The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-31
MERCHANTS TALK
 OF HOLIDAY TRADE
, continued from Fl..h Paee.)


 new depot is built, and a great change in business location and spread in differ ent directions throughout the city.
 Arthur Barton, manager of the Cox Shoe company: Another year is drawing to close and the question may be asked, Have we used it rightly
 'rhe growth of Birmingham has been phenomenal, but we have hardly begun. We do not seem to appreciate our sur roundngs A visit to other sections or the country will force a comparison and then we are made to see what great section we have about us. The people Of this district have much to be thankful for and we have tried to keep our pusi- ness up with the growth of the city. We sincerely thank the people of Birming- ham and the district for their liberal pat ronage, which has made this the biggest year of our history"
 '. .lthout an Equal.
 Louis saks: 'The year 1905 will go down in commercial annals without an equal in business prosperity. Birming- ham certainly reaped rich harvest.
 Max Blach of J. Blach x Sons: T at tribute our wonderful prosperity to the general material progress prevailing throughout the country during the past year. But 1906 will bring even more last ing results" ,oo, ..,,,
 n Rich of the shoe firm: "If 1906 will prove half as profitable to our way or fitting as 1905, then the prosperity or Birmingham Is assured forever and day"
 M Well of Well & Bro.: "When say that since I came to Birmingham twenty years ago the year 1906 reacheu the .op rung of the business ladder. l know what al We will nave SeI m an extension ladder if we expect lsoo to reach the remarkable record or the year just closed .,,,,,
 R N Wheeler of Hood & Wheeler: My firm has enjoyed the best business py nearly 50 per cent since it has been io- cated here. and trade is as good now as before Christmas. I attribute the increase in trade to low prices and high quality of goods offered for sale
 MrS Strickland of the Stowers Furniture company. '1905 has been the best ana most successful year in our existence. The local trade increased % per cent In the past three months
 IT V Boardman: NO previous year since the organization of this company has eoualled that of 1905 in sales and profits" ture company: '1905 surpassed all previous years and I predict that the coming year will eclipse It's predecessor in progress in all lines"
 F. B. Norton: Comparisons count for little in estimates of annual prosperity. The results of 1903 were quite as gratify- ing to me as those of 1905" MT. Patton of the Patton-Pope Drug company: 1905 takes the commercial cake for prosperity. The tide of progress will not be diverted from this district for many years to come.
 MT, Cheek of the Cheek Drug company: '19O5 was the most profitable year ex- perienced by this firm In three years. We show 50 per cent increase in sales c. M. Roy of the Red Cross pharmacy: "The marvellous growth of Birmingham during the past year cannot be shown to greater advantage than in the remarkable increase of the drug trade A. s. Smith, the jeweler "As jewelry Is not an absolute necessity, 1t Is there fore a safe guide to test the popular pulse among the common people. The jewelry trade during 1905 Is without prece- dent fin this city, the tendency of all buy CTS being to invest in the highest quality of goods"
 Mir. Gilbert of the Gilbert Trunk fac- tory: This firm showed business in crease of 40 per cent during the year 1905 over all preceding years
 Would Be Content. Mir Rose of the lobe Rose company: "I would be content with one-half the business in 1906, which came my way in 19G5."
 Lee Slaughter of Joe & Lee Slaughter: Nineteen hundred and five has proved the most profitable year since 1So0, and only regret that there are no more