The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-05-23
LEADING CITIZENS
EXPRESS SATISFACTION
Say That City Council Should Grant
Right of Way With All Possible
Dispatch-Will Help
the City.
oTsHING projected in recenI

Cd l1S dlltnblOA Vi Oloubhl ouL lllC
favorable comment that the Seaboard
Air Lines proposition to extend its
system to this city has done. All
classes of citizens express themselves
with enthusiasm when discussing the
Seaboard Company's published plans
Indeed public sentiment touching a
great local question was never more thor
oughly In accord than 1t Is right now In
favor of the Seaboard Air Line.
Every man In the Birmingham district,
be he wage-worker, merchant, manufac-
turer, banker, capitalist, lawyer or doc
tor, appreciates fully the value to this
community of the Seaboard's entrance
here; and on every hand one hears re-
marks like these: THE city should not
only grant the franchises that this COM
pany asks for but should do it with
alacrity and with unanimity that would
make the officials of the road feel that
they were more than welcome"
While Birminghams transportation ia
cilities have been adequate In the past.
the development of traffic has exceeded
the capacity of existing railroad lines,
and the need of an additional system, IL
is believed, will soon be pressing Those
familiar with local conditions point out
the fact that the lines already here will
not only not he hurt but wifi be benefited,
indirectly If not directly, by the coming
of new lines. There will certainly be
room enough for all, they say.
HOW THE PEOPLE TALK.
Here are some of the interviews OBJ
tanned yesterday:
Mr.. B. f. Roden. president of the Com
mercial Club l am unqualifledly In ia
vor of the Seaboard coming to Brming-
ham. This great system will not only be
of incalculable benefit to the district but
In opening up new territory it will create
new business for the roads that are now
here.
Mr.. Colman Blach, president of the
Board of Trade: OF course we want the
Seaboard Air Line to come to Birming-
ham, We want all the railroads we can
get. Every new line means the develop
ment of new traffic. 1t means more trade
here and the distribution of more
money.
Mr.. ]. C. Maben. president of the Sloss-
Sheffield Steel and Iron Company: I am
sincerely glad that the seaboard people
are ready to build to this district. 1t is a
good thing for Birmingham The Sea-
board Will find plenty of traffic here and
the old roads will continue to find plenty
We cannot have too many lines in this
rapidly xpanding district.
WILL BE A BIG THING.
Mr.. C. e. Buck, president of the Lacey
Buck Iron Company: The Seaboard Air
Lines coming will be a big thing for
Birmingham and this entire section. Any
new line would help, but Birmingham
will be especially fortunate in getting the
Seaboard, because 1t is owned and man
aged by men of exceptionally broad Views
ard progressive spirit. The Seaboard s
entrance here will mean much more than
the opening of new territory and the in
crease of our shipping facilities, although
these advantages are not to be undcres-
timated. 1t will mean more because with
the Seaboard Air Line will come new
CO pital end new industries.
President John Shelton Williams and
his associates are the sort of men who
pull for every city that their great rail-
way system touches. They have large
cepital behind them, and every one IA
m,liar with their reputation knows that
they will do their full share in helping to
build up the Birmingham district, out
side of the transportation proposition.
Other railroad companies have carried
out liberal policy In their treatment of
this district and have aided individual en-
terprises; but know what progressive
man Mr.. Williams is. and I am confident
that he and his friends will become
strongly identified with Birmingham from
the start.
Mr. B. B. Conner, president of the Avon
dale mills: Yes, the Seaboard Air Line
will h.lp Birmingham and every citizen
will extend to 1t sincere welcome. I
feel sure that no interest will oppose 1t.
Mr.. R. S. Munger, vice president of
the Continental Gin Co: am glad to see
that THE Seaboard Air Line Company Is
planning to extend Its system to Birm-
ingham. While our railroad service is very
good SO far as I know, there will always
be room for new lines. The traffic of this
district is steadily increasing and the
Seaboard Air Line will get all 1t can haul.
Mr.. John r. Ryan, assistant general
manager of the Corona Coal and Iron
Company: There is but one opinoin about
re Seaboard Air Line Everybody wants
it to come to this district. The Seaboard
will help itself and help the district and
1t will not hurt any of the existing lines.
There will be enough traffic for all of
them. If the Seaboard did nothing but
scatter some of its money here and devei-
op new territory 1t would be worth while
for the people of Birmingham to welcome
this move. But there are very many ways
in which the Seaboard will benefit the
district and every man. woman and child
should rejoice In Its determination to ask
for franchises which I take 1t for granted
will be readily granted.
EVERY ONE DELIGHTED.
Mr.. John w. oNeill. ex-president Of the