The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-10-25
ABIDING FAITH IN THE C|TY'S FUTURE Harry M, Atkinson Talks of Birmingham'S Greatness PLANS OF HIS ASSOCIATES Same Interests That Own Atlanta, Bir- mineham and Atlantic Are Inter-
 ested In Birmingham
 Iron Company.
PLANS OF HIS ASSOCIATES

The officials and directors of the At lanta Birmingham and Atlantic railroad spent yesterday visiting the properties of the Birmingham Iron company.
 The interests which own the railroad control the Birmingham Iron company, and the inspection yesterday was the first under the new organization, The party visited the furnaces and the steel plant at Ensley. several industries at Bessemer, and in fact spent the entire day seeing the Birmingham district.
 H. NJ. Atkinson of Atlanta, president of the Atlanta Birmingham and Atlanta railroad, said last night:
 Ut is no secret that the people who own the Atlanta, Birmingham and At lanic are largely interested in the Bir- mingham Iron company. We were prompted to invest our money in the com pany to secure a supply of coal for our railroad, steamship lines and also to furn- ish the coal supply along our entire route, which I think we will do.
 'I knew that we could not secure coal in Birmingham unless we bought com pany and mined 1t. None of the large companies have any coal to spare. The Tennessee company, for instance, Is said to be buying coal all the time and l be- lieve that the condition will grow more serious in that respect. We knew that 1t was useless to come to Birmingham without having coal. We will supply our boats and others with coal from Blr- mingham.
 Building New Furnace.
 'In regard to the plans for the Bir- mingham Iron company. we are already building one new furnace. What we want to do next is to get plants nearer to our supply of raw material. The pres ent furnace is too far away from our raw materials.
 What do I think of Birmingham? Well have for a long time had an abiding faith in this district. I have always had large interests here. l was active in the consolidation of the street railway sys- tems. the gas plant and the electric plant. l consolidated those interests and put the deal through. Then l owned the Br- mingham Belt at one time and sold it to the Frisco
 T am now In Birmingham again I am showing my faith by building railroad into Birmingham. We have contracts let for practically s2ooOO,OOO In ships, main line, terminals and equipment Beside that we have a large portion of our road all ready built and In operation. That shows my faith in Birmingham
 T feel as If I am coming back to my own, as 1t were, in returning here. I will spend a great deal of time in Bir- mingham in the future. l always look on Atlanta as home, for it is my first love. But l think Atlanta and Birmingham are the great cities of the south. Their fu- lures are assured, along different lines 1t is true, but the progress of their one will benefit the future of the other. You canont say too much for me regarding my feelings for Birmingham.
 Natural Resources.
 You have natural resources here that Atlanta does not possess and your de- velopment will be along different lines, but both cities will be great.'
 The Atkinson party leaves Birmingham this morning at S:3O o'clock In a special train over the Louisville and Nashville for Calera, where the Atlanta, Birming- ham and Atlantic construction work is in progress.
 Ths party will ride over the line of construction for about seventy-five miles on horse back and will afterwards take a special train at LaGrange, Ga, and continue over the road to Brunswick.
 In the party besides H. M Atkinson, president of the road, are Percy R. Pyne and Percy R. Pyne, Jr., and A. D. Rus sell all of New York; Gordon Abbott of Boston, president of the old Colony Trust company; Preston s. Arkwright of Att lanta; George D. Wadley, vice president and general manager of the road, and Alex Bonnyman, chief engineer.