Birmingham state herald., 1895-12-07
THE COMMERCIAL CLUB Let Birmingham Build Her Own
 Steel Plant. A PERMANENT MINERAL Exhibit of the Exposition Display-Meeting of the Cumberland Presbyterians-Mu-
 sical Entertainment.

with Dr. T. M. Allen presiding in the ao- sence of the president
 Secretary Thompson submitted his re- port on the financial condition of the club after which the following new members elected at the last meeting were announced: Dr. J. D. S. Davis, Dr. w. E. B. Davis Joseph R. Cook, E. N Cullom J. M. Cockburn, J. B. Hayden, Dr. S. l.. Ledbetter, w. St. Pierre, F. O. Smith, c. A. Merritt, Ben Meyer, James H. Hard and Arthur c. Sharpley.
 Secretary Thompson read the following report of the manufacturing committee:
 Plan for Steel Mlll.
 To the Commercial Club:
 During the two and a half years of the existence of this club the manufacturing committee has had occasion to present to the club the important bearing Of steel plant on the future growth and prosper ity of Birmingham It has been shown by this committee that in so far as the mere production of raw materials were concerned, the city of Birmingham has reached a wonderful growth but In order to reach more wonderful development we hope to see greater advancement in the manipulation and further refinement of our raw products.
 After these years of waiting for some one else to come in among us and ac- complsh this work-a work pertaining so closely to the welfare of all classes in this city-it is believed that the wiser policy would have been to have concen- trated all energies to the task of doing this ourselves. The spectacle is pre- scented to the outside world of great city, claiming advantages for iron pro- duction over all others on the face of the globe, yet expecting others to neglect their own established interests, or per haps antagoniZe them. by entering what appears to them to be only an experi- mental or speculative field. It is believed that this work can be done by our own people, especially when they are brought to realize the great benefits that will re- suit from it directly to ourselves. To test this possibility the following plan is submitted:
 Let all of the land companies, corpora tions and individuals owning acreage property in or immediately adjacent to Birmingham be approached to subscribe whatever amount of land they can be in- duced to place into a company, the. pur- poses of which shall be the building and operating of steel plant and rolling mill in this city. Said land to be subject to valuation by an impartial committee and none received that does not possess a fair chance for market under reasonable conditions of activity.
 Instruct the real estate committee of the club to cooperate with the manufac- turing committee in obtaining such sub- ScriptionS, and aS fast as obtained re- port the same to the secretary of the club and when it is deemed that suf- ficient quantity of land has been ob- tained let a call be made for the formal organization of the company. With basis of such character it is believed that no great trouble need be experienced to raise the needed funds, either in mon ey, subscriptions to stock, or in pledges on the property, to carry the enterprise to a successful consummation Also let the press of the city be requested to aid in this work, together with the members of this club generally, until such sen timent will prevail as will find some oth- CT plan to secure a plant if the one herein outlined should not prove feasible.
 In this connection it may be well to again refer to the clubs motto: Pat ronize home enterprises" Incidents are of frequent occurrence where orders are sent away from Birmingham for work or articles that could be had here on equally as favorable terms, and some times for even less prices. Especially is this the case in jobs of printing, tailor made clothing, dressmaking and milli- nery, while larger manufacturers in oth CT lines are expected and frequently asked to "cut prices" obtained from out side parties before they can obtain or ders
 Such a spirit will not build up home enterprises, while 1t will render the loca- tion of new ones more difficult. because existing ones are not given proper local patronage and encouragement.
 The sentiment should be strongly urged and vigorously maintained to buy noth- ing outside. unless to be had on mani festly better terms in every respect.
 Attention is also called to the invention of one of our citizens. MT. c. A. Merritt, whose newly patented electric lamp con tains many points of great practical val ue and usefulness. It is hoped that such encoura cement may be given MT. Merritt by our citizens as wilp enable him to form company here for the manufac- ture and sale of his lamp in this city. Respectfully submitted
 JOSEPH BEITMAN, Chairman.
 Secretary Thompson moved the adop- tion of the report.
 Secretary Thompson said the commit tee had seen several of the land compa- nieS, and had assurances that such a plan as suggested in the report was fea- sible. He believed enough land could be secured to make the plan entirely practi- cable.
 The committee on social features sub mitted the following report:
 Social Features.
 To the Commercial Club:
 The undersigned special committee from the committee on social features, appointed to investigate and report on the advisability of inaugurating some character of entertainment with a view of benefiting the club financially, having in view also the bringing together of the members in such manner as will tend to create stronger interest in the work of the club, make the members bet ter acquainted and more enthusiastic in whatever will tend to benefit the town. beg leave to report as follows
 1. We suggest that Professors Boyce and Guckenberger both of whom are members of the club, be requested to un- dertake jointly an entertainment such as thaV hlp of arranging and ing into effect, which will enlist livelier interest in the welfare of the club by the patronage of those who can be brought together by such an entertainment as can be presented by talent second to none in the country. and at the earliest period that will suit their convenience.
 2. We suggest further that all agencies or individuals in the city who desire to see the Commercial club redouble the en- ergies already put forth, and which have