The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-10
BESSEMER STANDS
HIGHER THAN EYER
Much Accomplished by Board
of Trade in 1906
PRESENTED TO THE WORLD
Report of President Stevenson Inter
estlne-officer Elected-WlII Help
to Entertain the Southern
Cotton Association.

Bessemer, January Especial with
New Years resolution the Board of
Trade enterocs Enthusiastically into the
work of 1907 this afternoon in meeting
at the city hall. Not the least of the many
interesting features was the report of the
president George II. Stevenson, on the
accomplishments of this important organ
ization during the year just closed. He
said
"Since the organization of the Bessemer
Board of Trade, it has had but the one
| object IN view. That of presenting Bes-
semer to the world, and she now stands
better and more favorably known than
ever before.
we have tried especially to open up
trade from the agricultural sections of our
county and state; to locate industries and
to assist in every possible way the operat-
ing and charging the industries already
located here While to the pessimist our
efforts may not have proven eminently
satisfactory, l prefer to leave the re-
suits to men of broader minds, cltzens
who have the interests of our city at
heart such as are willing TO put their
shoulder to the wheel and push, rather
than ride all the time.
I'VE have gotten very close to the farm
ers, upon whom We depend very largefy
for our growth and prosperity Our
chances for the location of the cotton
warehouse in Bessemer seems to be very
good. Members of the Board of Trade
have met with them in their county con-
ventions, at various points, and nave peeh
shown very courteous treatment
I'VE have also had the honor of enter
tanning the state convention, composed OF
the very best representative men from
all over the state. They were loud IN
praise of the very cordial manner III
which they were received and the royal
manner in which they were entertained
and | find upon inquiry that many nave
opened up trade with our business ana
professional men; some are even locating
in our midst and are becoming part OF
MS And at this point on behalf OF the
Board of Trade | wish to extend vote Oh
thanks for the hospitable manner In Willch
the people threw open their homes 10
| these people. -
I desire in particular to commend the
untiring efforts of Messrs. Gardner, Good
win and W s. Gilbert for their assistance
! in securing homes and arranging hotel
accommodations; also Mr.. and Mrs. chris
| leib and many others
Industrial Condition.
"While we do not claim all the credit
| for the location of the jefferson Fertilizer
company. one of the largest Industries
which has been located in the south our
| ing the year. we first took the matter up
with them, and with some valuable sus
gestions from Mr. James Bowron ana
the very liberal inducement offered py the
! p1 esident of the Bessemer Coal, iron anu
Lend company, we succeeded IN securing
their plant and board of directors Tor
| Bessemer, which Is quite valuable
one.
I'VE have had several other PROPOSE
tions from parties desiring to locate III
| Bessemer. in many cases the land COM
pany proposing to put up half the CAPITAL
and offered also locations free. We have
/ learned from time to time of the enor-
nous amount of money which has been
and is being spent. In various ways
among some of which are the folloW-
ing:
United states Cast Iron Pipe and Foun-
dry company.
tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad COM
pary.
Sloss Iron and Steel company.
Bessemer Foundry mad Machine COM
panY.
| Bessemer Ice Delivery company.
Brotwen Lumber company, who nave
also been located within the past year
There are many other industries when
have greatly enlarged, to meet the oe-
mands.
Bessemer to the Front.
Something like 235. houses have been
built during the year and yet there Is
need at the present time for almost as
many more.
I'VE are daily in correspondence Win
land and industrial agents of the various
| railroads relative to the locations OF IN
dustries in Bessemer. and they nave
greatly assisted up in placing Bessemer
and its various advantages before the
manufacturing world
Il want to thank the members Oh the
| Beard of Trade for their earnest enortS
| In promoting the interests Of our organi-
zation; for no thoroughly wideawake city
such as ours should be without such an
ganization And let me urge the sixty
members to start out with the new year
| to double our membership, double our
population, and thereby double our pay
! rolls.
THE Board of Trade is of advantage III
| many other ways, as has been SHOWN
from time to time by our worthy secre-
tary. w. p Gum. Respectfully submit
| ted G, II. STEVENSON,