The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-07-23
.FR|SCO'S ENGINEER
 PRAISES DISTRICT KIingberg Says Greater Bir- mingham is Sure to Come CONSOLIDATION IS LOGICAL city's Importance as Railway Center Emphasized-Frisco's Work at
 PaIos-Negro Labor Re
 garded Unsatisfactory.
CONSOLIDATION IS LOGICAL

Robert Klingberg of St. Louis, an as- sistant engineer of the Frisco system, who has been in Birmingham several days making preliminary examination or the ground near the Palos mines, with view to running the Frseo's tracks Into that territory, talked interestingly last night at the Morris of Birmingham-its past it's present and it's probable future.
 '.While sitting here tonight" said MT. Klingberg, "I have been marveling at the wonderful changes that have taken piacs in Birmingham and the Birmingham dis- trict in the last eight years. When came here in 1897, corner lots at Pratt olly could be bought readily for SlOo each. NOW they cannot be purchased for SlOOO eaeh' This increase In values is even more re- markable within the city limits. but 1t IS fortunate for Birmingham proper that US astonishing growth has been accompanied by remarkable progress in all its suourps' This steady, rapid growth indicates to my mind that here within a radius Of fifteen miles of the city hall is to be built up greater Birmingham that consolidation of all towns and cities within that radinm is sure to come some day, and that De- fore eight or ten years more pass Greater Birmingham will number not less than 250. GOO souls. I think that is a conservative estimate.
 Railway men throughout the country recognize that Birmingham is to be the great industrial city of the south Al ready 1t is a splendid railway center. Many lines are here now and more VIII surely come in time. Whatever line can get in will make Birmingham one or US objective points. There can be no doubt of that. The competition nowadays IS keen made so as it is by the enormous natural resources of the district and its enormous tonnage. Each road IS watch- ing alertly the situation and seeking where it can extend its trackage with ad- vantage.
 If I were resident of the district l would work for a Greater Birmingham- that is consolidation. Many of the su- burbs should be, and I think, will be made in the near future part of the city.
 Birmingham is today in many respects less provincial than any other southern town. It's cosmopolitan SplIie "iii my tally invite consolidation. Greater Bir- mingham is the logical thing to work for"
 MT. Klmgbery then spoke of the lack of efficiency of negro labor.
 q have had a great deal to do with negro labor" said he, "in railway Wofk' and my experience and observation does not lead me to appraise highly its value In one word, the negro is not trustworthy. He needs to be watched and constantly directed He has little if any initiative and even less persistence But he must be utilized now as we can not get along without him. When the tide of immigra- tion sets toward the south, as 1t will In time. the problem will be solved. It is not pleasant to think of the negro outlook when the blacks are confronted in the industrial field with the more et- acient white labor. It will be disheart- ening illustration of the survival or the httest'-and the negro will not prove to be the most fit"