The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-19
WEST END HEARS BIG TOWN BOOSTERS Babb and King Tell 6Iorles of
 Greater Birmingham CROWD MUCH INTERESTED Birmingham Must Take Her RishtfuI Place Among Southern Cities In
 Next Census-AIl Parts of
 District Benefited.
CROWD MUCH INTERESTED

West End had the reasons for Greater Birmingham presented to 1t by Joseph B. Babb and Jere c. King at a meeting in that corporation last night The meet ing was to have been held in the school house in West End, but from some cause the school house was dark and the doors closed and entrance was impossible. This mattered not, however, and speakers and audience removed a few hundred feet down the street to the West End drug store, where the speakers held forth.
 While the audience was not as large IS expected it made up in attention what it lacked in numbers. MT. King spoke first and in few concise words explained Just how Birmingham ranked with other southern cities according to census re- ports and how she would be completely out of the race for supremacy if the census returns for 1910 would show Att lanta, Memphis, Nashville, Richmond and other southern cities with a population of 1000 to 135 100 and Birmingham only showed about 10000. Civic pride, if noth- ing else, demanded that Greater Birming- ham become a reality, said the speaker.
 The need of new federal building and how a million dollar appropriation could be expected with a population of 125,000 was also spoken of. "Fifty-sx carriers go out of the Birmingham postoffice every day with mail for every part of Greater Birmingham, and six more have recently been added" continued MT. King. "H is very probable that dozen more will have to be added within the next year or two, and the little three-story brick building is not large enough" MT. King also explained how West End would have a fire department under Greater Birmingham and how the school system would be improved. "It costs $S000 year to sustain a first-class fire department. Do you know that the total amount of all the taxes assessed in West End in one year would not support lire depart ment, for but a very few months" Pratt City was referred to by the speaker in this connection. "Why the total amount of taxes assessed on everything in Pratt City for one year would not support first-class fire department for five months.'
 Atlantas boosting spirit and how every thing In Georgia boosted Atlanta was hel1 up for an illustration. Municipal owner ship of the water works, gas and lighting plants. which would be possible for Great CT Birmingham under the new municipal code was spoken of Many other things were discussed by MT. King. after which MT. Babb took the floor.
 The fact that during the time of finan- cial distress the only financial deal of any magnitude throughout the country had been made in the Birmingham district by the United States Steel corporation pur- chasing the Tennessee company was in- troduced by Mir. Babb as an illustration of Birmingham's greatness Everything in this valley IS of common destiny-what happens to one must happen to al One part cannot prosper without all the rest prospering, and neither can one part suf- fer without all of it suffering. We all have a common cause.
 When a money lender goes to lend money he loks at the census report and is governed by 1t. You can't borrow money at less than per cent, and a great many Greater Birmingham will give you money at per cent, decrease or 70 per cent. Birmingham must have the population which is really hers shown in the census returns. or else we will be out of the run ming altogether, and we won't get over it in 10 years ether.'
 Birminghams matchless resources and how all of the properties for making pig iron were located right here together, which enabled Birmingham to make pig iron cheaper than any place on the face of tho globe wcre held up as reasons for making Birmingham appear in tho dress which really belongs to her.
 Both speakers covered the ground thor oughly and urged that every qualified voter go to the polls on January and vote for Greater Birmingham. "If you can't vote for it, stay at home,& was their suggestion.
 North Birmingham will be the scene of operations tonight. It is expected that a large crowd will be out as Greater Br- mingham has been a subject of much dis cussion in that town