The age-herald., 1900-04-07
MEETING OF THE
 COMMERCIAL CLUB Much Time Devoted to Discus
 sion of the CuIIom Bill. ACTION AGAIN DEFERRED
MT, VanHoose Submits a Supplement tary Report on Warrior Canal Other Important Matters Up
 for Consideration

discussion of the Cullom interstate com merce bill now pending in congress. The question of an endorsement of the bill was finally passed over until two weeks hence when special meeting will be held to act on the committees report.
 The board of directors was called to or der by Vice-President VanHoose at quarter to o'clock, with the following members present: J. A. VanIIoose John W. Johnston, B. Steiner Sol Haas, w N. Malone, w. H. Kettig E. W. Barrett, J. A. Rountree, s. E. Thompson and J. D. Kirkpatrick.
 George w. Whaley and George II. Estes were elected members of the club. Secretary Gibson requested that a com mittee be appointed to revise the consti- tuition and bylaws of the club, and to pro- vide for the publication of the same. The president and the secretary were instruct ed to make the necessary revisionS and to report back to the next regular meeting of the club.
 Warrior Canal
 An interesting report relative to the Warrior canal submitted by J. A. VanHoose, chairamn of the canal commit tee. It was as follows:
 ''To the Board of Directors of the Com mercial Club of Birmingham. "Gentlemen:-
 AS chairman of the committee on the Warrior river canal I beg to lay before you as a supplementary report map pre- pared by Major G. D. Fitzhugh of this city and some correspondence between him and the Hon. O. w. Underwood of this district in regard to the feasibility of con meeting the waters of the Tennessee river with those of the Warrior. This is as you will at once see from the map, the upper section of the proposed connection. The lower or western section from North Bir- mingham to the Warrior by way of Valley river, being the one surveyed by MT. Rip ley and now before congress. The views of Major Fitzhugh are of such character that they must at once impress every one with the great and far-reaching import ance of this whole enterprise. Backed up by the strong belief of an engineer of such experience and high standing Major Fitzhugh, the feasibility of supplying any water which may at ceartain seasons be lacking from Birmingham to Bessemer di- rectly from the Tennessee river is a sub ject of such keen and vital importance to every interest in this district that I feel fully justified in laying before you the whole matter, and suggest the widest pos sible circulation of it through the press of this district and of Alabama and Ten nessee.
 Upon several occasions I have discussed this matter in Washington with Senator Morgan and Messrs. Bankhead and Under- wood. It seems to be the conclusion that it is very necessary to give wide circula- tion to the importance of this matter, but not to, at present, ask for appropriation for a survey by the government. Senator Morgan especially was of the opinion that the feasibility of this matter should be fnllV known n nr1ar bot ba far- oli, benefits of the whole enterprise might be thoroughly known and understood not only by the country at large, but also by the congressman themselves.
 q also beg to report that Congressman Bankhead again authorized me yesterday to say that the outlook for the improve. ment of the Warrior and Valley rivers Is still bright, and that he firmly believes that the plans will be adopted next year. and large appropriation granted with which to begin this great national work Very respectfully, J. A VAN LOOSE,
 Chairman"
 Club Meeting
 The board adjourned, and at o'clock the club was called to order.
 w. N. Malone, chairman of the manu- facturing committee, reported that the club had a chance in the last two weeks of locating three new industries in Birm- ingham, but that it could not do so on account of the prices asked for sites. One of the industries mentioned was a blow factory, one furniture factory, and the other a sash and door factory. He said several suitable sites were found, but that the owners would not agree to sell at what the proposed investors considered reason- able prices. He said no bonus nor dona- tions were asked but that the parties in- terested were willing to pay for the land on which to build the factories.
 Chairman Kettig, of the transportation committee, stated that his committee was not ready to report on the conference held with the traffic managers of the railroads with reference to alleged discriminations against Birmingham in the matter of freight rates.
 Judge Banks, chairman of the special committee appointed to investigate the Metropolitan hotel fire absent, but he informed the secretary that he was not ready to report.
 Charles Elley Hall, representing Leslies Weekly, was present and addressed the club relative to an advertisement of Bir- mingham which his journal desires to pub fish. He said his paper would offer a special rate of 5000 per page for a write-up of the city and district. The club, by vote, endorsed his plan.
 N. F. Thompson, secretary of the South ern Industrial association, which meets in Chattanooga the latter part of this month, addressed the club in the interest of that body. He urged the club to send a dele gation to Chattanooga to attend the con vention. He said delegations would be present from New York, Philadelphia and Boston. On motion of J. A. Roundtree, the chair was authorized to name dele gation with MT. VanHoose as chairman.
 The Cullom Bill
 II. c. Orem, chairman of the special committee to which the Cullom interstate commerce bill had been referred. reported favorably on the bill, and moved that the report be adopted The motion to adopt the report was opposed by E. A. deFuniak