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

| iieip us Btl ulNoTCe
 MT. Atkinson Introduced.
 He was given enthusiastic applause, and MT. Rhodes assured him that Bir- 1 mingham would go into the divorce : courts, free east Alabama and unite with her in holy wedlock for all time | to come
 Now I want to introduce to you tho man whose genius devotion and char acter has brought to us this great road" l he said President Harry NJ Atkinson | was pushed to the truck and lifted to the sight of all. The whole depot then | went into wild applause. T tried to hide" said MT. Atkinson
 as the tears appeared in his strong big | eyes, but they told me that I must be i here and meet you. I never could make speech, and today less able than ever. To be here and met in this way
 has filled me with too much feeling to | hardly utter anything. T can only say to you that for years I have been planning to get to Birming- | ham. To see that train roll into this 1 shed Is the realization of the greatest 1 ambition of my life. I have known Bir-
 mingham long. I love your city, and ! the object of my road is to build up Bir-
 mingham and this state in every way | that we can.'
 1 While his voice was loud and clear l the feeling of gratitude which Mir At kinson said he could not express was plainly written. on his manly face. Im- medately the crowd dispersed. Special Train to Arkwriaht.
 Yesterday morning promptly at il
 o'clock the heart of Birmingham over
 flowed toward the east, and committee
 of citizens went out eagerly to meet east
 Alabama and welcome her even before
 the arrival. While Memoli's band played
 Dixie" the committee, composed of F. | M. Jackson, chairman; R. w. Ewing. | Frank Jones, John E. Shelby, Colman
 Blach, M P. Messer, Robert Jemison. l Sr.; R. D. Collins, J. D. Collins, W. | D. Wood. John D. Elliott, Walter Phil | lips, s. W. Lee, H. M. Beck, Robert Me-
 Lester. J. A Norman, George Porter, w. M. Cosby, F. F. Norton, G. B. Me- Vey, c. c. Snider. George T. Barnes
 John T. Yeatman, Murray Brown, Charles
 Thomas, H. B. Mabson left the city for Arkwright
 The trip to Pelham over the Louisville
 and Nashville tracks was made in flying | time. Along the line, the grade work
 of the A., B. & A. could be watched at
 many points Sid W. Lee, of the Ala
 bama Grocery company served luncheon
 in the baggage car much to the delight | of the committee
 
 l they munched sandwiches, and cracked
 jokes washing them down with ginge l ale and dope" To these representa- | tive citizens staggering backward ani i forward, with bottles in their mouths, : and smiles on their faces was suspicious
 indeed. but due entirely to the motion of
 the car. and not to the contents of the
 bottles
 ! At Pelham the new road bed was | taL aho rnfIac n
 coaches rode easily on the new rails. |. | There were grades and curves so easy | that it resembled a road several months l old.
 Comments on Route.
 A little group including reporter, | gathered on the end of the train, formed an interesting study. They were Engineer A. c. Olney, who was locating
 engineer for the road, having laid off the
 line two years ago with corps of some
 l5 assistants; Superintendent c. l.. Bru-
 ner of Talladega, the man who is in
 charge of the Birmingham division, and 1 Superintendent Brooks of the Louisville and Nashville.
 1 Passing through the "Narrows'' the ] party commented upon the beauty of the 1 scene, and the quality of the roadwork., | "iou have a fine road here, Bruner," said 1 Brooks "Ths is the first time I have | been over the line since laying it off, 1 said Oney and I am all the more im- | pressed with the natural intention of this pass for a railroad"
 Passing through several big cuts, tho road took a stretch away of a mile and quarter, without a single rise or curve. While some few parts had a wild ap- pearance, the road is lined with culti- yated acreage. farm houses and saw mills. The beauties of approaching fall made the passing scenery especially attractive. the golden rod lining wood and field. Welcomes Along the Line. The little city of Arkwright with its bank, hotel and big store, turned out in full to welcome the Birmingham commit tee. This town is but IA months old, tho rival of Vincent. which had difficulty with the road. Promptly on time. the big special. which left Standing Rock ,9t 6:50 a. m., ar- rived at almost the same time. The two crowds exchanged greetings, and when the Birmingham train was hitched to the end, it presented remarkable spectacle. nearly a quarter of a mile of windowa, lined with smiling faces. The escort committee gave all a hearty handshake, distributed state fair buttons, manufacturers directories, badges and did everything to make them comfortable. At Harpersville the citizens appeared in body, with two banners held in tho hands of children, "Harpersville and "Welcome the A., B. & Az At Deer hurst and Pelham there were rousing re- captions. As the train neared Birming- | nam people seemd to be everywhere. The yard engines took up the spirit, and all over the district whistles made a merry noise.
 The leading citizens of every town vera aboard. Roanoke. Wadley Matone. Crag- ford, Lneville, Highland, Pyriton, Erin. Weathers, Talladega and every other town sent its flower of business ctizen- ship.