The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-09
NEW DIRECTORY
 NOT SATISFACTORY Many Criticisms Made of It's
 lncompIeteness
NOT UP TO THE STANDARD
Many Prominent Names Are Omitted Altogether, Others Have Wronn Ad. dresses and Book Appears
 Generally Incomplete.

The new city directory for 1908 is about the most unpopular article in Greater Bir- mingham at this time. When it first an- peared upon the market it's physical an- pearance caused many expressions of de- ! light, being just about half as thick as the directories issued in the past have been. This thinness was caused by the using Of smaller type. which was found acceptable. In fact, it is believed this size book is preferable to the other. Complaints, however. made their ap- pearance as soon as one began searching 1 through the book for some friend or the | address of some other resident of Greater Birmingham It was soon discovered by the ladies, with the exception of those who were employed in the different bus mess houses, that they had been sighted, in fact, had been completely ostracised, only a very small percentage having their names listed.
 Then those persons who were fortunate enough to have their names printed there in. soon found out that instead of list | ing the names of their business address that in many instances it was left out If he were a salesman for certain con
 
 the street address of the firm, as Flu gene H. Lee, slsmn 1922 1st av. b 21O9 av G." but if any of Greater Birmingham's numerous statesmen was lucky enough to get his name in, 1t very often read as George Smith, ssmn, b 1017 n 18th" Only in very rare instances was the firm name inserted
 Clerks, stenographers, machinists. car penters, and many other citizens of diff ferent trades and professions found themselves listed in this unsatisfactory way In many instances a man is listed as foreman. or some other title with out any business address being listed at all. There are foremen of all kinds, from a negro foreman who has charge of three negro laborers. to the skilled foreman of a large shop. The position of skilled foremen in a large establish ment is one of the most important and responsible positions there is. yet accord ing to. the directory, it cannot be told whether the man be the negro foreman at sl 25 per day or the skilled white fore man at $s0O per month. as no business ad- dress is given.
 R. l.. Polk & Go. issued the directory this year, as has been their custom for several years. The past directories have given general satisfaction, and much sur- prise has been expressed that this years directory should be so far below the standard. Numbers of instances have been reported where people have had their names left out altogether, despite the fact that they were permanent resi- dents with fixed abodes and business addresses.
 The preface, which is signed by the publishers, concludes with, Tn conclu- sion we wish to return our thanks to the merchants, manufacturers and bus mess men of Birmingham for the con- tinued patronage extended by them to the work. and to the public in general for the assistance rendered our name-takers and canvassers. We also wish to renew our promise to the public to make each succeeding issue of the Birmingham di- rectory more worthy of commendation and patronage"
 If the publishers could hear the sar- castle remarks being made about their directory, they would realize their thanks were out of order.