The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-10-08
IMPORTANT MEETING
COMMERCIAL CLUB
Held Yesterday Afternoon R0iOFmatOry
Discussed.
NEW INDUSTRIES COMING
First Step Toward a Birmingham Exhibit
at Paris Taken.
WILL ASK LEGISLATURE 70 ASSIST
Mr.. Haas Objects to Frances Discrimi-
mating Tariff Against American Iron
Mai. Anderson Objects to Loud
Whistle-Mr. Estes Grievance.

The Commercial club held one of its regu-
lar monthly meetings yesterday afternoon
and transacted a great deal of business.
Among the most important of which was
the discussion of some new industries
which the club is trying to locate in Bir-
mingham, a resolution looking toward hav-
ing Birmingham represented in the Paris
exposition in 1900. the discussion of DIR.
Eastman's reformatory, and two heavy
kicks, one against the big steam whistle
of the Avondale cotton mill and another
against the revenue stamp which the
Southern Express company makes all ship
pers put on the shipping receipts.
New Members
Before the Commercial club met, how
ever, the board of directors met and trans
acted routine business. The following new
members were voted on and taken into the
club:
J. K p. Lacey, w. f. Berry.
M. B. Lewis, W. c. Gibson
w. V. M Robertson, John L. Parker,
d. A. Greene, j. c. Rubel,
C. L. Stickney, w. c. Fellows.
President Steiner called the club to or
der and there were about twenty-five men,
DeTS present.. 1OIHmSTcldl Agent hlIler
made a report to the club on some new in
dustries which he was trying to bring
here One of them, cooperage plant has
already been secured. Another manufac-
turer wants to move his furniture factory
to Birmingham, provided he can get four
acres of land given to him besides bonus.
Another manufacturer from the north
wants to move a factory to Birmingham
for the manufacture of tables and furni-
ture novelties. He wants an acre of land
and $500 worth of material given him. All
of them were referred to a special manu-
featuring committee, who, with CONNER
cial Agent Miller, will decide what is best
to be done.
DIR. Eastmans Reformatory
Dr. w. A. Eastman, general superinten-
dent of the United States Chidren's Home
Society, then appeared before the club and
spoke in behalf of the reformatory which
his society wishes to establish in Birming-
ham. He put aside temporarily the moral
benefits that would be derived by the state
of Alabama and neghboring states by
having boys and girls educated for good
and useful citizenship who would other
wise go to form the criminal class of the
country and discussed the financial benefits
to be derived from such an institution.
In the first place buildings costing hum
dreds of thousands of dollars would be
erected, and most of the money for the
materials would go directly to the Birmng
ham manufacturer and to Birmingham
labor Then there will be about forty
teachers and over a thousand pupils to be
fed and clothed, and in this respect Biz
~,
benefit. The greater part of the money
needed for running the Institute, although
it is intended making the school as self
supporting as possible, will come from the
home society. In other words, it will all
be foreign capital put into circulation in
Birmingham.
He said that the present idea of the So,
ciety was to establish a reformatory for
Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida and
possibly the Carolinas and that he as
agent of the society is inclined toward Bir-
mingham. He is trying to mold public
opinion in all of these states so that a
uniform body of laws will be passed by
each of the legislatures, protecting the So
ciety and assisting it in its work. He ex-
poets financial assistance from the Ala
bama legislature.
The prime object of the society, DR.. East
man explained, is to find homes for all
homeless children, but in cases of very bad
children, this is difficult to do, as people
don't want to take the worst children into
their homes. For all such a reformatory Is
needed and this is what he is trying to get
established in Alabama.
AS soon as he gets assurances from the
o;t; hora nj Ia will 10
heartily supported, he will have the charter
for the institution issued and will begin the
work of organization at once. All he
wanted from Birmingham was 800 acres Of
land and between $4,000 and $4,000 in cash
to erect the first buildings, In addition to
the influence of the community in getting
the legislature to pass protecting laws. All
the money for other buildings and for op-
Grating expenses will be supplied by north
ern philanthropists who are interested in
the society. He said that the pastors in
the city had given the movement their I'M
qualified support and would cooperate with
the Commercial club In any effort that
might be made in its behalf.
Several members of the club spoke, ia
voring the reformatory and resolution
was passed giving the clubs hearty en-
dorsement to the movement. The following
committee was appointed to confer with
DR.. Eastman as to the best method of pro-
ceeding with the work. Charles G. Brown,
Robert Jemison, Sol Haas, Major T. Y An
derson and e. M. Tutwiler.
Typos" and Steam whistles
J. A. Rountree moved that the Typo