The age-herald., 1899-09-09
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
 AND ELSEWHERE


 Halls came to Birmingham from New York with his associate. E. T. Whitaker the purchaser of the Highland Avenue and Belt Line railroad, and the two investors ening out the papers, records. titles and general affairs of the property. They had the constant legal assistance of former Governor Thomas G. Jones. of Montgom- cry. who closely scrutinized every docu- ment and instrument of writing. The work proceeded from early in the morning till late in the evening every day, and by Thursday night at Il o'clock. when every thing in the matter had been completed the workers were quite worn ont. Mir Halls is one of the most notable young men in the financial world of New York He is cashier of the famous Hanover National bank is many times a million aire. and his advice is constantly sought and highly valued by the men who are as familiar with millions of money as the ordinary man is with dollar. He Is of that conserving force which is tending to make New York the clearing house of the world. MT. Halls resides in Summit, New Jersey where he maintains church out of his private purse. It is spoken of him that he modestly gives of his abundance much to charity; that he passes by un- needed no worthy appeal in behalf of per- sons in distress. Like most men of his class, he is a of few words, and is averse to talking business for the public prints. The interview which he gave the Age-Herald Thursday night was the longest statement he ever made to a news paper, and it extended to only about three quarters of a column. MT. Halls has very large property interests in Birmingham, fortunately for this city, and he comes hither twice a year. He is pronounced believer in Birmingham, and finds much pleasure in studying the causes of the city's growth and prosperity. MT. Halls doesn't appear to be over thirty-five years old. and he has singularly strong and pleasing face. He has a sense of graceful courtesy that does not fail him. He is man in whom strong men put their trust.
 
 Governor Jones, who was counsel for MT. Halls and MT. Whitaker in the final weeks work of closing up the business of the Highland Avenue and Belt line never had anything to do with the prolonged liti- gation over the property. He was engaged to do the legal work of the general wind ing up, when. in so far as the public is concerned, litigation had practically ended; and his duties were very laborious The fee he received is believed to have been large one; though that can be known only to Himself and those who employed him. The guesses of the public at that sort of thing are based merely upon the reputation and standing of the attorney and the ma teral interests involved. These facts con- sdered, it is easy enough to guess tha, Governor Jones has done a great weeks work for himself as well as For his dis tinguished clients. It is of interest to Ala bamians to know that the former gov ernor's law practice is now largely in ex- cess of any previous period of his career, and that it is growing rapidly. The general public, by the way, is perhaps unaware that Governor Jones occupies the specific position of supreme court attorney for the Louisville and Nashville Railroad com pany. When he was elected governor in 1890 he had to resign his place as general counsel for that company, and was sue eeeded by Colonel J. M. Falkner, the pres- ent able and popular counsel. After he went out of the office of governor in 1891, Governor Jones was made supreme court attorney, and Colonel Falkner was re- lieved of something of the very heavy task of the most ourdensome law office in the state.
 Lueien V. LaTaste. of Montgomery. pres- dent of the Travellers Protective Association of America. was in Birming- ham yesterday on his way to St. Louis to attend the regular monthly meeting of the general committee or directorate of the association. This powerful organization of the commercial travellers of the country has it's headquarters in St. Louis, chiefly for the reason that it obtained it's charter un- der the laws of Missouri. The rules require the committee to meet once a month, and the president is required to attend the meetings. Mr. LaTaste says that the asso- citation in Alabama and throughout the country is in a very hourishing condition The membership is increasing at a gratify- ing rate, In Alabama there are now about 700 members which fact serves to illustrate the power and influence of the drummers Birmingham enjoys to an unusual degree the goodwill and friendship of the travel ing men, and she is proud of the fact Drummers are fond of live towns and the livest town on this continent is Birming- nam.
 'It would surprise you to know how fre- quently petty thieves cut out and steal portions of exposed ground wires on cleo tric car lines.' said man formerly con- nected with street railways. "The wire is laid along one of the rails for the purpose of completing the circuit. Unless the wire be secured under iron plates, it is an easy matter to cut and remove long sections of it. This has been often done on the East Lake line, greatly to the annoyance of the management and injury of the property The ground wire that will be placed on the Highland Avenue line by the Traction company will be securely fastened under grooved iron plates, that 1t will be inn possible for thieves to cut and remove it.