The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-11
B|G CELEBRATION ID GREET TRAINS 0F ILLINOIS CENTRAL If M. & 0. Comes Same Day It Will Be Railroad Day" |, In Birmingham HARTMAN TO BE INVITED AS A GUEST OF THE CITY Details Are Now Being Worked Out To Make Entrance of These Lines
 Great Event In the
 city's History.

Birmingham is planning to celebrate the coming of the Illinois Central rail- road.
 ! Yesterday afternoon Sterling A. Wood,
 president of the Commercial club wrote to Henry Hidden, chairman of the rail-
 road committee of the club, requesting him to report on a scheme of celebra- tion at the next meeting of the club, which occurs Friday afternoon. At this meeting various plans and schemes will be discussed. It is intend- ed to make this celebration one of the biggest, on one of the most extensive scales ever held in Birmingham. Ac- cording to the plan the time of celebrat- ing will be the date on which the 1lli- nois Central operates it's first train into Birmingham.
 That date will be in April, according to a statement of J. T. Harahan, pres ident of the road, who was in Birming- ham Monday.
 ham the Illinois Central makes use of
 the tracks of the Northern Alabama and the Frisco. The road will operate its trains into the city under the shed of the
 new Terminal station.
 Wood Discusses Importance. "The Illinois Central is one of the largest railroads of the United States stated President Wood yesterday, and it's directors control a system that is able to stretch around the world. The importance of that roads entrance into Birmingham cannot be overestimated The progressive spirit of MT. Hartman, and it's other largest stockholders means greater development for Birmingham, and greater material growth. There Is no telling just what the Illinois Central will be in 20 years, what the road will do for Birmingham. Than the coming of the Illinois Central no greater fortune has happened to Birmingham within the last decade at least. It is therefore fit- ting and proper that we should celebrate and should make the celebration one of the events of the year. J As stated President Wood wrote to MT. Hidden yesterday requesting him to make a report on this matter at the next meeting of the club At this meet ing the scheme will be threshed out. It is a certainty that MT. Hartman will be invited to attend the celebration, as well as President Harahan, and other officials Indeed MT. Wood stated yes terday that 1t would be a wise move to get the entire corps of line officials to visit Birmingham, and aid in the general celebration.
 Some of the features to such a cele- bration,, stated MT. Wood, "are easy to arrive at. Of course, as the first pas senger train enters the city all the whistles of all the other locomotives in the city and of all the industrial plants , will be expected to sound a thrilling well come of 15 minutes. Then, too. a large committee, numbering probably 100 men, will probably meet the first train in Jas per and accompany it into the city. Then, after arriving In the city and after being
 greeted by thousands of cheering people there might be popular reception, and
 a dollar banquet at one of the hotels
 or clubs of the city,
 To Be Known As Railroad Day.
 Inasmuch as the Mobile and Ohio will
 run train into Birmingham on the same
 date that the Illinois Central enters the
 city, it was suggested to MT. Wood yes-
 terday that the day of arrival should
 be set aside as local holiday, to be
 known as railroad day.
 According to this suggestion all of the
 schools of the city would declare a holi-
 day. and many of the business houses
 of the city for an hour or more, would
 close their doors. This would guarantee
 a great crowd of people being present
 to welcome the two great systems into
 the city.
 As stated, however, all the details will
 be worked out at and after the meet
 ing of the club Friday. It is understood
 that the first step towards preparing for
 the celebration will be to get into com
 munication with the officials of the two
 systems. find out the exact date of ar
 rival, and extend invitations to all the
 officials. It is especially desired by the
 club that MT. Hartman visit this city
 on the occasion of the entrance of the
 Illinois Central. According to MT. Wood
 it would seem proper that the greatest
 railroad magnate of the day should be
 nresent as one of the greatest systems
 enters the greatest southern city