The age-herald., 1902-05-09
WORKING FOR THE
 SELMA TRAIN Southern Will be Presented a
 Monster Petition ACTION WITHIN TEN DAYS Letters Sent to Prominent Citizens All Along the Route of the Proposed Train-To Interest T. p. A,
 In the Matter.
ACTION WITHIN TEN DAYS

Mir. T. V. Boardman, chairman of the Board of Trade Wednesday afternoon to secure a through train from Selma via Akron, has gone to work and expects within the next ten days 70 present the Southern Railway petitions signed by fully 5000 of the best citizens of the dis trict between Birmingham and Selma.
 Yesterday he sent letter to prominent men in Selma. Potters, Lake Nier, Marion Junction, Bates, Hamburg, Marion, Scotts Newburn, Rosemary, Greensboro, Sawyersville, Mays Evansville, Akron, and other places asking them to get citi- zens in their town to sign a petition he enclosed asking for this train
 When this petition has been signed the committee will present 1t to the railroad and request that 1t be granted. A peti- ton will also be circulated among the merchants of Birmingham asking for the train.
 To add further force to the petition the members of Post B, T. P. A, have been asked to sign a similar petition The pe- tition shows where 1t will be beneficial to the travelling men to have this extra train. MT. Boardman says the train will be worth $2O,0 900 a month to Birmingham. Persons wishing to purchase goods can then come to the city In the morning and return that night. He estimates that Birmingham will get large percentage of the trade from the district through which the train will pass.
 When this train has been secured the committee will go to work on other routes and secure if possible, every train which stops at a junction within 100 miles of Birmingham. If these trains are run through to Birmingham 1t will give the city a stronger hold on the financial and trade relations of the State.
 A copy of the letter sent by MT. Board man is:
 Dear Sir: I herewith enclose you a copy of the resolution adopted by the Board of Trade at its regular meeting, held May B. We are very desirous of securing a through train from Selma into Birmingham by way of Greensboro and Akron, and we believe by the combined efforts of the people of your section with us, we can get this train through to Bir- mingham within a very short while, and I would ask if you would take the mat ter upon yourself of getting signatures petitioning ths railroad to that effect I also enclose you herewith the petition ready for signatures l am also send- ing this same request to MT. Y. E. Yerby of Greensboro, and have every reason to believe that he will give us his hearty co-operation. We would like to take the matter up with the railroads as soon as possible and would ask If 1t would be convenient for you to return this petition with as many names as can be secured in ten days. whereupon the com mittee appointed by the Board of Trade will wait upon the railroad officials and set forth the advantages to be derived to the Birmingham district and to yours. Hoping to hear from you by return mail saying that you will take the mat ter up at once. and feeling reasonably sure of success If you do. beg to re- main, Yours very truly,
 T. V. BOARDMAN,
 Chairman Committee.