The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-25
FORMER GOVERNOR
JACKSON'S VIEWS
NaryIand's Distinguished Man
of Affairs Praises Birmingham
COAL, IRON AND STEEL
Districts Development Healthy-coaI
Fields Offer Profitable Investments.
Democratic outlook-Presldent's
Southern Policy.
AL, IRON AND STEEL

The Hon. e. e. Jackson, former COVER
nor of Maryland, one of the most popular
men who ever held that office and a re-
oognized leader in the industrial and
financial development of his state, talked
interestingly at the Hillman last night of
the progress and possibilities of the Biz
mingham district and of the political stu
alton throughout the country.
Governor jackson was chief magistrate
of the state of Maryland from 1888 to 1892,
was a prominent candidate for the United
States senatorship from Maryland in 1903,
and has repeatedly declined nominations
for Congress in his district ON the eastern
shore. He is at the head of the well
known lumber firm of e. b. Jackson &
Co. of Maryland. and has large interests
in various other industries. He is in Biz
mingham on a trip in which business is
combined with recreation, and is being So
clally 'lionized by every one who is given
the pleasure of meeting him.
A successful business man, Governor
Jackson has all the grace of character
associated for generations with the
Marylanders of the eastern shore. Withal
he is an admirable representative of the
fine type Marylanders have often elevated
to high public office.
Birmingham Is Solid.
I'm here on a little business trip" said
the Governor last night as he sat in the
lobby of the Hillman. And I'm having
a good time, too. It's pretty hard for a
man like me to come south and not thor
oughly enjoy himself. My friends here
have made my visit delightful. and l shall
take back with me the happiest possible
impressions of my stay here.
Birmingham is already a great city,
and is growing greater every year. Its
development is remarkable. l am glad
to see that it rests upon sound sub
stantial basis. 1t is wise not to attempt
to boom or develop too rapidly an indus
trial center. Birmingham's growth Is
healthy The men responsible for the dis
trict's development have adopted the wise
policy of not biting off more than they
can chew.
A Word About the Future.
1.-The more / see of the district the
more am convinced that this is only the
beginning of what is to be. You have
only begun to scratch around the margin
of your possibilities here. The time will
surely come when Birmingham will be the
great steel and iron center of the CONT
nent. Already you are making here the
DeSl steel rdllS III the WOTlu. his Iea-
ture of your industries can be and will
be developed enormously in time.
The Coal Industry.
IT expect to see the coal industry here
reach a far greater development than 1t
has yet attained. The opportunity for in
vestment in the coal fields is as good as
can be found anywhere. Pennsylvania
coal fields are selling at $1,000 an acre.
Those in the Birmingham district bring
about $50. l should not advise {, too rapid
development of these fields, but / think 1t
would be wise to hold these land to work
them gradually with an eye to the mar
ket supply and demand. The time will
come when they will be exceedingly val
liable
A Case In Point.
I'm 1888 my friend Senator Camden, of
West Virginia, and his associates bought
10000 acres Of coal lands in that state for
5000 900. They invested In the property
1890, 900. For five years the profits were
not great The hard times of 1858 came
on and the stockholders clamored for
profits Senator Camden bought all the
stock at par, paying the stockholders 8
per cent on their investment from the
time the stock was issued. In 1S97-four
years later-he sold the property upon
which he had spent 81 100000 for $4,000
In cash and an annual royalty or $3.50
600 for fifty years. In other words, he
will get $15.5OO 900 for that sl,2OO,O0O invest
ment. l cite this case to illustrate how
valuable these coal lands in the Birming-
ham district may become"
The Democratic Outlook.
What do you think of the democratic
outlook Governor was asked, with the
purpose of obtaining Governor Jackson s
political Views.
The Governors face wrinkled in a dry
smile that lasted perhaps thirty seconds.
1.-The democratic outlookg saidi he.
WELL" with another smile. Just at
present 1t looks as IL there isn't any
democratic outlook. Yes; 1t appears that
Mr.. Bryan is likely to capture the or
ganization in 1908, but it is difficult to
forecast the future.
II didn't vote for Mr.. Bryan in 1896.
| didn't vote for Greeley in 1872; didnt
vote for President at all either year.
Just voted the democratic state and con-
gressional tickets, and let the presiden-
tial ticket alone.
Last year the odds were all against
us | think Mr.. Cleveland would have
run better than Judge Parker did in the
east but the Bryan people would not
have supported him. l hardly think he
would have been elected"
MIR. Roosevelt and the Railways.
What do you think of Mr.. Roose-
velt's fight against railway rebates?"
"Oh bless me 7 don't know The SUBJ