Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1897-03-12
GEN. T. S. CLARKSON
SPENDS A DAY IN BIRMINGHAM
Was Happily Received by the Old Vet
Grams. Who Entertained Him Roy
ally and Showed Him the Great
Southern City.

Gen. r. s. Clarkson, COMMANDMENTS
chief of the Grand Army of the Republic.
spent yesterday in Birmingham. the
guest of George A. Custer post No. l.
The department of Alabama held its
annual encampment at Cullman Wednes-
day, and Cen Clarkson. who was pres
ent, came to this city, accompanied by
large number of the venterans
Gen. Clarkson. who registered at the
Morris hotel, was in the charge OF the
following committee: Messrs. Wilham
Snyder. George F. Jackson a. P. Stone,
f. G. Shepherd and Dr. A. N. Ballard
After a public reception at the Morris.
the programme of the days entertain
ment was begun with Carriage uiiFc
around the city.
In the afternoon trip was made in
special car to the magnificent furnace
plant at Ensley, the largest industry o.
the kind in America. The Following gem
tlemen, composed in the main OF MEM
beers of the George A. Custer post, COM
posed the party
Gen. T. s. Clarkson. Department Com
mander w. II. Black Post Commander
John Mckenzie, Past Department Com
anander F. G. Shepherd, Past Depart
ment Commander w H Hunter, Past
Department Commander VIM Snyder.
Past Department Commander J. Clyde
Miller, Past Post Commander A. T. stone,
Past Post Commander George f. Jackson,
Comrades A. A. Tyler, Harris. ST. Clair,
a. N Ballard. Derrfield, Richie, Osborn,
Theo. f. Brown, of Cha ttanooga, Tenn
c. NJ. Robinson. Guests of George A
Custer post No. /: w. t. Underwood.
c. H. Greer, Charles A. Ellis, DIR. Oliver
of Woodla wn; John Magll, of Michigan
Cen Clarkson expressed himself as
highly pleased with what he saw, and
freely confessed that this is indeed
great country and when 1t is fully
known, even in his own state, Nebraska,
the MANY advantages offered in Ala
hama the immigration tide will certain
ly be increased.
CLARKSON'S RECEPTION.
The parlors of the Commercial club
were we'll filled by a great many repre-
sentative citizens Of Birmingham among
whom were many veterans who wore
both the blue and gray, last night The
occasion was a reception to Gen. L. 5.
Clarkson national commander OF the
Grand Army of the Republic.
Cen Fred s. Ferguson, veteran or
the gray, introduced Gen. Clarkson in
a few well chosen and happy remarks.
Gen. Clarkson spoke of his great sur
prise on visiting the south at its Won
derful progress and Development. lie
spoke of his friendly, aye, warm greet
ing by the boys on the other side
He compared it to his reception some
thirty years ago, when bent on different
mission and, though II was most cordial,
he said that it was not the same Kind
as then.
Gen Clarkson said that he had heard
of Birmingham and its boom. That he
knew what such thing was and that
lots, eight or nine miles from the CITY.
that al that time sold for $1,000 foot
would not now demand more than SO. 30
foot.
The people of the south and north do
not know each other, he said, and the.
south has country that the north never
dreamed Of. They had heard of our min
eral deposits and the speaker said he
expected to see one or two small mines,
but never thought Of the grand sights
that awaited him. With the Immense
ore, coal and limestone. he said, that lie
untouched around this district, and
with careful and judicious energy Birm-
dngham must and could not help but
be the greatest iron and steel manufac-
turing city in the world. He said that
all that stood in the way was the lack
of money.
He alluded to the eagerness for invest
ment of the eastern capital which was
now in the greatest abundance. and
said that, the moned men were scary.
yThey could be induced to. invest here
if the wonderful opportunity were prop
erly laid before them.
He said that Birmingham had the
greatest of chances of becoming a Won
derful city, and that, though he was near
~
live TO see the day when the green hills
around about us would be alive with
rolling mills. steel mills, cotton mills,
pipe works and all kinds of industries
to work natures industries.
Better than all else in Birmlngha S
favor he said, was the abundance of
cheap labor The negro laborer is more
easily satisfied, he thought than his
white contemporary, and is not SO like
~ to strike and embarrass the capital
lists.
He recommended that the visitors TO
Nashville be induced to come TO Bir-
mingham and see for themselves the
great resources yet lindeveloped.
He said there would be no south and
west against the east, for each was es-
sential to the others welfare. and without
the latter's capital the other two could
not hope TO successfully pursue their diff
ferent modes of livelihood.
The resentment of former days, he
was glad to see, is fast disappearing.
Now he finds one flag. and only one;
one government, and only one, and one
destiny. in which all alike are inter
ested.
Though, he said. he was on a tour in
specting the Grand Army of the Repub-
Tic posts, he met with the warmest greet
ings from the gallant boys who stood
beneath the flag of the cnnfederacy.
Gen.. Ferguson waH called :upon and