Birmingham state herald., 1895-11-20
IMPRESSIONS OF THEIR TRIP.
What the Chicago Visitors Have to Say or
 Their Return Hnme

Their Return Home.
 The Chicago Times-Herald gives the following expressions from some of the leading members of the Chicago excur- sion party to the exposition and other points in the south:
 Mayor Swift Enjoyed It.
 Mayor Swift has enjoyed almost every minute he has been on the road. He be- iieves that the excursion has done as much for Chicago as the Worlds fair.
 Just think of the enterprise and en- ergy." he said, that it has taken to put this thing through. No other city in the world would have attempted it. The management of these trains under Hor- ace Tucker, William H. Harper, Fred w. Peck, Alexander H. Revell, D. K. Hill and the rest of the officers of the associa- tion, has been wonderful. The First reg iment has been made the most popular military organization in the country, and Chicago has received more favorable ad- vertising than could be obtained in any other way. As a business investment I believe the money spent was well placed. We have all made friends with the people of the south. They now know that we are not different from themselves and they will trust us with their trade. They on the other hand have increased thou sand fold in our estimation. We have had practical experience with their matchless hospitality and know more of their resources than we could learn by years of reading financial papers. The journey has been a great success and I do not regret one moment spent with the party
 Tonight Fred W. Peck, Alexander H. Revell and William H. Harper are proud men, All express themselves as perfectly satisfied with the excursion.
 What MT. Harper Says.
 "All through the south," said MT liar per, the director of the excursion, "the people have been given to understand two things. One is that Chicagoans are good fellows socially: the other that we want their trade and commerce. At no time have they been allowed to think that our excursion was simply for the purpose of drumming up trade, but at the same time all were impressed with the fact that Chicago offered a market for whatever they had to sell and that our city stood ready to supply whatever they needed in return I was told by business men in Atlanta, Savannah, Charleston and Augusta that they would at once begin the work of making trans portation companies fall into line with this new movement. Freight rates will be reduced, and new era of commerce will open for the northwest and the south. We take no small pride in the manner in which the excursion has been con ducted. With over 1000 persons in the party there has not been one serious ac- cident The delays have not been great. considering the long runs made, and, all in all, the trip has been satisfactory"
 Commerce Follows Friendship.
 Secretary Stone of the Chicago board of trade had no doubts as to the benefits to be derived from the pilgrimage.
 "Close on the heels of friendship comes commercial connections" he said, this is a certain rule. It has never failed, and it will not in this case. I have made the commercial effect of this trip an es- pecial study, and I know whereof I speak. The south is interested in the north, and it is ready to begin to get bet ter acquainted as soon as an opportunity offers itself. This excursion has been the greatest success possible. It will do more for Chicago than the building of railroad would have done"
 Tonight Director William H. Harper Is receiving many congratulations. On almost every car resolutions are being signed by the occupants and presented to him as representing the officials of the Chicago Southern States association thanking them for the splendid arrange ments and congratulating them on the success of the excursion.