The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-02-06
CLUB DISCUSSES
THE BIG IRON MAN
State GeoIogist Smith Outlines
His Plans for Exhibit
HARDING HAD SUGGESTION
James Howron Makes Ringing Speech.
other Matters of Interest Were
Taken Up and Dis
cussed.

Vulcan and the means of erecting It was
again, the chief topic of interest at the
meeting of the Commercial club yester-
day afternoon. State Geologist Eugene
A Smith was present. and outlined
plan throughout for getting the mineral
exhibit which is to be placed around the
base of the statue
James A. MacKnight, who has recently
returned from Passaie. n. j., where the
plaster cast of the statue is being COM
pleted, also spoke on the subject of ex-
hibit and the impression that the Vulcan
statue makes on the people who see it.
Mr.. Harding's Suggestion.
w. p. G. Harding suggested that in
order to raise more money for the ex-
penses of the Vulcan exhibit each bank
and other business concerns In the state
which was willing should be made a de-
pository for the Vulcan fund, and that
every man who gave 81 towards the fund
be given a receipt which entitled him to
one of the statuettes either upon applica-
ton at ST. Louis or at the Commercial
club.
In this way Mr.. Harding thought that
the movement would be made more pop
ular and that more people would be in
terested. His suggestion was adopted and
will be carried out The sense of his
remarks was that public interest should
be aroused in the movement, and that the
press should take the matter up more
vigorously =.
Bowron Makes Speech.
James Bowron was called on to speak
about the matter of the exhibit, and he
made a ringing talk. lie stated that the
greatest feature of the exhibit in his
opinion should be to impress people by
the size of the statue and then hold their
attention by the exhibit at the base. The
exhibit should be such that the greatest
advantages of the district would be set
forth, and that they should be so arrang-
ed that 'he who ran might read" The
point which should be most impressed on
the minds of the public at the exposition
was the proximity of the various materi-
ais needed for making pig iron. Mr.
Bowron stated that anywhere around
the horn or anywhere on the forty
miles of the belt railroad, COAL iron ore
and limestone could be collected at any
one point for IS cents per gross ton, and
that this was impossible at any other
place in the world. This, he said, showed
the remarkable proximity of the materi-
ais needed, and the extreme low cost of
assembling them.
Mr.. Bowron also emphasized the fact
that the finest steel in the country is be-
ing made here. His talk was heartily ap-
plauded by the members .of the club. and
he was urged to write out his remarks and
have them published in full, which will
be done.
Mr.. Joseph.
M. V. Joseph suggested that it would
be a good idea to print the names of those
who have already subscribed to the yul-
can fund, and also those who subscribe in
the future. He also thought that the news
papers should be urged to again push the
matter to whatever extent was possible.
President jackson reported that it would
require about s17,50O to complete the
statue and pay all expenses. He divided
the expenses as follows:
$1,000 for sculptor.
$500 for freight.
$500 for costs at St Louis.
$4,000 for current expenses.
$500 for assembling. placing and MAIN
tanning the mineral exhibits.
The committee now has on hand about
$4,000 or $4,000, and needs something like
$1,000 or $4,000 more. He called on volun-
teers to take out one of the lists and
solicit subscriptions. Several responded.
otate GeoIogist.
State Geologist Smith stated that he
had intended making an exhibit at st.
Louis of the abundant supply of the ma
terial necessary for the manufacturer Of
Portland cement, and that he would III
clude this in the exhibit He also stated
that he would be able to make an excel
lent exhibit of coal, iron ore, limestone,
copper and gold, and have an analysis of
the ores of all of the metals showing the
average yield per ton. He said he would
also have turquoise, smoky quartz white
and varigated marbles. fine clays. kaolins.
porcelains corundum. boxite, green sands
and phosphate ores. He stated that one OF
his assistants would collect the specimens
and that Assistant Anderson would have
charge of the placing and caring for them
at St. Louis.
Mr. Smith stated that small geographic
ica map would be prepared and that ar
rangements could be made to make an