The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-02-13


 ---~-~------------~ the Birmingham district was best for every man in it. Earnestly, prayerfully we co-operated with one another in the one dihnite object we had in view, name ly, to develop the wonderful resources deposited in this district by bountiful and gracious Providence. In the develop ment of these resources we saw opportun- ities not merely for personal enrichment, but also for doing lasting benefit to our neighbors and our nelghbors children, to l the third and fourth generation" A Lover of Ills Fellow Man. At this point, MT. deBardeleben called the roll of the old pioneers, and of their { wives and related incidents of suffer- ing and self-saeriflce that brought tears to his listeners as well as to his own eyes. They were the words Of man who loved his felowmen and who now that he Is passing out of the green Of life, regrets not that he loved them.
 When I think of the spirit that ami mated and directed these men" said MT. deBardeleben. recovering his composure, T feel that the work done by them should not be appropriated by, or for, any single individual
 "A Living, Breathing Monument"
 "1 should like to see built to their memory a monument that would be practically helpful to the whole commun- i ity: a living, breathing monument; a monument that would be a fountain of wise charity: a monument that would constantly alleviate human suffering monument In a word, that would illus trate the spirit of true helpfulness and Christian brotherllness that knitted to- gether the old pioneers.
 "The Vulcan statue" said MT. deBar- deleben. was wrought to subserve purely | commercial interests. It has accomplish 1 ed it's purpose. and accomplished 1t we'll | If erected in Birmingham. 1t would per l petuate the material side of our industrial life. If we desire to give our life a cer- | tain spiritual significance, l suggest that l Vulcan be reduced to the elements from which 1t was wrought. and the pro- l eeeds be used as a nucleus for a large 1 fund that will enduringly help our people in some practical form
 The Poor With Us Always.
 "One of the greatest needs of Bir- mingham today is adequate provision for free hospital treatment of our less for tunate brothers and sisters. Ours is a new and constantly growing community. l Our industries are diversified A large element of our population is made of | new blood-to use a harsh word, of l strangers. Here, as elsewhere in the l world, we know that the poor are with us always
 ''Let us, then in honor of the pioneers 1 take steps at once to provide for the faithful care of all these unfortunate members of society. Let us insure for them not only now. but for all time, prop CT hospital attention and treatment in | case they be overtaken by misfortune. That would be a memorial that all public spirited citizens would be proud of. and one, too, that would I know. | make the hearts of all the pioneers glad | "1 propose that we set at work to pro- vide an annuity of $50.000 to be used for the charity patients in the Birmingham | hosptals-St. Vincent and the Hillman-- distributing the money pro rata between | them.
 Money Can be Raised.
 "This can readily be done The | money obtained by the sale of Vulcan l would start the fund. The amount would, of course. be comparatively small, but 1 it would represent d great idea--an idea that would enlist the hearty support of | all public spirited citizens.
 | Such fund, so begun. would, I believe, grow rapidly. All the living pioneers would contribute handsomely to 1t. 1 am sure I would regard 1t as an honor | to subscribe to so worthy a cause. All the railway companies would leap at such an opportunity to help their em- | ployees. The great industrial corpora tions that employ large numbers of workmen would do likewise. Banks and | commercial bodies would. feel sure, give the cause unstinted support. Details of the Plan, | "I propose that we provide for an an- nuity of s50.00O That represents the in- | terest at 5 per cent. on S1,000.000 Accord ing to the plan have in mind. we need | tc raise only one-tenth of a million dol lars-that Is $100,000.
 We can invest $100.000 in undeveloped coal lands in this state today that will bring us fin royalties alone not less than s50.000 year for loo years.
 "All we have to do is to buy the lands and lease them out on a royalty basis of cents a ton. When all the lands pur- chased with this s100,000 are leased out and the mines are working, the royalty profits will be-and I risk my reputation | on the statement-not less than s50.OO0 a year. The lands should, of course. be purchased by disinterested experts ap- | pointed for the purpose.
 | Railway and Coal Companies. "I repeat that the railways and coal companies alone should be. and I be- lieve would be, willing to contribute the necessary s100OO0. The cause Is one, | oil ott;