The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-02-14
Words of Warm Praise from
 Drtnntn, Bacon aud Adfich NOBLE, WISE, PRACTICABLE
Mayor Ardently Comments the sug- gestlon-Don H. Bacon Speaks Out .s for the "ldeaist'-Alorich Says
 "lt's DeBardeleben All Over"

That is the monument that Henry F.. DeBardeleben would like to see built in honor of the industrial pioneers of the Birmingham district.
 Briefly as stated in yesterdays Age Herald, MT. DeBardeleben proposes that S1o0OOO be contributed by the public and invested in undeveloped Alabama coal lands, the lands to be leased out on a royalty basis of cents ton. He says that such an investment will when all lands thus purchased are developed, yield an annuity of s50O0O year for 100 years This money he would like to see devoted to the St. Vincent and Hillman hospitals for the treatment free Of expense of all charity patients.
 Awakens Deep Interest.
 MT DeBardeleben's proposition has awakened deep interest throughout the Birmingham district. By large number of philosophical citizens the purpose MT. DeBardeleben has in mind is heartily commended By many influential leaders in the financial, political and industrial world, the details of MT. DeBardeleben's plan are enthusiastically endorsed.
 Mayor Drennen Endorses 1t.
 Mayor Drennen ardently supports the proposition.
 In response to an inquiry made yes terday for his opinion on the subject the Mayor said:
 q read with a great deal of interest the statement made in this morning s Age-Herald by MT. deBardeleben l not only read every word of it, but l re-read it and considered the whole subject care fully. I liked what he said the first time I read it, and the more I think of his proposition and his plan the more heartily do I endorse both.
 "Knowing whereof I speak, and weigh ing my words as I utter them l sincerely believe that MT deBardeleben's proposi- tion is the best one of it's Ind ever yet made since this city was founded. l am for 1t heart and mind and soul believe not only that the object is philanthropic but that the plan is eminently practicable
 Free Hospital Needed.
 MT. DeBardeleben is clearly right when he points out the need of free hospital  hospitals are doing a great service, but like all institutions. of such.-a character that do good work, the St. Vincent and Hilman hospitals need money and they need it in constantly increasing amount.
 'We must see to it that they get It. The nature of our industries necessarily involves large risks. Not a few persons are, in spite of all possible precautions taken by employers, exposed to the pos sibility of injury. This is true now, and it is likely to be even more true as our prosperity enlarges. We must look this situation sduare1y in the face and do all we can to relieve it.
 Plan Is Practicable.
 ''I for one, believe that MT. DeBardele- ben's suggestion will, if adopted, solve the problem. To persons who are not well informed on the subject his plan may seem to be somewhat visionary From actual knowledge, l believe 1t to be not only feasible but highly practicable.
 "At first blush. it may seem unreasona- ble to suppose that $1O0,OO0, if invested as he suggests, would yield s5O0OO a year in royalties, but his statement is well within the limits of truth. He knows whereof he speaks, and his opinion should command the respect of everyone in the district
 "Mr DeBardeleben has put the ques- ton straight up to our public spirite ed citizens He has presented it in a most attractive form. He has eliminated the possibility of persons who own coal mines in the process of development attempt ing to work them off in exchange for any part of the s10O0OO he wants to raise. He proposes that the money be invested in virgin coal lands.
 An Attractive Feature.
 ''There are a lot 'of men who are in- terested in coal mines in this state. I am one of them We don't come in on this deal The men who will put up the money may be sure that it will be invested wise ly and that the returns from the in- vestment will be approximately what Mir. DeBardeleben says they will be. I believe that in three years his plan, if set in operation, would yield handsome returns and that in ten years all that he promises would be fulfilled.
 Heartily Supports 1t.
 "when I reflect on~the great good that would be done this community by sucn plan. and how the working men and working women woul1 be helped by it, feel like taking off my hat to MT. De- Bardeleben and wishing him God-spe ed in the work. He can count on me to help him in any possible way. I predict that the railway and industrial companies will come up to the scratch promptly, and heartily support the proposition Unless miss my guess the public will back him to a man.
 MT. Bacon's Warm Tribute.
 Don II. Bacon, president of the Ten nessee Coal, Iron and Railroad company and a recognized leader in the industrial world was deeply touched by MT. De- Bardeleben's suggestion and by the man. ner in which Mir. DeBardeeben had pre- sented it.
 That was an exceedingly handsome act in MT DeBardeeben." said MT. Bacon. ''It was handsome in him to de- cline the honor which so many of his friends hoped he would be willing to ac- cept.
 'The honor sought to be paid him was highly deserved by him. but he was too modest to permit if to be bestowed. He