The age-herald., 1901-08-04
BIRMINGHAM
 INTERESTED
 IN NEW ROAD Trade Organizations Take Hold of the Project in a Bus
 mess Like Way COMMITTEE ID INVESTIGATE If Plan Is Satisfactory This City VIII Pay $5,ooo Toward Survey and Probably Subscribe
 for Stock.
COMMITTEE ID INVESTIGATE

 have taken hold of the Birmingham and Vicksburg Railroad project in a business like way and will conduct a systematic investigation of the scheme.
 The committees appointed at the joint meeting of the Commercial organizations on Friday afternoon held a meeting yes- erday morning in the Commercial Club rooms, the result of which was the for nation of plan of action as follows: Each trade or commercial organization will appoint one representative on com- mittee which will thoroughly investigate the project.
 If this committee deems the plan fea- sible 1t will so report and the commercial organizations will guarantee the $5O00 for surveying purposes.
 Should the plan be favorably acted up- on and the $5000 paid in the commercial bodies will name Birmingham represen- tatives in the directorate of the road.
 Survey Will Continue.
 It was announced by the representa- lives of the road that pending the inves- tigation of the Birmingham committee the road will be surveyed through to Tuscaloosa. If the demand requested is then guaranteed the survey will be con- tinued to Birmingham.
 The meeting was presided over by May or Drennen, J. B. Gibson discharg,ng the duties of secretary.
 Among those present were: S. Steiner. R. b. Collins, c. IT. Estes. Colman Blach, Oliver Chalifoux, c. $. Simmons, R. McLester S w. Lee sfbley King, w. B. Dickerson and T. H. Johnston.
 They were met by W. L. Dinkins, R. L. Roberts and S. R. Ballard. who are in the city in the interest of the road.
 The Birmingham gentlemen present were representatives of the Commercial Club, Board of Trade, Wholesale Grocers' Asso- citation and the Shippers and Buyers As- sociation. The report of the committee will be made at a joint meeting of the trade organizations to be held at an early date.
 Want Interest In Road.
 The fact developed during the meeting that if the plans of the Mississippi gentle men were found satisfactory a large block of stock could be sold readily in this city. It was suggested that Birmingham would
  lars worth.
 The gentlemen present seemed to be greatly interested In the project. In dis cussng the question Mayor Drennen, who presided at the meeting, said:
 "No corporations or individuals have done more to build up Birmingham than the railroads entering the city and new road to tidewater would be of incalula- ble benefit to us"
 MT. Drennen seemed to favor Birming- ham taking a block of stock in the road. As an illustration of the benefits of such a proposition he said:
 When Birmingham was in It's infancy the merchants and business men of Cin- cinnati realized the benefits that would be derived from direct line of railroad to Birmingham, and through their combined efforts the Cincinnati Southern was built. On the completion of the road invitations were sent to every business man along the line and throughout the entire South. There has never been a more elaborate banquet given than was tendered these gentlemen when they reached Cincinnati They were not formally entertained. but lavishly entertained And until Birming- hams development had far advanced Gin cinnati was the leading market of this territory.
 Declined the Offer.
 q understand that recently an offer has been made for the holdings of that city in the road of sufficient amount to pay off Cincinnatis bonded indebtedness, which amounts to several million The credit of the city Is good and the offer was declined because the advantages accruing to the business interests from the road is far in excess of the actual cash that could be obtained.
 'It may be that the road now in con- temptation here Is a good starting point for Birmingham to take up such a pro- feet. It might be well for us to join with these gentlemen and control the road to Tuscaloosa, If no further Cincinnati had to build much further and the induce ments were no greater than the advant- ages we would obtain"
 The Mississippians left the city last night fo- their homes.
 Drink I,emp'S Beer.