The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-05-22
BANQUET ID
 THE VISITORS Ala Consolidated Party Enter-
 tained at the HHImaD MANY HAPPY SPEECHES
Directors of the Company Hold Meet ing and Declare Dividend-The Visitors -save fo the East
 This Morning.

The party of capitalists from Baltimore, Richmond and other cities, interested in the Alabama Consolidated Coal and Iron company, who have been inspecting their properties at Ironton, Gadsden, Attalla, Lewisburg, Mildale and Searles, spent Wednesday night and last night in Bir- mingham, and will return to their homes this morning.
 The directors of the Alabama Consol- dated held meeting yesterday evening and declared a dividend of 1% per cent and then the party attended banquet at the Hotel Hillman, rendered by Col T. G. Bush, president of the company.
 The banquet was served in the private dining room. At one end of the table sat President Bush and at the other Presi- dent Douglas H. Gordon of the Interna- tional Trust company of Baltimore.
 The other guests were J. w. Midden- dorf, vice president of the Seaboard Ar Line; E. H. Thomson, vice president Of the International Trust company of Bal timore Richard H. Edmonds, editor of the Manufacturers Record of Baltimore; William c. Seddon of Baltimore, banker; Charles T. Westcott of Baltimore, secre- tary and treasurer of the Alabama Con- solidated Coal and Iron company; Angus Cameron of Baltimore, manufacturer; 1 Charles Catlett of Staunton, Va, coal and iron expert; William G. Baker, Jr., capitalist; George w. watts of Dur ham, N C., capitalist and a prom inent stockholder of the American Tobac- co company; Frank Weldon of Atlanta, editor of the Common Carrier; l J. P. Tillman of Birmingham, counsel for the Alabama Consolidated Coal and Iron company; G. V. Lewis of Richmond, president of the Old Dominion Iron and Nail works; Warner Moore of Richmond, H. L. Cabell, vice president Richmond Trust and Safe Deposit company; J. Scott Parrish of the Richmond Cedar works; Thomas S. Wheelwright of Rich- mond, representing John L. Williamson, banker; Frankland Bragg of New York, attorney; W. II. Allison of Richmond, manufacturer; William Holliston or Richmond, president National Bank of Virginia; James H. Moore of the Rich mond News-Leader; w. G. Rothert Of Richmond, capitalist.
 After the menu was sufficiently dis cussed President Bush bade a welcome to the old and new friends present and i only regretted that the visit of his guests was so brief. He said he trusted they would be encouraged to come again. He called on MT. Gordon, who in turn dele gated to MT. Edmonds the honor of making his speech.
 complimented Edmonds. President Bush paid high compliment 1 to MT. Edmonds, who, he said in intro ducing him. had done more to develop this section of the south than all other l agencies combined
 1 MT. Edmonds said 1t was his one aim and one ambition to stimulate the south l to do its own work. He rejoiced in every dollar invested in the south and in every man who came south to live. but the mistake southern people have made is | in thinking we cannot do things for our | selves.
 Mir. Edmonds said that Abram Hewitt I was one of the greatest men that ever lived and that he had implicit faith in the l south and in MT. Bush as one of it's best exemplars. MT. Hewitt had said on one occasion that if MT Bush could be tempt cd to leave Alabama and come to New York, he would pay him any salary to manage his Iron business.
 The speaker said he rejoiced to note that the Alabama Consolidated Coal and Iron company is doing more than twice as much as 1t promised to do in its pros pectus, and very few companies come up to what they promise.
 Mr. Edmonds then gave some figures in which he predicted hundred per cent in- crease in business for Alabama along cer- tain lines in the next ten years.
 Other Speakers.
 | MT. G. V. Lewis of Virginia, the next speaker predicted for Alabama greater success in iron and coal and limestone in the future than ever before. The Indian name for Alabama, interpreted. is: Here we rest" If my ties were not so strong elsewhere" said MT. Lewis. T would gla1ly respond to that sentiment by re- naining here forever
 | w c. Seddon said that he was eloquent on three subjects only-God. Christ and | the Alabama Consolidated. His advice to | his friends was to sell all their goods and | invest in Alabama.
 l MT. Tillman of Birmingham was then