Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-05-19
IT WAS A JOLLY GOOD TINE
That at the Commercial Club
Last Night.
BUSINESS, THEN PLEASURE
The New President Installed and at the Board
NimbIe Wit and Sober Sense Sat
Side by Side.

the purpose of installing into office the
new officers elected for the ensuing year.
The meeting was called to order by
Rufus N Rhodes, the retiring president.
Mr.. Rhodes called attention to the work
of the club during the year just passed
in the way of inducing various minor in
dustries to locate here, together with the
efforts extended to foster those we al
ready have. He called special attention
to three important industries, which
he said, would almost stand as a monu-
ment not only to the Commercial club,
but to Birmingham and the entire south.
The first was the Alabama exhibit at
the Atlanta exposition. which, he showed,
would have cost not less than 100000 to
have made without the efforts of this
club, assisted by enterprising gentlemen
throughout the mineral district.
The second was the establishment of
the Birmingham Cotton Manufacturing
company by j. B. Cotton and associates
of Chester, Pa.
The third was the location at an early
date. through Mr.. J. B. Cotton, and in
directly the efforts of the Commercial
club of one of the largest cotton mills in
the south, to cost In the neighborhood of
81, 10000 This latter industry has been
kept from the public pending negotia-
tions, and now everything required by
the projectors for Birmingham to do to
secure the mill mas Deeu uOHe anu the
building of this immense plant, 1t may
now be safely said, is assured.
Mr.. Rhodes next read the report of the
inspectors for new officers, paying a high
tribute to the new president, Mr. M. V.
Joseph.
President Joseph was invited to the
chair, and, after the applause which
greeted him by his brother members sub
sided, said
President Joseph's Speech.
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen of the COM
mercial Club:
1 am deeply sensible of the honor you
have bestowed upon me in selecting me
as your executive head for the coming
year. Always deeply interested in the
progress of our city, shall continue to
bend my every energy and ability TO
push forward the good work inaugurated
by the club; and as far as l can mould
the policy of our organiza tion-assisted
by the board of directors and yourself
it shall be directed entirely to the indus
trial and commercial development of Bir-
imingham, and to foster those enterprises
already in our midst to encourage the
establishment of others, and to reach out
for a larger trade area for our business
men. Such should be our policy, and to
1t each citizen in this community should
lend his aid and influence, for 1t has been
truthfully said, "A town or city is just
what its citizens make it. Given the
/
be transformed into garden that will
bloom like the rose, and a struggling set
Element into a thriving city. Given the
wrong sort of citizens and all the advan-
tages of the soil, climate, geographical
position and wealth will go for naught.
Manufactures do not make the city. 1t
is the city that makes the manufactures
The stock yards and the grain elevators
did not make Chicago. Pork packers did
not make Cincinnati. A railroad center
did not make Indianapolis. In each case
the city Is the cause and the business the
effect. The cities had public-spirited
men and they attracted the kind of bus
mess which is located In them-that Is
ALL"
Who can say that Birmingham does
not possess public-spirited citizens In a
large degree, for within the last two
weeks, when two important enterprises
were projected requiring in a large way
the financial assistance of our citizens,
within a period Of forty-eight hours on
one and seventy-two on the other, the
requisite subscription was raised. AS our
city Wills, so will she grow. Using the
words of one of our esteemed fellow cit
liens, Then great indeed will be Bir-
mingham"
After concluding his address, the presf-
dent invited the members to repair to the
ball room on the third floor where an ele-
CANT collation. awaited them.
The COLLATION..
Around the festive board toasts and
good cheer were INDUCED in for more
than two hours.
..Our New President. was responded to
by Col Rufus N. Rhodes. He again paid
a high compliment to Mr.. Joseph, telling
of his untiring work for the success of
the club. He had ever labored for the
general upbulding of Birmingham, and
was one man whose energies never failed
him and whose efforts know no bounds.
Birmingham" was responded to by
Mayor VanHoose, who gave graphic de-
scription of the city from the time he be-
came a resident, fourteen years ago, to
the present day. He pictured the bright
prospects of the city's future, the work
accomplished by the club since its or
ganization, and insisted that our people
continue to pull together in the future as
in the past, without respect to creed or
politics, and we will build in Jones valley
the greatest city on the American conti-
nent.
"The Upbuilding Of the Club" was re-
sponded to by B. Steiner, who said ne was
at the birth of the club and had been
with 1t through adversely and prosperity
Every citizen should contribute of his
time and his means to its success. What
II had Accomplished was for the benefit
of the city, and its work could be made
much more effective IL a better unity Of
action was obtained.
sponded to by John w. Tomlinson. Mr..
Tomlinson said that he had never missed
q meeting of the club when he could pos
sibly attend since its organization. What
this club has done for Birmingham not
even It's members can appreciate. The
hopes of the city are brighter now than
ever before In its history. I have just
learned today that the Elyton Land COM
pany has appropriate ted an immense sum
|of money To- advertise. the resources OF
Birmingham and the Birmingham dis
trict. It Is important that we should
Hook to giving the facts of these wonder
4 full resources to the world. While the
F club has accomplished much there Is yet
much TO do and our ranks should be in
creased by the bringing In Of other work
ing members, and our achievements for
the next twelve months should be made
4 to excel all former efforts
THE Mineral Resources of the Dis
ptrict" was responded to by Dr. w. b.
Phillips DR.. Phillips said II was no
longer how cheap we can make things,
/ but how cheap can we get them to the
market. To get, our product to Ohio,
Pennsylvania and Illinois costs nearly as
much as the product itself. While to
reach the markets from the states men