The age-herald., 1900-09-30
And Great Birmingham and Its
 Great District.
SEEKERS AFTER THE FACTS
Great Day For Giving Useful Informa- tor Remarkable Tributes to the Riches of Alabama-Governor
 Johnston's Brilliant Speech

nam met yesterday morning Tn the rooms | of the Commercial Club, the occasion be- ing the presence of former Senator Pasco and Prof. Emory R. Johnson of the 18th | milan Canal Commission. They are in Bir-
 mingham for the purpose of securing in l formation in regard to the industries of
 Birmingham and the manner in which such l industries would be affected by the open l ing of the Isthman Canal
 The meeting of yesterday was called to 1 order by President w. H. Kettig of the | Commercial Club
 Senator Paseo spoke first, expressing his l appreciation of the welcome received in | Birmingham He said that the people of | Alabama had little need of information l upon the canal subject, as Senator Morgan had fully enlightened them. A tribute was l paid to Senator Morgan for the energy he 1 had displayed in the matter of securing 1 the construction of the canal, and his ref l erence to the distinguished Alabamian was | greeted with applause. The conditions and | circumstances leading to the creation of 1 the Isthmian Canal Commission were then l stated The scope of the commission was also set forth. The purpose of the commits | sion was to have it's report ready by De- | cember so that the President can commun- | icate it to. Congress and secure an appro- l priation for the construction of the canal. l He said in conclusion that the commission l looked hopefully forward to the construc- l tion of the canal. He said the South would
 be greatly benefited by the canal and that
 this section was particularly interested. Prof. Johnson
 | Prof. Emory R. Johnson, chairman of l the commission, then spoke, expressing 1 first his appreciation of the invitation ex- 1 tended to him to visit Birmingham. He l said that Birmingham was the only in
 terior city which urged the commission to come to Birmingham when the coast cities
 were being visited, thus the fact being shown that the people of Birmingham were deeply interested in the canal. Professor Johnson said that the object | of the commission was to find the most | suitable route for economy of construction, adaptibility for commerce, and politically | feasible. We have corresponded with the | business men in different parts of the country to find out the character and ex- | tent of their business that would be apt to use the canal We have obtained the information direct from business men showing the actual business needs of the llIHS. we HdFSi lnCiClolOj SOhiO tO Dii- mingham, as other cities to ask the &C., | tive cooperation of the business men, who can give valuable information as to | freight rates on iron, extent of product, etc. We desire a statement from the Com mercia1 Club as to the existing business and commerce between Birmingham and | the countries contributary to the canal We think that if there is any industry | that will be stimulated by the opening of | this canal it is the iron and coal indus l tries
 MT James Bowron stated that he wanted l business, and to get it we must have the | canal. Trade goes in ruts. We want the | canal as rut for our trade The cheap est pig iron is produced here but it is of 1 little advantage. because we have been handicapped in seeking markets by lack of transportation facilities. If the canal was built ships would put in at Mobile and coal there at g. .50 ton instead of $9 a ton at Port Said.
 Captain T.. G.. Bush spoke of the vast territory tributary to the Gulf ports, of | his efforts in obtaining deep water for Mobile, and that the importance of the ca | nal can never be answered until it is built, and said that 1t would be within five years. The meeting then adjourned. ''Around the Horn"
 | At Il o'clock the party boarded special | train rendered by the Louisville and Nash vile Railroad Company, and started | "around the horn.' Those in the party were | Samuel Pasco of Florida and Emory R. 1 Johnson of Pennsylvania; Governor Joseph | F. Johnston, Mayor w. Melville Drennen | w. H. Kettlg, president of the Commercial l Club; C. T. Rainbow, vice president and J
 B. Gibson, secretary; Congressman Oscar l W. Underwood, c. B. White, M. J. Mulla- l ley, Hugh C. Carson, Gen. c. NJ Shelley, | Chambers McAdory, J. M. Gillespie, clerk l of the City Council: F. M. Jackson, W. H. l Hassinger, George Whatley, Robert Smyer, 1 D. T. Wilcox, Gordon Robertson, Sam Nor 1 ton, police commissioner; R. s. Munger, M | B. Hiliard s. E. Jones, c. B. Willis, J. H. 1 Williamson. w. H. H. Judson, J. H. Leath, Ed Stolenwerck and F. H. Miller, Jr The first stop made five miles from l town. Here five minutes were devoted to l refreshments and the train then proceeded to the Ishkooda mines.
 How do you spell Ishkooda?" asked some | one of Congressman Underwood "Iskoo-I don't know" said the Congress- l man, "how do you spell it?"-turning to | some one else.
 | No one seemed to know. The name was l spelt variously Escoota, Iskuta. Iskooda | and finally correctly.
 | At the Ishkooda mines the party became shirt-waist men and prepared to inspect the
 mine. The old guard was left In the cars | to take care of the coats The party then | proceeded to inspect east shaft No. g. This
 is 900 feet deep with a capacity of 600 tons | day. The vein Is 60 miles long, and av- erages SO0OO tons to the acre.
 | The Ishkooda Company are working five mines. with an average capacity of 2OOO tons | a day.
 l The party were conducted over the prop erty by MT. W. G. Robinson, president of
 the Robinson Mining Company, which leases | the ground from the Tennessee Coal, Iron l and Railroad Company.
 l Taax,iro Shaft No 2 the Darfy in ope,,