The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-09-22
THAT OFFICE BUILDING
COMMITTEE NOT DISCOURAGED AT
 ACTION OF COUNCIL.
Business Men Will Ascertain Consensus of Opinion as to Using Court Square for a Twelye-Story
 Structure.

The committee of Montgomery busi- ness men which has in hand the pro- ject to construct a twelve story, octa- gon- shaped off1ce building. on Court Square, Is not discouraged by the re- jection of the proposition by the City Council
 Chairman George W. Jones of the committee declared yesterday that he believed the project was popular with the citizens of Montgomery and that when the Council held its next meet ing his committee hoped to be able to show the Aldermen that their constlt- ucnts wanted the building to replace | the fountain on the square.
 l There was meeting of the commit | tee yesterday afternoon in the office of | Cha airman Jones, and plan of cam paign was outlined It is proposed to | submit postal cards to a large numb 1r of business men and property owners | for an expression of opinion on using | Court Square as the site for an office building. If majority of these an | swers favor the project. the commit | fed to go before the Council again. If 1t is shown that the office building is l not wanted on the Square, the project
 will be abandoned.
 mercial and Industrial Association, who appointed the committed. and who is also Alderman from Ward 3. said yes terday that he had no doubt whatever | that a majority of the people of Mont gomery desired the office building on
 "As an Alderman and as President of the Association, am acting under that belief" said Captain Forbes. "Of course If 1t Is shown beyond doubt that our people do not want to put the | Square to that use I will abandon the
 it should be borne in mind. too" merely asking to have this matter slo,, for consideration. The rental which it is proposed to pay for use of the SqId.e should not be weighed by citizens in considering the project. That IS Council gives one. of its committees authority to consider the proposition. It should also be remembered by citi- gems in thinking of the proposed build ing that 1t is not to take up any more of the room on the Square than Is now taken by the fountain.
 Under the caption Montgomery Got the Wrong Name" The Birmingham Age-Heraid of yesterday denies that the proposition to build a twelve story structure in Montgomery came from Mir Woodward of that city. The Age Herald published extracts from the Montgomery Council proceedings Of Monday evening and added:
 Tt Is understood here in Birming- ham that Montgomerians are mistaken in their idea that MT Woodward of Birmingham is behind the movement to construct the sky scraper. It may be that Birmingham capital is seeking such an investment but the denial of MT. Woodward's connection with 1t comes from reliable sources"
 When shown this statement yester- day Chairman Jones of the Office Build ing Committee said that while the proposition did not come direct from Mir. Woodward himself, it was submit ted by Brown Brothers of Birmingham with the verbal statement that they represented MT. Woodward in the mat ter.
 Mir Jones said he regretted that tho name of Mir Woodward had been drawn into the discussion and that the use of his name was due to the heat of debeate in the Council
 T was sitting in the lobby of the Council Chamber" said MT. Jones opposing the proposition, made frea qeunt alIusion to the proposition being from an anonymous capitalist. knew that Alderman Forbes would sup port the proposition and I wrote him a note in which I said that if it be- came necessary he could say that the offer was submitted by MT. Woodwards agents. In the heat of debate Alder man Forbes neglected to say that it came from agents of MT. Woodward and 1t appeared that the offer was made by MT Woodward himself"
 Chairman Jones added that there was no doubt that the proposal was bona fide He said he had numerous letters from Birmingham bankers endorsing the firm which desired to construct the office building and that the committee waa well assured that the firm meant business and was amply able to per form the contract proposed