The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-09-13
Ideas Regarding Most Impor-
 tant Things Taking Place
INTERVIEWS ARE OBTAINED
Citizens Point Out That Prosperity of Birmingham Surpasses the Most sanguine Expectations of
 Year Ago.

perity pace early in the year, but the events of far-reaching import that have developed within the past few weeks stir the imagination more than ever and cause even the most enthusiastic prophets to throw up their hands and exclaim, "all this beats my predictions.
 The coming of two important railroads, the Illinois Central and the Atlantic and Birmingham; the purchase by the Frisco of 200 acres on Village creek between North Birmingham and Thomas; the building of a Union passenger station on Fifth avenue. involving an expenditure of s1, 100000 or more; the sale of the Linn building at the corner of First avenue and Twentieth street for $17S5OO the plans for a ifteeen story office building on the Linn site; a new cast iron pipe plant at North Birmingham; the location in Jeff ferson county of a $l,OO0,OO0 plant of the American Car and Foundry company; the building of a plant at North Birming ham for the manufacture of railroad frogs" the building of mammoth blast furnace at Ensley on the site of Furnace No ?; the doubling of the First National banks stock-these and many more big enterprises in sight give an exceptional
 
 industrial and financial center.
 Such representative citizens as The Age | Herald reporters chanced to meet yester day were asked to name the five or six greatest things chronicled recently inuring to the property values and general thrift | of this community.
 Many great things have been done or announced within the past few months.' said Robert Jemison, president of the Birmingham, Light and Power company, | "but if l am to name six, here they are: The Union passenger station, the Illinois Central railroad and the Atlantic and Bir- mingham railroad building into this city; the First National bank increasing it's stock to S1,000000; the projected hotel at the corner of Fourth avenue and Twen- teth street and the projected fifteen story building on First avenue and Twentieth street.
 Said Paschal G. Shook: q regard the greatest of the many great things affect ing Blrmingham's business life the com- mercial success of the Tennessee com- | pany's steel rail plant at Ensley Steel rails were being turned out at Ensley more than a year ago but I would date the absolute success of this industry from the summer of 1905. The railroad compa- nes are using these rails; they have had sufficient time to test them; the rails have given the very highest satisfaction, or In fact unequaled; and the Tennessee company has sold it's entire output up to July 1906. Had the open hearth steel rail proved a failure Birmingham would have experienced terrible back set. As 1t is the future of Birmingham is more prom sing than the most optimistic prophets had ever dreamed of.
 "The second great thing in Birming hams favor Is the recent report of the committee on our water supply. The fil- trs ion plant is in itself most important l foa ft tha of for Rfrfai Inc ham, and the fact that the water works company has practically unlimited ca- pacity the Birmingham of the future will be assured of abundant supply of water for manufacturing well as domestic purposes.
 "The sale of the old Linn property for $l73,500 means much for this citys realty values and the projected fifteen story of flee building will supply pressing need. This fourth skyscraper will be followed soon by a fifth steel frame structure The new union passenger station is another great thing for the city and the fact that the First National bank will double its capital will add much to Biriningham's prestige as financial center"
 President P. P. G. Harding, president fo the First National bank, said that among the greatest things in sight were 1le acquisition by the Frisco of 200 acres of valuable property suited for industrial
 
 and the Atlantic and Birmingham. the fifteen-story office building at the corner of First avenue and Twentieth street, a mammoth union passenger station and a number of large manufacturing concerns
 w. H. Kettig said
 Tn my opinion the six biggest things that have taken place and scheduled to take place in Birmingham are the following, named in the order of their inn portance:
 | 4l.o o-k by the Birmingham Water Works com pany.
 "The enormous and perfect develop ment of the street railway system in Birmingham and vicinity.
 "The success of the steel rail mill at Ensey.
 "The advance in price of pig iron and the enormous demand for iron products of all kinds throughout the country.
 "The new proposed hotel.
 "The new union depot
 A. L. Fulenwider, president of the Bir- mngham Realty company, believes that the era of street paving is one of the most important steps in the city's pro- gress. and he emphasizes >Sat feature He said
 Tn my mind the things which will mean most for the upbuilding of Birming- ham are the erection of the new union passenger station. the coming of the 1lli- nois Central the building of the Jefferson hotel the new fifteen-story office building, the location here of the $l,000, 900 plant of { the American Car and Foundry company.
 q believe that during the administration of George Ward nearly every important street in Birmingham will be paved. Just look at the Improvements of the past six months those being made at present and those contemplate Birmingham will have more paved streets than any city of its size in the country"
 What are the biggest things that have happened recently in Birmingham" said w. w. Crawford, president of the American Trust and Savings bank. Well should say that the new union passen- ger station is the most important. Another thing I think great is the spirit that the people have shown in taking hold of our state fair proposition and lending their aid They are showing that spirit of hanging together in large undertak- ings and making them successful. The ffteen-story building on the< corner of | Twentieth street and First avenue is an- other important factor in the cty's de- velopment, and the paving of Twentieth street to the Highlands Is improve ment that will benefit thousands. The entrance into Birmingham of the Crane company, and it's purchase of large piece of land on the southside is an- other thing that means much to the city, and the location of the frog and switch plant at North Birmingham adds still another new and valuable industry to the district. In conclusion I would say that the plant of the American Car and tr-.. .