The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-05
COMMERCIAL CLUB COMMITTEE BACK Greatly Impressed With Magni- tude of Worlds Fair i. F. M. JACKSON'S CIRCULAR President of Commercial Club Gives an k.;eount of Trip to St.
 Louis-The Work to
 Be DoEs.
F. M. JACKSON'S CIRCULAR

The Commercial club committee return- ed from St. Louis yesterday after de- lightfui visit to the worlds fair as guests of President D. R. Francis.
 Each member of the committee agrees that the exposition at St. Louis next summer will excel anything of the kind ever attempted by man. and that the physical attractions of the enterprise sur pass anything that the imagination can picture.
 President Jackson issued the following signed statement last evening as the open- ing gun in the campaign for a Birming- ham exhibit:
 President Jackson's Statement. Members of the Commercial Club, Citizens of Birmingham and the Birmingham District:
 - You are all aware that the Commercial club of Birmingham has undertaken to make an exhibit of our resources at the worlds fair at St. Louis. Many think this ought to have been done by the state, but as the state failed the Commercial club now assumes the responsibility. A special committee of fifteen was ap- pointed by the club to look into the matter and afterwards a subcommittee of five members consisting of Messrs. Rufus N. Rhodes, Culpepper Exum, George II. Clark, T. c. Bush and myself was ap- pointed to push the work without delay, This subcommittee then employer J, A. MacKnight as a special representative and sent him to St. Louis to look Into the situation and see if space could be obtain ed. His report was full and comprehen- sive. Another special committee was then appointed to go to St. Louis with MT. MacKnight on the invitation of President Francis and other officials of the worlds fair, in order that we might obtain cor rect view of the magnitude and scope of the exposition.
 Wonders of the Fair.
 We were prepared, from what we had already heard. to see great developments and to behold a wonderful picture; but we were so surprised at the immensty of the work done, and at the marvellous beauties of the grounds and buildings that we cannot now find words to ex- press our wonder and admiration. We are thoroughly convinced that for us to fail to make an exhibit would be to lose an opportunity which may never be equalled in our lifetime, to advertise the greatness of Birmingham and the re- sources of our state.
 The committee was received by the officers of the words fair with great kindness and cordiality, and given every facility by President Francis to examine the wonders of the exposition. Mir Chas. M Reeves, chief of one of the principal departments, took us over the grounds in the presidents carriage and enter tained us at luncheon in the administra- ton building. The grounds embrace 1240 acres and extend one mile in one direc- ton and nearly two miles in the other. The buildings of the exposition cover POO acres. The cost of the exposition will be fully $50, 000 600. and we have returned with our mnids full of enthusiasm and determination for the exhibit proposed by the Commercial club.
 In order to carry out this project in the best possible manner, we invite the cooperation and help of every man who Is interested in the welfare of the dis trice.
 Spa,c Contracted For.
 We have closed contract with the exposition for about two thousand square feet of space next to the main entrance in the Mines Palace, one of the largest and most beautiful structures of the ex- position, on which we will erect the CO., lossal figure of Vulcan and display in the space about him, in the most attractive manner, all of our natural products and the finished articles in metal turned out by our mills and furnaces. In connec- ton with the exhibit we will have some decidedly interesting features and will distribute literature, dealing in an at tractive way with every phase of Ala bama life and effort We will be able to tell every inquirer exactly what he wants to know about the soil, climate and industries of the state, and will have agents there who can talk with those especially interested and give them expert information on the particular line of their inquiries The cost of this ex- hibit and it's maintenance during the fair will be between fifteen and twenty thousand dollars and when we consider the great benefits which will arise from this method of advertising, we ought not to have any trouble in quickly raising this amount
 Must Push the Work.
 Our beginning Is so late that great dis patch will now have to be made in the prosecution of the work. Every dollar subscribed will be economically used to the furtherance of the main design-to make Alabama and her resources known to the world. There will be no waste, no leakage, and no graft" but careful ex- nenditure of the funds raised. and good busnes methods and economy at every point.
 As president of the Commercial club, I pledge the committee and myself to give this work our personal attention and su- pervision without compensation. believing that the benefits we seek will rebound to the welfare and interest of every citizen The finances will be handled by this com mittee. and none but competent and expe- rienced men will be employed in any branch of the work.
 full attendance of members of the Commercial club Is earnestly requested at the meeting which has been called for at 4 o'clock on Friday afternoon. It Is earnestly hoped that every member of the Commercial club will be present at this meeting. as business of the utmost im- portance must be attended to-
 F. M. JACKSON, President.
 Move for State Building.
 So far as can be learned at present no definite steps have been taken for the erection of an Alabama building at the fair. and this state will be among the few which have no ralIying place there for their people.
 Since visiting St. Louis the Commercial club committee is impressed with the great importance of having a representa- tive state building there. and will proba- ply set on foot a movement by which a reduced representation of the capitol at Montgomery can be erected. President Jackson has addressed letter to presi- dent Lane of the State Industrial associ- ation. recommending that a meetIne of that body De heid at an eafly date to take