The age-herald., 1899-05-24
lHHJ. hlIDLllOUlI Annual Meeting and InstaIIa-
 tiOn of Officers OF THE COMMERCIAL CLUB Retiring Officer Had a Splendid
 Report. REVIEWED THE CITY'S PROGRESS Prominent Men of the City Discussed Birmingham's Welfare Around the Banquet Table-Plans Laid
 For the Future
REVIEWED THE CITY's PROGRESS

The spirit of progress and the air of prosperity which permeates the avenues of trade was foreibly reflected at the annual meeting of the Commercial club last night, when the representative business men of Birmingham gathered to celebrate. as it were, tho beginning of new era in the commercial and industrial progress of the Birmingham district.
 If there was single individual present who was not thoroughly imbued with the spirit of the occasion he failed to speak out in the face of the great majority who. under the impulse of exhilerating refresh ments, gave vent freely to their confidence and hopes in the material welfare of the city.
 The Retiring Presidentu
 The meeting was called to order by the retiring president. B. Steiner, who sub mitted his annual report, in which care- full review of his administration was given.
 President steiner's Report
 President Steiner's report was in part as follows:
 ''The first work that confronted me was to raise funds for the purpose of having a creditable display at the Omaha expo
 
 and the county commissioners I was en- abled to obtain S5i0. which was sufficient to make a handsome exhibit, which was placed in charge of pr. W. B. Phillips to whose faithful work a great deal of the credit for the beautiful exhibit is due. How well he succeeded Is evidenced by our re- ceiving the first prize. gold medal, one silver medal and one diploma. The mineral exhibit was, upon the request of the Uni versity of Nebraska, presented to it for a permanent exhibit, and will always serve an illustration to the students of the university. and the people Of the state, of the great mineral wealth of Alabama
 "The next thing the club succeeded in aiding was the Sisters of Charity Hospital and to no more worthy object could the as- sistance of the club have been rendered.
 "In engaging MT. Miller as industrial agent. the club did well. especially as no additional funds were needed. We got along with the money left over from Major Johnstons term as industrial agent, and with the balance due us by the various sub scribers to the industrial fund. Mir. Miller has faithfully labored for tho good of the club.
 ''At the International Mining congress in Salt Lake City in July Birmingham was represented by Dr. w. B. Phillips, who did honor to the occasion.
 Efforts have been made to secure the building of a boulevard along Red Noun tain, and a committee was appointed No success has yet been attained in that di- reetion, but the matter is still in the hands of the committee.
 'The club, through its committee, attend ed to the reception of the First Alabama regiment, at the time it was removed to Birmingham. for the purpose of being mus tered out.
 Paris Exposition Exhibit
 Steps have already been taken looking to an exhibit of our resources at the Paris in Industrial associations have petitioned the legislature for an appropriation, but noth- ing has come of it, and, therefore it will be necessary for this club or the Com mercial and Industrial associations of Alabama to take the matter up at once if Alabama is to be represented at the great fair Tn 1900.
 "Correspondence is now being had with the French government to reduce the tariff on American iron. This matter is in the hands of a committee, and great progress has already been made.
 "A bill providing for tho calling of a constitutional convention, first agitated by this club, was passed by the general as- sembly of Alabama, but later at the extra session of that body was repealed. This Is to be regretted. since the state cannot attain to the highest measures of prosper ity without some changes in the organic law.
 ''The fast mail service between the east
  feated. Great efforts were made by us to hold this service, and with the assistance of our congressman, Hon. O. W. Under wood, we succeeded in having the neceS- sary appropriation again made. "A contract has been entered into for four years between the Commercial club and the Southern Bell Telephone and Tele- graph company by which no raise in rates can take place for that time. This is of great importance to the city, since it operates to save about $1O0O0 per annum to the subscribers of the telephone system Nor has tho service suffered any whatever by this mutual arrangement on the con- trary all of the extensions of the service | asked for by the people have either been promptly madc or will be made in &C., | cordance with the understanding between 1 this club and the general manager Of the company.
 .',rhis club rendered valuable assistance l to our senators and representatives in l congress in finally obtaining the appropri- | ation for the Warrior river, which came | near being left out of the general appro- | priation bill. Special thanks in this con nection are due to the Hon. John Ii. Bankhead and the Hon. o. W. Underwood .'The club has taken a lively interest in | the industrial school for orphans. way ward and helpless children. and it is proba- ble that Mrs. R. D. Johnston and other | officers will see it to their interest to locate | the school near Birmingham. .sWhi!e it is true that we have succeeded | in locating only few industries during the past twelve months, such as the Duluoin Iron Works, the Enslen Flcuring NH and the Brewing Engineering company, which manufactures saw mill machinery. etc. d number of other industries have received information and assistance from this club. and several of them are now considering