The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-12
HAVE CONFIDENCE
 IN THEMSELVES
How Birmingham People Im-
 press Florida People
HUSTLING IS REFRESHING
Atlanta is the Only City in the South That Can Touch Birmingham for "Go"-Too Many Me-
 groes Loafing.

You people have your peculiarities Just like every other town in the country said H. P. Henry. a travelling man, who counts Jacksonville. Fla, as his home. "The one which l have noticed particu- larly being the I know it alF bearing which the citizens here take around with them. l don't mean to be a knocker, but fifteen years of travelling has caused me to study the population of each town strike and this Is my deduction of Bir- mingham.
 q have travelled all over the southern states many times, and am also familiar with the northern and western states. have paid Birmingham a visit regularly about three times year for the last five or six years. and have noticed the great changes and growth of the town which has taken place during this time.
 "The reason l assign to the I know t all bearing is the fact that everyone in Birmingham came from somewhere else, and has been here but a comparatively short time It is perfectly natural for person going to new place to bluff a little, and l don't suppose all of the peo . pie have been here long enough to drop the bluff
 q have found. however, that this bluff ing doesn't apply to the solid merchants in Birmingham. In fact, l don't know of town I had rather go to when 1t comes to selling. Not that they are easy marks, for there are some of the shrewd- est buyers I have ever come in contact with here. When you first tackle one of them. however. you think you have come in contact with the modern Socrates.
 ''The hustle of this town is refreshing. Atlanta is the only town that can touch it, and the streets are too narrow to be comfortable there. Here you have to keep going at a 2:40 pace all the time, and can do more business here in one day than 1 can in the average southern town in a week.
 "I have sold stuff In practically every part of the United States, and the south ern states are the only states for me. Up north there is the everlasting cutting competition and the shopkeepers are al ways trying to fleece you. Down south, of course we have plenty of competition and there are all sorts of crafty mer- chants. but as a rule it Is easy sailing, and the merchants treat fairly.
 Birmingham appears to have qua lrupled during the last five years. When you get your Greater Birmingham 1t Is going to cause the whole country to sit up and stare. 1 also hope you will get your prohibition. While l have never been in very large city where whisky was ruled out, still l cant help but be- lieve that 1t will be a great thing Tor both Atlanta and Birmingham
 "All of your skyscrapers have been put up since l first began making the town, and two or three more wouldn't hurt. l am generally here for about a week at the time. and get all about over the city and in the office buildings. Every office in the city semes to be taken, and l happen to know of few parties who say they have found 1t impossible to secure any office space.
 Another thing about Birmingham there are too many loaflng negroes here If they won't get a job themselves In a town where labor Is so much in de- mand they should be put In the chain gang.
 "Yes, Jacksonville is my home, but don't get to see 1t any oftener that l do Birmingham. It Is fine town, and while it is not quite as large as Birmingham 1t is coming with a rush.