The age-herald., 1900-05-25
MAY ESTABLISH
 SOUTHERN BRANCH
Plan Under Consideration by
 PhiIadeIp phia Museum.
BlRMINGHAM'S ADVAN FACES
Col N. T. Thompson of Huntsville Has Been Authorized to Make an In- vestigation-W ould Mean
 Much for This City

The Commercial Museum of Philadelphia is considering the advisability of establish ing branch in some southern city, and to that end the advantages of number of cities in the south are being investigated. The museum has been in existence for several years and is now recognized as one of the most useful institutions in the coun- try It's object is to collect and display the manufactured products of all countries, and compile information respecting the character and quantity of manufactured goods consumed in the different countries. The manufacturer of cotton goods, for in- stance, can go to the museum and get in- formation as to the quality of cotton goods in demand in Australia, China or any other country, and so with other products The question of establishing southern branch of the museum was discussed at Chattanooga last week while the Southern Industrial association was in session there. Birmingham has so far received the most favorable consideration as a location for
 the branch, and may be selected The Commercial club has two delegates to the museum who are on the advisory board of liie1L ihSlllulIoH. OOlitllllS Ol luS pidn lo establish a southern branch is told by the Philadelphia Times in the following clip ping from it's issue of May 9:
 ''The Philadelphia Commercial museums closed agreement yesterday with Colo nel N. F. Thompson of Huntsville, Ala, secretary of the southern industrial con- vention, by which that gentleman is au- thorized to investigate a number of places in the south with the view of securing the best location in that section for a branch of the Philadelphia institution.
 'It will be recalled that the Commercial museums were invited by Colonel Thomp- son to send an exhibit to the Chattanooga meeting of the southern industrial conven- tion, held at Chattanooga last week, and Director Wilson and MT. Green accepted the invitation, and had such a creditable exhibit there that the convention gave the museums one of the most signal endorse ments it has ever received.
 This action was rendered more con- spicuous by the fact that two attorneys, representing Duns and Bradstreet's mer- cantile agencies appeared on the floor of the convention and tried to get the reso- lution to endorse referred to a committee, which the convention declined to do by signal vote. On the final passage of the resolution to endorse there were only two opposing votes, presumably the two at torneys named.
 This visit of the Museum officials show ed so strongly the advantages that the growing industries of the south could re- ceive from the Museums that they then and there practically decided to establish a branch at some point adapted to meet the exigencies of the situation.
 This matter was placed in Colonel Thompsoh's hands, owing to his knowledge of the south as well as to tender him graceful compliment for the friendship he has shown the Museums ever since they were founded.
 '"This may be said to be the first link that Philadelphia has welded in her new campaign of a closer trade relation with the south. If this action had no other sig nificance than in that light alone it would be considered wise move to make, but in view of the very rapid growth shown on. every hand in industrial lines throughout the south, the Museums will prove of very great service to the manufacturing inter- ests of that section, as they will help those who are just starting in business and ena- ble them to enter the markets of the world as easily as those longer established with which they will come in competition"