The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-09-08


 agricultural and produce-raising sections of Alabama
 The home town of the gentleman, the mayor or Roanoke, who has just pre- ceded me is, l understand, probably the largest shlpper from the state of Alabama of chickens, eggs and produce.
 "The Atlanta, Birmingham and Atlantic makes it possible for us to be better neighbors with these citizens of Shelby. St. Clair, Talladega, Clay and Randolnh counties and the adjacent territory vhos. fertile fields produce such an abundance or vegetables, corn, potatoes and other farm products. which should and will md a ready sale right here in Birming- ham,"
 After reviewing the things which should go to bind Birmingham to East Alabama by mutual ties, Mir. Ewing concluded:
 But, gentlemen, l am leaving my text and exceeding my time We are glad that the Atlanta, Birmingham and Allan tic has come to Birmingham. We are happy to be able to greet it's officials to- day, who come to-us over their own llne and We are proud to have this opportu- nity of meeting and extending to you, gentlemen of east Alabama, or guests tonight, a most hearty welcome to Bir- mingham. We want you to be pleased with our city; we want to be neighbors and friends. We are glad you are here,
  come often"
 Other Speakers.
 Walter Smith of Lineville thanked the Atlanta, Birmingham and Atlantic for it's fayors, saying that when the road en- tered that city 10000 people gave it well come.
 President s. ". Lee of the Birmingham Manufacturers association briefly outlined the useful articles that bear the Birming- ham stamp
 R. W. Massey, chairman of the joint entertainment committee, welcomed the road with an eloquent speech. To him is due much of the success of the oc- casion.
 It was well after midnight when Mayor H. G. Rowland of Ashland was intro dueed. He made an appropriate, brief speech, closing with the declaration that the hour was past bedtime for the hill bilies of his county.
 Former Gov. William D. Jelks said he was tired. My, how tired we are!" but he made a humorous talk, referring to ApPius Claudus, a former road-builder. He said
 Governor Jelks Speaks.
 We are met to welcome our friends from the provinces. to thank them for their coming to rejoice with us; and as well to congratulate the builders and ourselves that the great work which has cost them more than three years in time and energy, and millions of money, is so near completed as to make 1t at once immensely useful to Birmingham and large section of the country. Be- yond congratulations: it is in our hearts to eulogize the gentlemen who are re- sponsible for this great work.
 One of the early road builders was one Appius Claudius. He it was who built that queen of roads, as the old poets called it, and the later poets as well, the great Appian Way. The build CT modestly named the road after him. self.
 "I can imagine scene something like we have here upon the occasion of the opening of that great highway, Rome having prepared a feast for the ladies and gentlemen of the provinces. Claud. jus was the guest of honor He heard himself greatly praised and toasted.
 "We have forgotten that Claudius was great scholar. the writer Of history, an author of no mean renown. We have forgotten that he fought his coun- try's battles successfully. We have for gotten, too, that he was a great demo- crat. an aristocrat himself. but believ- ing in the rule of the common people. We have forgotten his zeal and patriot ism. We have forgotten, notwithstand- ing his services, that he was neglected by his own people in his old age We remember him only as the builder of great highway. Not many men of whom history speaks are entitled to a higher place than this one.
 "A few years ago at a good-roads cele- bration in North Carolina some enthus- lasts hunted up the deserted grave of a man who had made the mountains pas sable in the early years of that state and uttered praise of him. whose dull ears could not hear the words.
 "These gentlemen, our principal guests tonight, have built a good road, as long as the Appian Way, over whose rails day by day will flow, we hope, in the future a commerce equal to that which flowed in and out of that other imper- ial city in the days of it's vigor. They have overcome great physical obstacles, and large obstacles of another kind; they have built the greater portion of it in a period of deep depression. No one at this board except themselves knows at what expense in mind and body and treasurer this work has been carried on. The gentlemen themselves could tell if they would speak
 "As far as this gathering can, we should pledge them that their labors, their daring and their money shall have fit reward If they do not live in his tory as uOeS ClduuluS ana that humble gentleman of the North Carolina hills, they ought to, and they at least will be treasured here tonight, and we hope to- morrow. Those of us here present will try to see that they are honored tomor- row.
 For my part would prefer a statue in great park to the honor of build CT, than to one whose sword had carved his way to fame, or to one whose voice had fixed place for him. Up with the builders; let them be the immortals; let the poets write and the orators pro- claim, that the builders are the persons of real consequence and that the princes among the builders are those who link the ends of the continent together with the rail that neither halts nor tires.
 Tonight is yours, you builders. We hail you and we praise you. Make the most of the occasion. We make no promise for the future. Tomorrow. or may be the next day we will speak of the insolence of the roads underlings: we will protest that the service is dam nable, and the rates confiscatory of shop and farmland we will say this whether the charges be true or not-so make the most of the evening. Get hilarious if you will Live tonight, for tomorrow. or the next day we may cruelty you.'
 S. c. Oliver mayor of Talladega, said:
 Mayor Oliver of TaIIadeaa.
 ''Talladega did not elect me mayor on my ability to make speech. It must have been just because they loved me.
 When 1 learned I was to be with vol, this evening as your guest I anticipated a pleasant time, knowing my standing was such there was no danger of tbo