description of Selma and its businesses. A lyrical but far from objective reporter began his story: "Prosperity and peace reign supreme at Selma-Selma the coming town of this section of the State. A town of beautiful homes, intelligent and wide-awake citizens who are doing all in their power to push Selma to the front and to the observant visitor it will be seen that eventually they must be successful." Further more the people of this section are in an excellent condition, funds are ample and they do not hesitate to make investments."
This same article pointed out that the population was 1,000 and these citizens are "Law-abiding, intelligent." Four churches, white Baptist and Methodist; Negro Baptist and Methodist were noted. Concerning schools, the reporter stated: "In the matter of school facilities, Selma is thoroughly abreast with the times. In addition to a well conducted free school, the Selma institute is situated here. This institution is considered one of the best educational factors in the state." Taxes were extremely reasonable, 16 2/3 cents per $100 valuation and 50 cents “on the poll.”
In this year the Selma Oil and Fertilizer Works was incorporated with a capital stock of $100,000, M. ‘C. Winston serving as president and N. E. Edgerton as ecretary. Equipped with modem machinery, the mill had a capacity of 40 tons of meal and 100 tons of ammoniated fertilizer per diam,
From the History of Selma - Centennial Program.
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