It was a prosperous and busy city.

It grew, it grows, and will grow.

Long life to it! Every year the city directory points with pride to its growing bulk.

A hundred thousand people; and, as Max O'Rell said--"All alive and kicking!" Herculaneum held its neighbors in hearty contempt, like the youth who has suddenly found his man's strength, and parades round with a chip on his shoulder.
Three railroad lines ran through the business section, bisecting the principal thoroughfares.

The passenger trains went along swiftly enough, but often freights of almost interminable length drawled through the squares.