The age-herald., 1901-08-03
Proposition Presented at Joint Meet ing of the Commercial oreaniza- tions-committees Appointed
 To Investigate.

uuSlfldl OFBdHl1dtlOiiS III lie iioNt.
 The representatives desire Birmingham to pledge 5000 to be expended in surveying the line from the state line to this city. The cash is not wanted till the survey is completed.
 The gentlemen here are W L. Dinkins and R. L. Roberts of Canton, Miss; J. c. Searles of the Vicksburg Board of Trade and S. R. Ballard engineer in charge of the survey The details of the plan were first explained at a meeting of the ex- ecutive committee of the Board of Trade yesterday morning in the parlors of the Morris hotel.
 Committees Appointed.
 A joint meeting of the Commercial Club, the Board of Trade and other industrial organizations was held n the rooms of the Commercial Club yesterday afternoon at o'clock. The representatives of the road were present and explained their plans. A resolution was adopted author izing the president of each organization to appoint committee to confer with the Birmingham and Vicksburg representa- tives. The conference will be held in the rooms of the Commercial Club at 10 o'clock this morning. The committee ap- pointed by President Exum of the Com mercial Club follows:
 S. STEINER.
 c. H. ESTES.
 MAYOR ". M. DRENNEN.
 JAMES BELDEN.
 s. ". LEE.
 President Exum is a member of the body under the terms of the resolution.
 President Blach of the Board of Trade appointed the following committee:
 JOHN L. PARKER.
 G. N. M'vEIGH.
 c. M MVEIGH.
 MT. Blach is also a member of the com mittee The president of the organiza- tions of the wholesale grocers and lumber men will also name committees.
 Points About the Road.
 Here are some points about the pro- pposed road:
 The company known as the Birming- ham and Vicksburg has already been or ganized, and the promoters are assured that Chicago capitalists will furnish the money for construction.
 It has been surveyed from vicksburg via Canton to the Alabama line, a dis tance of 163 miles.
 The distance from Birmingham to vicksburg, according to the proposed survey is about 263 miles.
 The cost of construction Is estimated at s1,7O0,00O, or $11. 900 per mile.
 It will come into Alabama by way of Tuscaloosa.
 The intention is to make 1t an inde- pendent line to traverse section of country not developed by any other road. Birmingham is expected to furnish $500o for the survey
 The Plan Explained.
 MT Dinkins was introduced to the joint meeting by MT. Blach.
 MT Dinxins made apologies for the members of the committee not being f1owery orators, but explained that they were simply business men with busi- ness project.
 The project, he said, had already been laid before capitalists, who promised to furnish the money, provided the commit tee could make good their representa- tions. The committee had visited Vicks- burg. and the citizens there were very much interested in the scheme. The trade organization had guaranteed 1t support. He stated that Canton, Miss, was on the main line of the Illinois Gen. trai Railroad and was very much op- nressed in the matter of feight rates.
 We come to ask you gentlemen" said he. to cooperate with us in connecting the metropolis of Alabama with the me- tropolis of Mississippi with line of rail- road.''
 He explained that Birmingham would get new outlet for its mineral produc- tions by rail from Birmingham to Vicks- burg. and thence down the Mississippi river. On the other hand, Birmingham would be distributing center for a rich section of Mississippi.
 The company has already been organ ized with thirteen directors, three of whom are from Chicago, two from Canton, Miss, and eight from Vicksburg. About eleven thousand dollars has already been spent in the survey.
 Canton has paid in about $4o00. Vicks- burg has promised 5000 and Tuscaloosa sa5o0. He read a telegram from Mayor
  subscription committee was out going among the business men and was meet ing with wonderful success.
 MT. Dinkins stated in reply to an in quiry that the committee desired the city of Birmingham to put up 5000. He did not ask any money till the survey was completed to the doors of the city.
 Mr. searIes Speaks.
 Mr. Searles of Vicksburg, spoke as a representative of the Board of Trade of that city He spoke of the advantages that would accrue to Birmingham as well as the section to be traversed by the road. He pointed out that Birmingham was suffering from exhorbitant freight rates and to prove this said that Western products were delivered in Vivksburg for half the rate they were delivered in Bir- mingham. He argued that the Mississippi