The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-12-06

 tomorrow. Many members of the commit tees are here today and everything vii be ready for business tomorrow. Al meetings of the Grand lodge are held | in the Temple of Alabama Grand lodge | in this city, which is one of the hand somest buildings in the state. The seventh-eighth annual convocation of the Royal Arch Masons was held today and will very likely finish at tomor- | rows session.
 Royal Arch Officers.
 The annual council of the Royal and Select Master Masons was opened this 1 afternoon by Jacob D. Bloch of Mobile. most il1ustrious grand master. | Grand Master R. J. Reddin, of the Grand lodge. will open the regular meet ing tomorrow evening at o'clock.
 The officers of the grand chapter of | the Royal Arch are as follows: Charles R. Bricken, Luverne. M. E. | G. H. Priest.
 Basil M. Hill, Springville, M. E. D. G. H. Priest
 Edward S. Gatchell, Selma, G. E. Grand King.
 Francis H. Bates, Hamburg. R. E. Grand Scribe.
 William H. Dingley Montgomery R. | E. G. treasurer.
 1 George A. Beauchamp, Montgomery, R. E. G. secretary.
 Stewart Mcqueen, Montgomery R. B. | G. chaplain.
 Robert S. Teague, Montgomery, R. E.. | G. c. of host
 Lew Lazarus, Birmingham, E. G. P. sojourner.
 Robert w. Southerland, Mobile, E. G. R. Arch captain.
 John B. Christian, Uniontown, E. G.. | M. of third veil.
 William E. Bingham, Tuscaloosa, E. G. M. of second veil.
 Charles A. Allen, Montgomery, D. grand septinel
 There are fifty active chapters in the state.
 Those Who Are Here.
 Among those who are attending the grand chapter are George w. Salter of Conecuh county, S. H. Daily and W. G. Carver of Monroe county, S. w. Tate of Anniston, H. G. Earnest of Piedmont, T. G. Bush of Ironaton, Judge J. B. Christian of Uniontown, H. w. Metlock, Lew Lazarus, Dr. Ransom and B. M. Jacobs of Birmingham and William Y. Titcomb of Annston. Basil M. Hill of Springville, St. Clair county, will, ac- cording to custom, become the next grand high priest.
 Pleased With New Road.
 All Alabama is delighted that the con- tract for the building of the Mobile and West Alabama railroad has been let, news to that effect having been received from New York. Several days ago 1t was announced that contract had been made with the Terry & Gahagan Con struction company of New York to build this line, and a telegram from L. A. May secretary of the company, has been received confirming the report.
 The line has been surveyed from Mo- bile, through the mineral section, to a point on the Tennessee river. presumably at Florence. The idea of the line is to | give a full sweep to the sea from all the best country of the state From | Florence it will travel through the rich Tennessee river valley to the mineral | belt incident to Birmingham, and then south to the timber section and the finest agricultural country of the globe. This line of road has been the life dream of Judge H. Austill of Mobile who has given years of hard work to its pro- duction. He believes 1t will give to the state one of the most productive lines | of freight and travel that could be built
 Bowle's Land Scheme.
 The Hon. Sidney J. Bowie, congress man from the Fourth district, will pusf his bill to have the government transfer | all mineral lands in Alabama to ths | schools of the state, to be Csed in sucf way as Is thought best to bring abou better educational advantages. The bil was given a favorable report at the las session of congress and MT. Bowie be leves it will pass. He will also en deavor to have bill passed establishing branch of the federal court in Selma and will urge the opening of the Alabama and Coosa rivers by congress.
 Political Activity.
 Activity Is so marked among the Ala bama republicans at this time that evei he who runs may read that there i "something doing of importance at leas to those who are ambitious to serv, Uncle Sam for so much per. The Mobil republican club, of which W. F. Tebbetts collector of the port of Mobile, is pres ident, has held a melting and canvasse' | the situation.
 There are number of offices in Ala bama to be filled. One of these is tn post of Collector Tebbetts at Mobile. Thi | gentleman is nephew or United State Senator Frye and is supposed to have re ceived his appointment by reason of tha | fact. but rumor has it that he Is not il good standing with the administration and his fences need mending. There i also a story to the effect that o. R. Hund | ley of Huntsville, another republican con | vert from democracy in the last fey years has his eye on the Mexico min istership. The marshalship of the middl district is another place where a chang, is expected by some, though MT. L. J Bryan. now holding. hopes to retain hi place. It Is thought that either Charles I. Scott of Mont gomery, or Capt. B. w Walker recent candidate for congress il the fifth district, will get the place. i there is a new man put in.
 At the meeting of the Mobile RepublI can club the following officers were elect ed President w. F. Tebbetts; First Vic'