The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-11-09

ltit6i dpii aphlPoh1 ho 1iott o otoeiSii 'ii the Terminal station for the handling of commercial business and in allowing the Western Union Telegraph company the exclusive privilege.
 Congressman Underwood was called upon by President Wood for a few words in regard to a waterway from Birming- ham to the gulf and replied in part as fol- lows:
 Urges Practcabilty.
 "There is nothing which will better Ala bama more than to improve her water ways, but if you want your delegates in Congress to secure these Improvements you must help us to do so along prac tical lines. But you can't expect us to so along and secure them on purely theo- retical ideas. There are four great pTae- tical propositions which must be consid- cred iirst-the improvement and opening of the Warrior. development of the War rior to the Coosa. development of the Coosa from Rome. Ga, to Mobile, the improvement of the Tennessee and the development of the harbor at Mobile. These propositions are what your deega- tion has been working on for 15 years, and for which they have secured approprla- tions, but this building of canals bafore you improve your rivers to dump canals into will never secure an appropriation from Congress.
 When l first went to Congress there were two dams above Tuscaloosa and three below. My colleague, Mir Bank head, and l have succeeded in getting proving the Warrior river than was spent before for the improvement of all Ala bama waterways. We are not building a barge canal, but are improving our rivers so that they can float the largest ships that enter Mobile harbor.
 Track to the River.
 We have secured an appropriation of $2.060 900 with which, to improve the War ror so that the largest ships can come up to Squaw Shoals, and it will only re- quire another $1,000,0O0 to bring the im- provements from Squaw Shoals to within b miles of you. You can absolutely bring the big ships right here.
 Your merchants can then get together and build a doube-tracked railroad along the 15 miles between Birmingham and the Warrior, and as soon as these improve ments are completed you can get water rates. This will require not longer than six or seven years while the building of a canal from the Tennessee connecting with the Warrior will require at least 25 years. l think l have right to call on this body of men to sustain me along practical lines. While tho headwaters of ha r.io at.a ,,,f,, t,,te the Tennessee are less than a mile of each other, there is hardly any water there and the canal Would have to be run through cuts 500 and 700 feet deep for seven or eight miles This Is worse than the Panama canal. First, let us im- prove the Coosa and the Warrior and the harbor at Mobile. We are trying to get an appropriation so as to widen the chan mel to 1000 feet and dec pen 1t to 35 feet as against the present width of 300 feet and depth of 2 feet, from the harbor to the gulf, which will admit the largest ships fin the world to Mobile harbor. Help us along practical lines"
 President Woods Address.
 President Sterling A. Wood in calling the meeting to order referred to the pur- chase of the Tennessee company by the United States Steel corporation, saying this purchase means recognition of Bir- mingham by the whole world. 1t should give us an extension and expansion the like of which we have never known be- fore" The securing control of the Gen. tral of Georgia railroad by the Harri- man interests was also dwelt upon, and the great benefit to be derived from this arrangement in the securing of cheaper rates, etc. MT. Wood also spoke very encouragingly of the money situation.
 The following applicants were unanl- mously elected to membership in the club: w. K. Rice, John Sparkman and George E. Turner.
 It was also announced that a. national waterways convention was to be held in Washington during December and that the railroads had granted rate of l l-3 cents per mile for the round trip to those who wished to attend.
 United States Steel Invited.
 The following resolution, inviting the officials of the United States Steel cor poration to visit Birmingham. was intro duced by W. NJ. Malone, chairman Of the new industries committee, and unani- mousy passed:
 Whereas. We learn from published reports that the United States Steel cor poration has acquired a controlling in- terest in the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad company,
 Therefore, Be it Resolved, By the Commercial club that a cordial invita- tion is extended to President w. k. Co., rey. James Gayley, first vice president; Vice President H. C. Prick, Judge k. II. Gary. Andrew Carnegie, C. M Schwab and their associates on the board of di- rectors to visit Birmingham at such date as may be convenient to them.
 Be it Further Resolved, That the club congratulates the community upon the fact that the United States Steel cor poration will become a factor In the development of the resources of this dis trict.
 Be it Further Resolved, That the pres ident of the Commercial club be request ed to convey this invitation and these sentiments to the persons herein named"
 Miscellaneous Matter.
 Prof. W. B. Phillips introduced a res olution inviting the American Institute of Mining Engineers to hold it's annual meeting here next year. Professor Phil lips referred to the meeting of the or ganizat tion in Birmingham in 1888. and suggested that the reception to be ae- corded them 20 years after that date be one that will be set down as the greatest