The age-herald., 1897-10-02
FOR VISITORS
Meeting of Commercial Club Ar
 nor Plate Committee
FINANCIAL AID IS NEEDED
lntimated That the Entire Armor Plate Board Will Not Visit Birmingham Great Pres
 sure Will Be Brought to Bear

Birmingham is enthused over the com- ing of the armor plate committee. The. latest information in regard to tn date of th5 coming of the body was received by Representative o. W. Underwood in a telegram from Secretary Long fn which it was stated that Birmingham would be visited probably either on the 16th or 23d of October.
 There has been some talk of dhe full board not coming to Birmingham, but great pressure will be brought to bear to have it do so. It is the idea of J. Az Van Hoose, a member of the Commsr- cial club committee that the entire board should come to Birmingham, as dt is the recognized iron center of the south and then divide in parties and visit the less important points. Representative Underwood wrote last night to every member of the Alabama delegation in congress, inviting them to come to Bir- mingham with the armor plate commit tee, and requesting each one to write, a personal letter to Secretary Long, ask ing that the entire committee be sent | here.
 The visit of the government board will | be made 8 great event. If the stay is sufficiently long it will be taken to the more important points in the district, | and a banquet and public reception will probably be tendersd in the rooms of the Commercial club. The rooms of the club will be adorned with new curtains, new carpets, the walls repapered and woodwork repainted before the visit of the committee. If the stay of the body Is short, only the largest mines and works can be visited. President Cald- we'll, of the Birmingham Rolling Mills, said yesterday that the works of that company would be open to the inspection of the visitors, and every effoat would be made to have @ testing machine which had already been purchased placed in position bsfoue the visit of the commit tee.
 A special train will be secured to carry the committee over the district, and just as many distinguished visitors as possl- ble will be brought here including con- gressmen, senators and presidents of railroads.
 Not an unimporiant part of the prep araitionls now is that the citizens of Bir- cnbngham should contribute "a sum for the proper entertainment of the guests. A number of prominent gentlemen will circulate among the citizens and solicit funds. That they all know the import ance of entertaining the guests tn a roy al manner goes without saying.
 The committee appointed by the Com mereia1 club held meeting in the rooms of the club yesterday afternoon. The sub-committees were enlarged and oth- CT committees were appointed to look after the transportation of the board over the district, entertainment and oher imporant matters.
 The chairman and the following mem bers were present: John G. Caldwell, T. H. Aldrich, w. T. Underwood, w. B. Phillips, W. J. Milner, F. Y. Anderson, J. ". Tomlinson, M. V. Joseph, Charles M. Shelley, B. Steiner, B. F. Roden, J. A. VanHoose, Sol Haas, A. M. Shook being represented by P. P. Shook and O. W. Underwood.
 The chairman said that the sub-com- mittee should be enlarged and others appointed, among the most important of which was one to raise funds for the en- tertainment of the committee and to de- fray otlIer expenses. The chairman fur ther said that it would be we'll to invite the governors of the southern states, the congressman, senators and presidents of the railroads entering Birmingham to visit here at the time of the armor plate board.
 Committees of five each were appoint ed on finance, transportation and pro- gram as foriows:
 Joseph J. A. Van Hoose, B. Steiner and W. J. Milneir.
 Places to be Visited and Transporta- tion-F Y. Anderson, B. r. Roden, Rob- ert Jemison, Charles M. Shelley and W. 1T. Denson. The supelintendents of the railroads entering Birmingham were added to this committee.
 On entertainment the chairman asked
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