The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-04-21
ACKERT SAYS PLANT
 WILL NUT BE BUILT
Southern Will Not Manufacture
 Its Locomotives
IA CONFERENCE IS HELD
Committee of Seven Will Be Appointed to Wait on Samuel Spencer, President of the South
 ern Railway.

C. H. Ackert, fourth vice president of the Southern, yesterday afternoon stated to a subcommittee of the committee ot thirty that the railway company did not Intend building a locomotive plant in tho south.
 This subcommittee was appointed at meeting of the general committee held at the Commercial club rooms yesterday afternoon and was composed of Frank Nelson, Jr Gen. Rufus N Rhodes Rob- ert Jemison and M. NJ. Hickey. AIr. Ack- ert had just arrived in the city on the special train which is being used to con vey the railroad commissioners on a tour Of inspection of the Southern lines in Ala bama
 MT. Ackert explained that the report probably grew out of the fact that the Southern was increasing it's repair plant at Knoxville. He said that the matter had been discussed two years ago and that investigations were made at the time as to where the conditions were best suited for such plant. but that the mat ter had not been discussed since. He ex- plained that the labor situation in Bir- mingham would be factor to be eonsd- cred and that it would probably work against the city.
 Must Be Reckoned With.
 MT. Nelson, chairman Of the general committee, told Mr. Aekert that if the matter ever came up Birmingham must be reckoned with. and that the people here would expect the plant to be located in the district. He said that Birmingham gave the Southern more tonnage by many times than any other place on the sys- tenn, and that it was due some consdera- tion
 Mir Aclert replied that Birmingham would certainly be given serious eonsid- eration before the plant, if one was ever built, was definitely located He said, however, that steel and some other things necessary in the construction of locomo- tives would have to be manufactured here first and in such quantity that a large amount of it could be secured for that purpose. He said that at present 1t was l impossible to buy the steel. MT. Ackert | was assured that steel would be manufac-
 
 whenever such plant was assured, and | that it would be only matter of a short time before it would be produced here for all purposes.
 In reply to what he said about labor | members of the committee told MT. Aek- ert that the labor situation was not as it was pictured. It was syated that s5 per cent of the mines were operated open shop, l and that practically all the machine shops | were operated 'open shop"
 MT. Ackert said that the Southern did | not have to reckon with the situation in | Birmingham alone, but all over the sys- tenn. He said, the maehinists were paid more here than in any other shops on the system.
 Mir. Nelson stated after the conference with Mr. Ackert that he would appoint committee of seven to call on Samuel Spencer president of the Southern, and press the matter of securing shops for Birmingham. He said that even if none were to be built at once, it was only matter of time when they would be neces- sary. and that Birmingham should inn press on the Southern officials that the city wanted the plant and intended 10 have it if possible.
 He thought that even if no plant was built it would be a good thing to im- press on the minds of the officials of the Southern, and other railroads as well, that Birmingham wanted what was com ing to it and was ready to get out and fight for what 1t wanted
 Meeting Was Held.
 Previous to the conference a meeting was held in the Commercial club rooms. Mir Nelson stated 4,,t the object of the meeting was to org 1G,' the committee and make plans for in to secure the locomotive plant He 'ed his plans and expressed his yiewsA.v V t,the matter, which were practically ther 1ic as those contained in his letter whicl r, read at the Commercial club r3eetns thursday afternoon. He added that it would be slap in the face of Birmingham if the plant went to any other city.
 Talks were made along the same lines by T. H. Molton, president of the club, and Robert Jemison, president Of the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company Mr. Jemison said that he thought lue usduS pl iilt ldikt Hpn dHu coal companies should be requested to take an active part in trying to secure the plant. and that they should be urged to bring all the pressure they could to bear on the officials of the Southern from every source. He said that the Sloss- Sheffield Steel and Iron company, the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad com pany. the Republic Iron and Steel com pany the Lacey Buck company and other large companies gave tho Southern inn Inense amounts of tonnage, and that if the heads of these companies would bring their pressure to bear on the South