The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-23

and aided in solving the transportation problem. The Alabama Great Southern and Frisco trains run into the union sta- tion shed and can be taken from that point, while the Birmingham Southern runs up as far as Eighteenth street, but does not enter the shed.
 Mails Handled on Time.
 Postmaster Carter has received tele- graphic communication from Washington authorizing him to take any steps neces- sary in order to secure regular transpor- tation of the malls in Birmingham and vicinity and until the complete service Is restored on the street railway system. He was authorized to expend any neces- sary sum in employing help in handling the mails to and from the office in this district, but as the street car service was much improved yesterday it may not be necessary to make such expenditures.
 Inquiry was made at the postoffce yes terday and 1t was found that the mails were being handled by the street rail- way company as usual with little or no 1 delay in service. The carriers made their ! usual rounds, using the street cars for long distance deliveries.
 Commons Is Busy Man.
 Organizer Ben Commons was one of the busiest men in town yesterday, spend l ing part of the day at Ensley and taking a trip to East Lake in the afternoon, where he conferred with the street rail- way men, Part of the day was spent by l MT. Commons in Birmingham in confer ence with the officials of the new union and discussing plans for the future. 'I am well satisfied with the situation said MT. Commons yesterday. q believe the people are with us and we propose | to go ahead with our organization plans | and await developments
 | We organized the men at East Lake l last night and added forty-two to our 1 membership. This was done in the face of the offer made by the company that 1 the men who did not join the union would | be paid during their idle time.
 We are planning a big mass meeting at the Bijou theatre on Sunday afternoon at o'clock which will be addressed by two or three prominent business men | of the city and by several labor leaders. I think that this meeting and the pre- sentation of the claims of the street car men to the public will strengthen our cause and throw more light upon the l differences existing between the men and the street railway company" 1 Merchants Feel the Effects.
 Citizens of Birmingham, especially the | retail merchants are feeling the effects of the street car situation which has seri- ously affected business since Monday. l Merchants deplored the situation because 1 business has already had setback on account of the had weather this spring, but they have confidence that the city and county authorities will keep order and are hopeful that matters will clear i up soon
 The saloon men are the worst sufferers from the suspension of car service, but they accept the situation cheerfully and I are obeying the mayors orders.
 After a conference with the Mayor yes- | terday the saloon men departed feeling that there was a rift in the clouds.
 Saloons May Open Tomorrow.
 From the mayors office the following statement was given out during the aft ! ernoon:
 "It has been decided that all saloons must remain closed Thursday.
 "It is understood that a full quota of | cars will be kept running all day. 1 If there are no disturbances the sa- looms will be allowed to open on Friday | from 3 o'clock a. m. to o'clock D. m. I and perhaps on Saturday"
 | The suburbanites of the Birmingham | district have suffered much inconvenience since Monday and hundreds of business l men have brought their lunches with them or bought lunches in town for I three days Many men have had to sleep
 
 school children in various parts of the city have been greatly inconvenienced through lack of car service.
 Yesterday the street car service was much improved and cars were run on all lines from early morning till dark while | last night four special cars were held | until the close of the Presbyterian assem- | bly, to take the delegates to their board | ing places.
 Woodward Runs Motor.
 One of the incidents of the street rail- way service yesterday was the sight of | Rick Woodward, vice president of the Woodward Iron company, acting as mo- 1 torman on a car of the North Besseiner | line. MT. Woodward is an expert loco motive engineer. but never operated an | electric car before. He was riding on the car and took a notion to try his hand, | which was done with ease and dexterity.
 Men Ask for Advice. Yesterday afternoon at a meeting of the