The age-herald., 1899-05-28

and It's work in a prosperous and healthy condition. Its membership has been in- creased at each meeting during the year. One hundred and seventeen members have joined since the last annual report making total membership, as shown by the regis ter, of 29S.
 The cash balance on hand with the
 treasurer May l, 1898, was..... ..$ 31 0S Receipts for the year ending May l.
 lo9S'''.'.' .''.'... ........... ........ 2S1S 30 Disbursements for the year..... ..... 2839 8 Balance with treasurer. ........S 10 10 The cash balance would be much larger were 1t not for the fact that an appropria- ton from the general fund was recently made to the salary of the industrial agent CT the club and the entertainment of a party of northwestern editors while on their soourn in the city at an expense of S100.
 Industrial Agent
 Major John w. Johnston terminated his engagement with the club as industrial agent on June 15, 1898, but continued his work in that capacity without salary until the last of August. Major Johnston did great deal of very valuable work from which there were no direct results He ad- Vertised the district by correspondence by the distribution of literature and by visit ing in person a great many sections of the country. The war scare, the yellow fever epidemic and the smallpox throughout the south rendered its physically impossible for nm to accomplish the good results that his faithful and efficient service was enti- tied to-.
 Later, MT. E. B. Miller was employed as industrial agent for about seven months He worked faithfully and accomplished some good results.
 The club has been directly instrumental during the last twelve months in locating here:
 Capital The DuQuoin Iron Works. s.......... $50 900 Enslen Milling Company. 10 900 Browning Engineering Company... 10 GOO It has furnished valuable information to parties who have organized the Brming- ham Woodenware company, capital $5,- GOO; and cooperage factory at Ensley City.
 Cotton Mills
 It is with pride that we note the com- petion during the year of the Avondale mills, plant in which the club and it's members have been so much interested. This plant now has in operation 95,000 spindles and 1000 looms. It employs 600 operatives and pays out in wages $100,0OO per annum.
 The pioneer steel plant of this district was the result of the financial corporation of the members of this club with the Bir- mingham Rolling Mill company. The ex- pectations were fully realized and the com mercial world took notice. Today We have as a monument. to the progressive pa- triotism of our membership not only the 100-ton steel plant of the Birmingham Rolling Mill company, but a 1,O00-ton plant which will soon be in operation.
 At Ensley
 Following in the wake of this enterprise and made possibly thereby, we see troop of new industries, coming in as if by magic, and fortunate Ensley City names The Alabama Steel and Shipbuild-
 ing Company, capital. .... M 0O,05o Min canital ...... 2,OOO OO0 The ErnsIev Brick ConEpany capital 50,000 iii ..,...... .................. 25,OOO A oeoitaI of p .,............. 25,0Oo A cement factory, probable capital loo'ooo An electric light and water com
 pany, capital.... ....... Lo'VVo A projected bridge company, prop able capital....... ......... ......... oV'ooo Sundry machine shops, foundrleS, sidetrackS, etc...... ....''.'.. ,.... too'ooo oo New dwelling and store houses. lVo'oOo This gives Ensley City total in new improvements of about $3,5OO,00O, to say nothine of the by-product plant, fuel gas plants, tar plant and her furnaces, etc., which were established over a year ago.
 Resume of the Year
 in addition to the work alreaay nen I tioned the Commercial club has durlhg tue wear written thousands of letters ana ois- fributed hundreds of pamphlets and papers, which have resulted in bringing great i,,l citizens to the c1ty anu district and have brought inquiries rom numbers of parties who are now looking towards this district as suitable place 10 locate new enterprises. It collected ana sent to the Omaha exposition an eXhlDit which is mentioned in the presidents re- port. It worked earnestly for the location of a group of wood working plants, which were lost to the district by circumstances which it could not control. It gave Valua- ble assistance to the Mercy home ana Charity hospital. It aided the trades Council in their labor day celebration. It advocated the building of the Red mount ain boulevard. It took a leading part in the reception given to the First Alabama Volunteers. It endeavored to secure an en- campment of the United States troops in the district. It urged the wisdom of a state exhibit at the Paris exposition. It called the attention of our senators and congress- men to the discrimination by France against American iron and urged the re- moval of the duty. It has urged the ex- tension of our merchant marine. It made preliminary arrangements for peace ju- bilee It has advocated everywhere and at all times the patronage of home industries. It took an interest in legislation for the regulation of labor agents and telephone rates, and helped to prevent legislation ad- verse to merchants in the matter of taking invoices at the wrong season of the year. It protested against the abolishment of the appropriation for a fast mail service be- tween New England, New York and the south. It gave its encouragement and back ing to our representatives in congress in the matter of obtaining the appropriation for the improvement of the Warrior river and the Mobile harbor in the general ap- propriation bill. It has considered and hopes to secure the location in the Birming ham district of the Industrial School for Orphans, Wayward and Helpless Children. It has worked for more perfect quaran- tine system and encouraged the establish ment of the department of mines and min ing in the geological survey.
 Imurovamauta