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

patrons and all it's territory. We intend to be in constant touch with our patrons and to get and keep their business by taking constant interest in the develop ment of their affairs.
 Starting at the Alabama line, just west of the Chattahoochee river, the road runs through a territory in Alabama that was not previously well served by the railroads, and large and productive territory, heretofore inaccessible to Bir- mingham, is brought close to you, so that you will get a large share of the trade which has heretofore gone to other places. I refer to Chambers, Randolph, Clay, Talladega and Shelby counties. Starting near the Alabama line the first town of importance is Standing Rock. This is a new town. The Chattahoochee Valley railroad has built line from West Point to a connection with the Atlanta, Birmingham and Atlantic rail- road at Standing Rock. Standing Rock is already an important junction point, and will steadily grow in the future Next comes Roanoke, an old town. The citizens of Roanoke recognized the tm- portance of the Atlanta, Birmingham and Atlantic railroad and treated 1t gen. erously. The town has taken on new Hfe since the coming of the Atlanta Bir- mingham and Atlantic railroad. Next comes Wadley, an entirely new town. When our right-of-way was secured through what Is now the town of Wadley there was nothing but fields. Wadley is already a large cotton shipping point, with a bank, brick buildings and nu- merous stores. We pass on to Malone and from thence to Cragford, both new towns.
 LinevilIe and Ashland.
 Then we come to Lineville, an old town which has taken on new life. Ash land comes next and is rapidly develop ing. Pyriton is an entirely new town and is in the center of one of the very few extensive deposits of copper pyrites in this country. This industry which was unknown and undeveIoped a few years ago, is destined to be of large proportions in the future. From Pyriton west we pass various new settlements and towns and come to Carara, which is in the center of the marble deposits of that territory. Interests friendly to the Atlanta, Birmingham and Atlantic railroad have developed a quarry at this point and have put in extensive machin- cry for the quarrying and preparation Of marble. The value of this marble deposit is no longer questioned The marble Is Of the finest quality that has probably been discovered in the United States and an immense industry is cer- taln at this point and vicinity in the future. Next we come to Talladega, one of the oldest and best known towns in Alabama, a typical old southern town: the seat of various public institutions Ialladega had three railroads before the Atlanta, Birmingham and Atlantic reached it. but in reality was on none
 It was impossible to get to Talladega either from Birmingham or Atlanta without going by indirect and unsatis- factory routes. The Atlanta Birming- ham and Atlantic railroad gives Talla- dega short and quick connections to Bir- m1ngham and also to tidewater and to Atlanta. Talladega has developed re- markedly since the advent of the At lanta, Birmingham and Atlantic railroad. From Talladega we go Ion west to Ark wright new town; from thence to liar persville, and then to Pelham and on to Bessemer. The road means everythlng to these points and the people appre- ciate 1t. The evidences of the benefit of tn road are seen on all sides. The ob- ject of these remarks is merely to call attention to the fact that the Atlanta, Birmingham and Atlantic railroad is serving new territory that was not well served before; to show that in doing that it is performing a real service in creating new values There would not be any reason for it If this were not the case. It means the creation of new wealth, new industries and new towns. and these will greatly benefit your state, and especially the city of Birmingham. The trade of the territory which have described is brought within reach of the city of Birmingham by the Atlanta, Bir- mingham and Atlantic railroad This was not the case before. I wish partic- ularly to stress this point and to call the attention of you gentlemen and all the merchants of Birmingham to the large territory which we have placed directly at your doors, and which was almost in- accessible to you before. I think this territory IS well worth your active efforts.
 Other Allied Industries.
 The same interests which built and own the Atlanta, Birmingham and At lantic railroad organized the Birmingham Coal and Iron company about two years ago. This company owns a large acre age of both coal lands and ore lands in the Birmingham district 1t has two blast furnaces, one just completed, and five operating coal mines. The company has spent in the Birmingham district. including original purchases and the cost of improvements, during the past two years, several million dollars The new blast furnace at Boyles has been con- structed according to the most modern standards and best engineering practice and is a model. Our new coal mines at Mulga and Short Creek, equipped for a maximum ultimate capacity of 6OOO tons of coal per day. have every modern de- vice, and have been constructed for the purpose of turning out a better prepared steam coal than has ever been produced in this district
 "Of course. we feel great satisfaction that our construction work Is completed, that our railroad is finished. exists and Is operating. Many people believe that this necessarily means the success of our en- terprise. Unfortunately. this Is not the case. The business of the road has got to be built up by slow degrees, as well as the business of our coal and iron company. This takes time. After years of construction and constant expenditure with no returns, the time ahead of us necessary to realize the results of our work Is the most trying period of our enterprise. I appeal here tonight for your support. The facts I have stated, l think, demonstrate the importance of this enterprise, not only to your state and city as a new transportation sys- tenn, but also on account of our work in developing the iron production and the coal production of the Birmingham dis trict. We hope to deserve your support | We certainly need 1t more during the | coming year than we ever will.
 Present Condition of Roads.
 ssyVe ara all aware of the present con.