The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-12-15
Organizer of Tennessee COm-
 Pany is in the City To-day
STARTED COMPANY IN 1858
Prominent Nashville Attorney Visit Ing Ills Granddaughter, Mss Agnes Scott, Who Is With
 Bilou Musical Comedy Go.

Judge A, S. Collier, the founder of the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad com pany and one of the best known attor- neys in Tennessee. is at the Florence hotel on 0 visit to his granddaughter, Miss Agnes Scott who Is one of the members of the Bijou Musical Comedy company.
 Judge Collier arrived yesterday morn ing and will be in the city until Tues day morning, when he will return to his home in Nashville When seen at the Florence last night he said that he was greatly surprised at the growth of Bir- mingham and was especially pleased at the expansion of the company which he nursed in its infancy many years ago.
 Makes Annual Vislts.
 Judge Collier said that he made it custom to spend several days each year with Miss Scott, and that he went wherever he could find her. This year Birmingham was the nearest place, and although he was very busy and had sev- eral cases in the supreme court, he could not miss the opportunity to see his grand- daughter
 In speaking of the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad company, Judge Collier said:
 "The company was organized originally as the Sewanee Coal company in 1859, just before the civil war. and several l New York men were interested in 1t with me. They started the railroad to Tracey City before the war; but the bloody con- f1ict interrupted the work. Since the war Tracey City has become the center of the coal and iron region of Tennessee and the railroad built there is now portion of the Louisville and Nashville railroad systeEl.
 Interested Capital.
 "During the war I was in Richmond in attendance on the Confederate con- gress. After the war I went back to Tennessee and again interested northern capital in the company and the name was changed to the Tennessee Coal company. Within a short time it was again changed to the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad company. For nearly a score of years l was president of the company, serving without pay in order that I might put the concern on a paying basis. Baxter and Shook. Shortly after the war interested John | Inman, at that time CT of the wealthiest and best known cotton men in New York, | in the company ard he invested @ large sum in it. Nat Baxter and A. M. Shook. now of Nashville, were also interested in the company, and when I resigned as president MT. Baxter took my place and acted in that capacity until several years ago. "Colonel Shock bought the land that the present company owns in and around Birmingham. He came down here In inc seventies, and after carefully looking over the property finally bought 1t. The growth of the company has been some- thing marvellous. It has been in keeping with the growth of inc city of Blrming- ham.
 Largest in the World.
 "The Tennessee Coal, Iron and Pailroad company is, I believe, the largest com- DEFY in the world which mines It's own coal and iron, burns its own coke owns its own mines, makes its own iron and converts 1t into steel, and now I under stand it is making steel rails from the products of its own furnaces and mines. There are larger iron companies, larger steel companies and larger coal com rs nies, but tue Tennessee company is the largest which combines all these branches, even owning it's own railroad. During all the time have been con- nected with this company have been ac- lively engaged in my chosen occupation of law. now have several important cases in the Supreme court of Tennessee, and although I am getting we'll advanced in years, still attend my office regularly and keep up with my practice"