The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-01-28

 ham Railway, Light and Power company, and with Eugene Fies of the firm of Fies & Sons. and he was satisfied that, if they could induce the right man to become the head of the enterprise success would be assured
 Fortunately, he said, they had at hand Just the man needed for such position, namely, Eugene Fies. MT. Joseph was glad to announce that MT. Flies would as- sume the responsibility of president and manager of the company MT. Joseph closed by nominating MT. Fes to be tenn porary chairman of the meeting
 In taking the chair Mr. Fies said he heartily favored the proposition under | consideration and was confident It would succeed if the business men of Birming ham would come to the front and enlist heartily in the work.
 After appointing G. c. Engstfeld to be temporary secretary, MT. Fies invited suggestions from other persons present
 Mir. Jemlson's Views.
 Robert Jemison, president of the Bir mingham Railway, Light and Power com pany, promptly gave an elaborate ex- position of the value of fairs in general to a community, and especially of the prospective value of the proposed asso- citation to Birmingham.
 Propositions, said he, were, as President
 
 time-keepers of progress" Indeed, they were more than that They were the forces that invited not only the transient visitor and the transient spender, but 1 also the permanent resident and the permanent investor.
 Then MT. Jemison passed from things general to things particular-from the | abstract to the concrete-and delighted the company by illustrating the definite point he had In mind.
 A Bit of Autobiography
 The thing that had won him from the classic shades of Tuscaloosa-that center of Athenian culture, character and charm and led him, a young man, to settle in Birmingham and determine here to make of hfe a success or a failure, was an l eXposition-a fairl
 He had up to that time, lived all his life in Tuscaloosa. To him Tuscaloosa was the greatest place in the world. There was in his judgment at that period of his life. nothing outside of Tuscaloosa that could possibly increase the sum total of human knowledge or could pos sibly add to the store of human exper- fence. He not only believed this when he lived In his Tuscaloosa shell, he actually knew 1t.
 A Vision and Prophecy.
 
 the spirit of his dreams He rode Into Birmingham to see-the exposition The town was muddy He was wet tired and dirty when he got here. He went out to the fair, saw the products displayed there, and with that power of discern ment peculiar to all persons whose for tune 1t Is to be born and to live in Tus- caloosa, he at first apprehended and at length comprehended that Birmingham was to be the luagic City. He saw the young, crude town touched into life by some Alladln's wand-springing up with al, the strength of youth, with the wealth O. Indus rolling at her feet
 In a word he came, he saw and he was completely conquered.
 So, said he, If we would form this per manent exposition company, many an- other young man, and middle-aged man. too with brains in his head, and touch of iron in his blood, would come to Bir- mingham and, coming, would resolve to return to this town and make of 1t his permanent home.
 What the Doctors Ordered.
 In a word, the exposition company was just the prescription that a wise physi- elan would write out for Birmingham s true development MT Jemison insisted however, that the prescription be care fully and promptly prepared and taken | Il 1. was to be put up by some quack drug clerk In a dilatory fashion, he would not be responsible for it's effects upon the patient In fact, to make the exposition a success, work ought to begin at once and be prosecuted vigorously till the fall. If they'd do that they'd have fair that would help everything in town from the peanut stand to the pulpit.
 Thoughts By MT. Crawford.
 Webb Crawford was on his feet the mo- ment MT Jemison sat down. Webb was for the exposition body, soul and brooches" He thought the selection of MT. Fies was a bully good way to start the thing off, and he was cock sure the company would be a great success and would bring all kinds of money and the best kinds of men and the prettiest kind of women and the fastest horses to the greatest town in the south.
 Press Will Support lt.
 Ross c. Smith was so moved by MT. Crawford's speech. as well as by the others that had preceded that he took ioecasion to express his confidence that such a movement began In such a way by such an inspiriting company of gen | tlemen could not in the very nature of things fail to be carried forward with re- markable success. MT. Smith assured the l company that the newspapers of the city would cooperate most heartily in the ef- fort to make the association successful.
 Formally Endorsed.
 At this point a motion was made by Mayor Drennen which was afterward reduced to writing and later amended so as to read as follows:
 l Resolved that it is the sense of this meeting that a fair and exposition com pany, capitalized at not less than $25O00 be organized, for the purpose of pre- senting annual exhibits of the products of the soil, the mines and the manufac- tories and of live stock in the state of Alabama, and that the first exhibit be held in the fall of 19O5."
 The resolution evoked a lively discus sion which, without a dissenting voice heartily commended the project. After many members had endorsed the resolu- ton, it was unanimously adopted.
 Subscriptions Begin.
 Then NJ V. Joseph thought it was about time to light a fuse and start the | subscription fireworks.
 ''In behalf of the firm of Loveman. Joseph & Loeb.' said he, in applying the match 'I subscribe s1000 for the Birming- ham Fair and Exposition company"
 Robert Jemison followed MT. Joseph. "As the representative Of the Birming- | ham Railway, Light and Power company T I {yo nf