The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-08


 closing the depot he had formerly run, and it is understood the property changed hands.
 Just what course the case will now take is a matter of conjecture It is thought that Darby may institute a suit against the csty of Birmingham, in which instance the case will possibly go to the supreme court for final settlement.
 
 for the upbuilding of the entire mercan- tile interests of Birmingham, and are al- ways ready to help every good and lapid growth, greater beauty, increased material wealth, and more stable pros perity of our greater city.
 The able report of retiring President Heidt and the reports of his committees have shown you in part what has been accomplished along these lines during the past fiscal year, and so I need not here refer to them again I wish, however, to briefly outline some of the methods by which I believe we may accomplish other good work for the ensuing year, and I, therefore, ask your consideration of the following suggestions:
 A glance at our committees will show the wide scope of activity undertaken In our general plan to help upbuild Birmingham and its mercantile inter- ests. From these committees, unless there Is objection I will drop the Great CT Birmingham committee, as this work has been accomplished, all except the details which the Board of Aldermen of our greater city, with the assistance of the officials of the suburban munich palities alone can, and I believe will, work out In the appointed time fully and fairly to all concerned.
 New Committees and Methods.
 However, the good work which Mayor Ward has so ably undertaken in at tempting to establish Birmingham as "The City Beautiful" is so distinctly to be commended that I have decided to appoint a special committee on civic Improvements, whose privilege and duty it will be to advise and aid in this work of making Greater Birmingham Q better, cleaner, healthier and more beautiful city even than it now is.
 Following this same line of thought we should lend our influence and ef- forts to aid in the improvement of our coutnry roads in this and adjacent counties, so that the farmers, the peo- pie who do much to add to the prosper ity of the cities, should find it easy for them to come to Birmingham and trade their products and buy their sup plies here. I have therefore decided to add a special standing committee on public roads. or good roads, as it might be more aptly called.
 To aid the more effective work of tho committees. and at the same time to keep the officers of the board more closely in touch with their activities I have also so arranged the executive committee that in addition to contain ing in it's membership the president, and vice president, it will number as it's members all of the chairmen of standing committees. By this means 1t is hoped closer grasp may be had in executive session of matters which sh ould be considered and more prompt and effective action taken as occasion requires.
 Features for Meetings.
 It is also my intention at as early a time as convenient to call the execu- tive committee together and to con- slider a plan for making the regular monthly meetings of our board more attractive and directly beneficial to our members.
 Of course it often happens that only few of the various standing com mittees will have any business of suf ficient importance to bring before the meeting in the form of a report, and these reports and routine matters as rule, only take up small portion of our hour. I shall propose that we try to have some special feature, which may interest and benefit the greatest number, taken up at each regular meet ing, so that the members will want to come, and when they come will feel repaid for having come to the meeting. One month we might appoint some man experienced in advertising to read snort paper, or make talk, to be foi- lowed by general discussions, as to the best methods of advertising our wares and our city as @ trading center. An ether time we might have some one able to handle the subject instructive iy, talk on attractive show window dls- lays, etc., for good show windows and catchy displays help to make a city attractive to visitors and encourages business. Another time we might take up some feature of business policy or executive management which could be followed by a discussion whereby each