Birmingham state herald., 1896-02-22
MAYOR vANHOOSE CHATS His Triple te MaA'iHgtteea Mgs's''#@gteaa to See
 Congress ABOUT THAT CANAL PROJECT Hopes for an Appropriation to Make the Sur yey-0ther Observations Taken While
 in the~East.

A State Herald reporter called yester- day on Mayor VanHoose. who has been absent several days in Washington.
 The mayor was overwhelmed with a mass of detail work, but, holding batch of city bills with one hand, he opened the door of his private office with the other, and invited the reporter to enter.
 And you missed the mardi gras," laughingly said the newspaper man as he accepted a proffered chair.
 Yes, I did," was his honor's reply, "and I am sorry that I did not have an opportunity to witness it. An acquaint- ance told me this morning that l had missed the sight of 10000 strangers in the city. I explained to him that had been to Washington in the interest of an enterprise which, if successful, would locate ten times 10000 residents in this valley"
 The reporters ears lifted his hat.
 "The canal" continued the mayor, which I shall do all in my power to get under way, will do wonders for this sec ton. The people are familiar with the project, and everybody is deeply inter- ested in it."
 will congress take hold of it?"
 q hopeit will I am induced to believe that the canal will meet with favorable action. I appeared before the rivers and harbors committee, and their reception of my plans and the interest they man. ifested in the canal gave me reaSsuring confidence that the first step in that di- rection might be looked for-that is I am persuaded that they will report fa- vorably and ask an appropriation for the preliminary survey. Outside of that, of course, I did all that I could to inter- est others. We will keep working, en- Cti ha nf and the interest of others who will be glad to see our section prosper"
 What about your political observa- tions while at the capital?''
 "Oh, I made none. I was there on bus mess of an entirely different nature and took no interest in politics."
 What is the war atmosphere"
 "They don't seem to be very much dis turbed in that regard. I can't say wheth- CT they want war or not. I visited the ship yard of Cramps and the Brook lyn navy yard. The two battle boats, Terror and Puritan, now under course of construction, are nearing completion. Lieutenant Hobson of the navy, 1 under stand, has made a favorable report on my brothers disappearing gun, G. w. Van Hoose of Tuskaloosa. The gun has att tracted wide attention in the magazine literature of the day. I don't know how he conceived the idea of the gun, for he knows nothing of ships or shipbuilding. being a practicing lawyer in Tuskaloosa." "
 Did you go anywhere else2
 "Yes, I went to New York. and while there I attended an alumni dinner given to Chancellor Wiggins of the Se- vance university"
 "That is your alma mater, is it not?" asked the reporter.
 "Yes," said the mayor; "I am president of the Alumni association. and when I heard of the dinner, although I had not been formally invited, put in an appear ance and received the most cordial well come"
 And the weather in New York;" in- qui~ed the reporter, as Tax Collector Gardner brought in biting blast when he entered the door.
 "Ah, the weather was cold indeed, al though my attention te-the low tempera- ture was attracted by observing the number of gloves worn. I looked at a thermometer and found 1t below zero. After that I bought pair of gloves. and felt real cold during my calls outdoors" "
 Street Tax Collector A. A. Gambill, with pick and shovel dun. passed a side window en route to the mayors office, but before he had made an appearance the reporter paid nasty adieus to the mayor and escaped through the fire de- partment.