The age-herald., 1899-05-24
PRESIDENT STEINER RETIRES AND ].
 MAJ. ANDERSON TAXES THE HELM
the feasibility of locating in Birmingham.
 Attributable to ssarIes' Visit

''The late purchases made in and around
 Gate City, where large industrial develop
 ments will take place in the near future.
 are strictly attributable to the invitation
 made by your president to MT John n'
 Searles, to visit this district.
 ''The club has had large and volumln- GUS correspondence with various investors and manufacturers all over the United
 States and with other persons seeking in
 formation about this district. We have
 made 1t our business to furnish all informa- ton possible whenever asked for, and to always keep in touch with other chambers of commerce and commercial clubs.
 'The club has thrown its rooms open to visitors, conventions, meetings and enter tainments of the people at all times. q am pleased that the membership of the Commercial club in the past year mas increased by IT new members. But this is not sufficient This club should have
 membership of at least GOO, so that it's in
 come win be enough to pay its running ex- penses, and to leave money on hand to pay the expenses of delegates to the various con- ventions constantly assembling to consider various propositions looking to the upbuild- ing of the country. It should also accumu- late sufficient money to assist industries in removing here, for it is my experience that unless a little aid either in land or money is given to a company, 1t will not be In a hurry to change its location, preferrlng to bear with the disadvantages of the old place.
 q am greatly indebted to the officers and | members, especially to Mir. Gibson, the
 secretary and to MT. Grace, the assistant secretary, for valuable services rendered during my term.
 Secretary Gibson's Report Secretary Gibson submitted his annual report, which reviewed in detail the work of the club during the past years, giving
 much valuable statistical Information. The report was carefully prepared and reflects great credit upon the secretary. | The next business before the meeting was
 the report of the committee on election | which, in the absence of Chairman Ray, 1 was made by Secretary Gibson, and verified 1 the election of the following officers, President-F. Y. Anderson. 1 Treasurer-w. B. Leedy. 1 Vice Presidents-J. A. VanHoose, E. ". l Barrett, J. ". Johnson, John ". Tomlin- | son, J. B. Cobbs, John W. O'Neill, Ross c. | Smith, Joseph Beitman, c. Exum. W. M. Drennen, H. H. Mayberry, c. T. Rainbow, Drectors-M V. Joseph, R. N. Rhodes, 1 B. Steiner, Robert Jcmison. ". J. Miner. l B. F. Roden, Sol Haas, T. II. Motion, J. 1 K. Mcdonald
 Major Anderson, the newly elected presi- l dent, was called to the chair by retiring | President Steiner, who in a few graceful remarks turned over the affairs of the club with expressions of the kindliest senti- | ments.
 | President Anderson took occasion to | thank the members for the confidence re- | posed in him by calling him to the presi- | dency of the organization. He expressed the fear that after the administration of | his able predecessors there was little left | to be done in originating new methods 1 He heartily endorsed the references made | by the secretary and the retiring president | regarding an increase in the membership | of the club and ventured the suggestion 1 that the suburban towns should be called 1 upon to join in the work. He expressed tho belief that at least ten members each from Pratt City, Ensey. Woodlawn, Gate City, Avondale, East Lake. North Birmingham and other suburbs could be obtained and suggested that these members might be
 made local committees to look after the in- terests of their own communities through the medium of the central body. In conclusion he referred to the statement
 made by Major Stanton on the completion of the Chattanooga and Meridian railroad that before thirty years had passed train could travel 200 miles on the line without being out of sight of the glare of an iron furnace; himself venturing the prediction | that before the fires that are now kindled | in the mineral district of Alabama are qualched, Birmingham will be supreme in the iron and steel industries of the world Complimentary Resolutions Resolutions, commenting in the highest terms the administration of Mr. Steiner were introduced by J. A Rountree, and were unanimously adopted. During the proceedings a retinue of wait CTS were kept busy serving punch, lemon dae sandwiches and cigars under the di- rection of Captain Paul Giliardoni, whose banquet motto Is Louder" and who was
 in charge of the punch bowl. While the session was purely informal, President Anderson took advantage of the representative gathering, and in his eapaci- ty as master of ceremonies called for re- sponses to the following subjects: "The Warrior River Canaf'-J. A. Van Hoose.
 Labor Interests"-J. H. F. Moseley. "The Merchantile Interests"-M. V. Josephs
 "The Bench and Bar in Their Relation to Commercial Interests'-Judge J. J. Banks. "Rairoads and Developmentse-Ro c. Smith.
 Relation of Banks to the Commercial system ". b. BoDDS. Increased Value of Real Estate"-T. H. | Motion.
 City and County Deveiopment"-Majo | Charles Wheelock.
 Banking and Banking Interests"-sig- "The Press"-Rlchard r. Johnston. "Muste As An Educator, Or What Our Future May Festivals Are Going To Be- Professor Benjamin Guckenberger. Reduction In Insurance Rates"-A- R. i Dearborn.
 1 Birmingham As Health Resort"-Dr. J. B. Gibson
 "The Il. 6 N'"-w. M. Newbold. Life Insurance"-W J. Cameron. sei "Warrior'-T. M. Davidson. l Future of the Growth of Birminghamf' l -S c. Thompson.
 | ''The Cotton Industry"-Jonas Schwab. l "Finished Iron and Steel'-A H. Simms l At the conclusion of the toasts the meui- | bers were invited into the ante room, where 1 the punch bowl was located, and Captain | Paul's excellent refreshments were literally l patronized. l