The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-15

railway.
 President Spencer was greeted with distinct ovation when he rose to speak, the applause lasting more than min ute and ending in a vociferous cheer, in which every one joined.
 MT. Spencer's Speech.
 'Mr. Toastmaster and gentlemen of Bir- mingham" said President Spencer. T should perhaps apologize for the fact that it was not my good fortune to be born in the state of Alabama. That, however, is a misfortune for which, I think, you will agree I am not altogether respon- sible, and should not be wholly blamed. I wish to respond to the gracious greet ing you have given us upon our all too brief visit to your great and prosperous city
 "I earnestly wish that we might com ply with the suggestion made by your toastmaster. namely, that the people and the officials of the railways might come oftener and into more intimate contact with one another I am quite sure that if any differences should spring up theDe would be promptly composed the moment the railways and their patrons should come to know and to understand one another's position, and I am quite sure also that the great business we have with one another would go forward more smoothly and more prosperously by req son of our more thorough knowledge of one another's needs and one anothers s difficulties. Let me say that our purpose Is to make these visits as frequent as possible. We are, however, so unfortun- ate that we cannot be everywhere all the time. If we could, we would be here oftener than we are, and l wish to as- sure you that we come here as often as we can, regretting only that we cannot | remain here longer than we do. Interests the Same. My friends, I want to state as clearly and as emphatically as I can that the | interests of the people of the south and the interests of the Southern railway are | indissolubly intertwined with one another. | The Southern railway has steadily grown | till at length it's lines ramify the eleven southern states. East of the Mississippi and south of the Potomac and Ohio rivers | there Is not single state that Is not reached by our lines. It goes without , saying, therefore, that the prosperity of the south means the prosperity of the Southern railway. The Southern railway cannot prosper unless the southern coun- l try through which it runs Is made and kept prosperous. All the capital that we represent rets upon the prosperity of the south and of the cities of the southern states. If the south-if the southern peo- ple-cannot be made to progress and to prosper by the integrity, the earnestness and the steadiness of purpose of the Southern people. there Is for them and for us no hope of success.
 "The Southern railway is bringing to the consideration of problems that affect the development of the south all the in telligence, all the skill and all the capi- tai it can command. It is exhausting every possible resource in It's effort to provide transportation facilities for pro- ducts of Alabama to the outer world. That, gentlemen, Is our purpose. Until ten years ago. the Southern railway was an infant. It was born out of a con- dition of bankruptcy and transportation chaos Since it's birth, it has endeavored to foresee, so far at least as was in it's ken, what was the true line of the south development-what were the natural and logical lines of it's growth and what were the necessities of it's expanding power. It has, I repeat. endeavored to foresee these things.
 Growth Was Fast.
 Two years ago we were I frankly admit, behind you. Alabama and the whole southern country. grew faster than we had anticipated. We didn't quite do all that we might have done. To accom- plish what we have had in mind has been constant and a difficult struggle. with the financial resources that we have had at our command. I hope we have now overtaken you. that we are abreast with you, and that we shall hereafter lead you in the effort to develop this great state
 'Our interests are yours. Our desire is to work hand in hand with you. Ours is a common end-but in our efforts to reach the goal both of us are striving to gain. let us have one thing in mind. The south is today growing faster than any other section of the United States. It requires effort, study. forethought and great financial resources to keep pace with it. Let us. therefore. come together as reasoning human beings and discuss