The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-05
CLUB DISCUSSES TUSCALOOSA ROAD Want Facts About Expenses of
 Such Road IN FAVOR OF RECIPROCITY Club Endorses Movement of Chamber of Commerce of the State of New
 York--New Indus
 tries.
IN FAVOR OF RECIPROCITY


 mercial club yesterday afternoon was the discussion of the proposed railroad from Birmingham to the Warrior river near Tuscaloosa.
 The question was brought up by the re- port of the committee on railroads and transportation of which Henry Hidden is the chairman. After discussion it was decided to refer the matter to a special committee to be appointed by the chair President Motion has named w. D. IJrou- hart chairman of the committee and will appoint the other members this morning. Mir. Hiden reported that he had sent copies of the letter of Col. w. II. Graves in which the suggestion Of line to the Warrior was made to the members of the committee. MT. Hidden said that he thought information was needed on a number of points before the club would be in a position to take any action in regard to the matter. He recommended that a special committee be appointed to secure information on the following points and report to the club as soon as possible:
 '1. Whether if built. the railroad should be owned by the city of Birming- ham or private corporation.
 "2. What will likely be the cost of building the road and getting such terminals as may be necessary in order to secure bus mess. Captain Graves speaks of thirty or thirty-hve miles of road, but if we are to carry the road to the Warrior river below Tuscaloosa, the distance would cer- tainly be greater than that.
 "S Information Is needed as to the cost of equipment necessary 10 accommodate the business.
 "A. Cost of transfer to the boats and cost of barging, and who shall control the line of boats It will be absolutely necessary to have the water line work closely in connection with the railroad or the equipment would soon be tied up, or if they unloaded at the water side. waiting for the boats to release the equip ment extra cost for handling would en- sue"
 Communications were read from B. F. Moore and Allen J. Krebs, endorsing the suggestion made by Captain Graves, as one which. if carried out, would greatly Deleut l1t CllNs i1. WlAhilioOhs i<SC tioi Js John T. Whitfield. A. driggs, Charles A. Stillman, J. l. Blount, George E. Lum and T. T. Ashford, either doubted the ad- visibility of establishing such line or were not well enough acquainted with the subject to render an opinion.
 Plan Opposed.
 It was the opinion of these opposing the plant that the cost of operation would far exceed the income of the road. The following reasons were set forth by MT. stillman for objecting to the establishing of such a line
 .1. There is no export market for pig iron or coal at this time that would war rant the investment
 "2 There would be no return traffic and cars would have to be hauled back empty.
 '3 It can hardly be expected that the railroads will name a low rate from mines and furnaces that they now tap, to junction point with the new railroad Such charge would be at least 20 cents per ton on pig iron ond coal.
 "A. The unloading from cars and the reloading on barges and the cost of trans portation would exceed the present rates made by the railroads.
 Colonel Graves stated in his letter that A line to lock 13 on the Warrior river would open vast coal lands now lying unproductive. He suggested that the in- yestors building the road might buy 5OOo acres of this land and the property would be security on a mortgage to cover the expenses of establishing the line.
 w. J. Cameron, chairman of the com mittee on mining and manufacturing, re- ported that since the last meeting he had received communications relative to the establishment of knitting mill to manu- fracture sweaters, jackets. etc, and also regarding a spoke and hardwood factory
 The report of the committee recom- mends the incorporation of a stock com pany as suggested by James Bowron with a capital of s100000, the object of which is to lend money to worthy manufacturing concerns whose capital is not sufficient to enable them to locate here.
 The committee on public policy, of which w D. Nesbitt is the chairman, re- ported as follows:
 Report on Reciprocity.
 "The Commercial club has been advised ,,nder date of June 23 by the Chamber of Commerce of the state of New York, that the aid of this body is desired in awakening public interest and the effort of congressional representatives in obtain ing reciprocity agreements with many foreign countries, whose present or con- temnlated tariff laws will work great detriment to our foreign commerce.
 ..your committee on public policy reconi- mends that the club heartily cooperate win the New York Chamber of Con- ,,orce and that said body be so ad- ,,sed bv vour secretary and requested to ad,,sa the Commercial club when and in what way they can co-operate.' The re- mort was unanimously adopted without discussion.
 Weather Observatory.
 The special committee appointed to ir- oure into the establishment of weather ohservatory here asked for an extension of time. which was granted. Several mem bers of the committee are absent from the city.
 congressman 0. w. Underwood was present at the meeting and reviewed the afsorts made to secure a complete weather observatory for Birmingham. He said that the government would not spend more than $10000 on the observatory, and that with that amount a lot could not be nurchased and the building erected.