Birmingham state herald., 1895-11-15
AND STILL THEY COME
Another Party of ChicagOans
 Visit Birmingham
COLUMBIAN ASSOCIATION
Arrived Yesterday and Were Shown Our h. dustries Through Smoke and
 Flame.

The most representative and wealthy party of northern business men that ever visited the south reached this city yester- day morning at o'clock. They came in response to the invitation of the Southern and Northwestern Industrial association. Birmingham was omitted from the orig inal itinerary, but through the labors of the officers of the industrial association the Chicagoans returned from the Atlan- ia exposition via Birmingham to spend the day in viewing the magic resources and marvellous development of this dis trict It was understood and arranged that the party would be given trip around the city on the Highland Avenue road and luncheon at Lakeview, but at a late hour Wednesday night MT. ShagSS received a telegram from Mr. Fish, pres ident of the Illinois Central, saying the party had accepted the Southern roads tender of a train for trip through the mineral district and that the party would leave Birmingham at S:30 yeStef- day morning. Mir Trask of the Colum- bian Eauipment company having tender ed train over the Highland Avenue ana Belt line quite a number of prominent citizens made arrangements accordingly There were therefore, but few at the de- pot at S:30 yesterday morning, the hour set by President Fish for departure Generals Ferguson, Rhodes, and Messrs Trask, G. NJ Williams, P. Sid Jones and several other prominent citizens had taken the matter in hand of arranging for the entertain inment of President F1ShS party Owing to the lateness of the hour it was impossible to give notice of the change in the programme. Messrs. J B. Cobbs of the Berney bank, Eugene F. En- slen of the Jefferson County savings bank, H. F. DeBardeleben, T. H. Aldrich, Oliver Chalifoux, w. H. Skaggs and J. w. Hughes of this city and w. R. Golden of Talladega, Ala, were among those who accompanied the excursionists.
 At little after o'clock the party Tn the care of Superintendents Thompson and Ross and Trainmaster Williams of the Southern railroad boarded the special train and started on tour of the richest mineral district of the world. some or the points visited en route were the Sloss furnaces, Coalburg mines, WoodWard, Thomas, Pratt City, Ensley and Besse- mer. The magnitude and extent of these plants the perfect appointments of the furnaces and mines elicited expressions of astonishment and praise, but amaze ment seemed complete when the largest pipe works in the world were reached at Bessemer where trains of pipe were be- Ing loaded for Honolulu, Sandwich is- lands, and Tokio, Japan. To write the visit "a revelation" but mildly states the verdict of the whole party. "We had no conception of the extent and variety of your industries exclaimed a number of the distinguished visitors. Your re- sources are beyond conception and the magnitude and extent of your industries are a marvel to me-" exclaimed Ex-Con- gressmen George E. Adams of Chicago. Ut is wonderful-the growth and devel- opment of the south, particularly this great mineral district" said Potter Pal mer. 'sIt is the coming district of the south," said President Fish of the Illinois Central Expressions of surprise were nt II Qy,ip a nd only voices of praise of the resources of the great Birmingham district.
 While it is unfortunate and much re- gretted that the people of Birmingham were not given the opportunity of ex- tending the courtesies which they so much desired to extend in evidencing the hospitality for which Birmingham is so justly noted, it is gratifying to know that the time was we'll spent in directing the attention of our visitors to the natu- ral advantages and industries of this section.
 The following is list of the prominent citizens of Chicago composing President Fish's party. They are among the most prominent influential business and pro- fessional men of the great metropolis of the northwest:
 H. N Higinbotham of Marshall, Fields & Co.,, and president of the Chicago ex- position.
 William T. Baker, president Chicago board of trade.
 H. H. Kohlsaat, editor and proprietor Chicago Times-Herald
 B. E. Sunny General Electric company of Chicago.
 E. P. Ripley, third vice-president Chi cago Milwaukee and St. Paul railway.
 Henry B. Stone, president Chicago Telephone company.
 Milton w. Kirk of J. S. Kirk & Sons, soap manufacturers.
 A. M Rotschild, dry goods and general merchandise.
 Potter Palmer, proprietor of the we'll known Palmer house.
 E. E. Aver, lumber, cedar. posts and ties.
 J. T. Harahan, second vice-president Illinois Central Railroad company.
 B. B. Lamb, stock broker.
 J. N. Camp ofEstes & Camp, pianos and organs.
 W. P. Ketcham, president Ketcham Lumber company.
 J. c. Welling, first vice-president Illi- nois Central railroad
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