The age-herald., 1900-07-07
BUSY SESSION 0F
 COMMERCIAL CLUB President kettig Discusses QueS-
 ton of Lower Water Rates. HIS MONTHLY REPORT READ He Saws S1 O0O OO0 Industrial Plant
He Says $1,ooo,ooo Industrial Plant Will Probably be Located in Bir- mingham- Establishment of
 Industrial University

President Kettig of the Commercial Club, in his monthly report submitted at the meeting yesterday afternoon, stated that negotiations were under way to locate a million-dollar plant in Birmingham, and that the prospects for securing 1t were bright. He submitted a number of recom- mendations, which were embodied in mo- tions later on and the questions raised re- ferred either to regular or special commit tees.
 The board of directors convened at 3:30, with President and the following members present: Robert Jemison, F. Y. Anderson, $. A. Wood, John W. O'Neill, c. T. Ram bow, S. E. Thompson and w. N. Malone.
 The following were elected to member ship in the club: c. Herbert Ellerbe T. l.. McGowan, J. S. Cobbs, M r. Wood, D. M. Drennen and D. A. Helmich.
 The board adjourned and at o'clock President Kettig called the club to order and read his monthly report, which was as follows:
 President Kettigs Report
 "To the Members of the Commercial Club:
 Since our last meeting not very much progress has been made towards the estab- Iishment of new enterprises. We are in correspondence with a number of people who wish to locate here, but on account Of the unsettled condition of the iron mar ket they are delaying final action. We eX- peet however, to locate in a short time a large manufacturing plant, with capital of $,00O,000. We also expect to locate another smaller plant with capital of $50G0O. Nearly all the arrangements for these plants have been made, but on account of some details final action is delayed
 'l wish to present for your consideration several recommendations, as follows:
 l. l notice by the daily press that the Mayor and Board of Aldermen have been considering a new water rate schedule for the city of Birmingham. It appears that no agreement has been reached between the Birmingham Water Company and the Mayor and Board of Aldermen, and that the negotiations have been for the pres ent, abandoned.
 ''The question of lower water rates is a very important one to every citizen of Bir- mingham. We should, no doubt, have a much lower rate than we now have. The delay in reaching a satisfactory agreement Is causing the citizens considerable extra expense. I recommend that this matter be referred to the committee on legislation, and that they be requested to urge both the Birmingham Water Company and the Mayor and aldermen to speedily come to some agreement that will be satisfactory to the citizens of Birmingham, and whereby we will have lower water rates.
 '2. l recommend that a committee on membership be appointed. There are many citizens in Birmingham who would like to join the club, but who have not done so on account of not having received an invitation
 5. It has been suggested that we have large cards printed and framed, and hung in the hotels for the purpose of welcoming strangers to the rooms of the Commercial Club. These cards should state flat the secretary would give them any irfforma- ton about Birmingham ana the district I recommend that this be referred to the committee on statistics and resources for investigation and report at our next meet ing.
 "A It has also been suggested that the wholesale houses be requested to close their places of business on Saturdays at 12 o'clock thereby giving their clerks and statesmen half holiday, and an opportunity to do their shopping. I recommend that this matter be referred to the committee on wholesale trade. with instructions to in- vestigate and report at the next meeting of the club.