The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-31

1 years you will have outstripped Pitts 1 burg in tonnage.
 It is gratifying to note that among l the objects of the organization of the | Commercial club of Birmingham is one to combat any legislation that would have a tendency to retard the growth 1 of the city That is a most laudable pur- l pose, and If successful will be one of the 1 greatest factors in your development, and an incentive to secure the necessary fla l cilities to reach the highest possible de- velopment
 If this purpose could be made one of the state and national endeavors. our mills, factories and industries generally, and lines of transportation, would all be working full time today.
 It is an inviolable law that legisla- l ton or any other restrictions directed l against the means of securing prosperity and development must of necessity defeat the very ends of prosperity. Uniortun- ately, this commendable bylaw which you have adopted is not a universal one, much to the countrys detriment.
 Vaneuards of Civilization.
 "The railroads have been the van guards of civilization in this country. Without them our country today would be undeveloped. save along it's coast the shores of it's inland waters and along the banks of its rivers Any interior section, such as your own. would remain unde- veloped, and therefore the success of your development depends entirely upon the means of railroad transportation, and you will be able to secure 1t only by properly encouraging it, and having se- cured 1t by fostering it. A railway plant differs from an industrial plant in that the former must continue to operate if it has much or little traffic, while an indus try can close down and stop it's expense If business conditions make it necessary.
 "The opening of the Illinois Central railroad into Birmingham gives this dis triet the first direct single line or rall- way to the north and northwest and opens up the markets of vast new and rapidly growing section of our country which needs your products, and whose products in turn you desire, and it IS therefore to the mutual advantage that we have reached you and you have eIn- braced us. Let us therefore work hand in hand for the development of this the secton of our country having the bright est future of any territory on earth the Greater Birmingham
 Vice-President Rawn Speaks.
 Vice President Rawn of the Illinois Cen tral railroad told of the disappointment O. President Harahan in not reaching BIT ningham. He told how thoroughly we'd
 
 and his many friends is President Hara- han. He told me how he had watched the growth and industrial improvement of the south and how sorry he was that he could not be here to tell you of it.
 T am sure that the great eXpedture of genius and capital in Birmingham would have been as nothing if you had not had the great railroads through your midst. Therefore you have cause to rejoice at the coming of another great line,
 But we do not want you to rejoice alone. The Illinois Central is glad to be here and feels sure that the sympathy of the business interests is with us. There is no reason why the Illinois Central should place such rates on your products as would prevent your reaching the worlds markets. It would ultimately mean disaster to us. Neither will legis- ation that means disaster to the railroads bring anything but harm to you.
 If you prevent the railroads from making sufficient earnings to pay interest on capital, to go on improving their facill- ties, you cannot go on with your develop ments. Therefore in every phase your interest is our interest and our interest is your interest.
 However, if we came here with any feeling that there would be any lack of mutuality it has all vanished today. Our feeling of appreciation of the grand re- ception which We have received here is beyond expression and in behalf of our board of directors l want to thank you"
 General Manager Taylor of the Mobile and Ohio was next introduced. He also spoke of the sorrow of his chief, E, L. Russell, in not being able to come, saying:
 MT. Taylor Speaks.
 MT. Toastmaster and Gentlemen-It is with regret that I must announce that my chief, Col E. L. Russell, vice pres dent of the Mobile and Ono Railroad company, is prevented from being present this evening. He has asked me to- say to you that this deprives him of very great pleasure.
 Tt was the proud boast of the Roman citizen, when the entire world was ruled from the Imperial City, that all roads led to Rome.
 A glance at the map of the great state of Alabama, shows the city of Birming- ham, as the hub of it's transportation system, from which radiates every i'm portant railroad line of the southeastern states.
 .'rhe Mobile and Ohio Railroad com pany, with which l have the honor to be connected, has long wanted to reach with it's own facilities the commercial and in- dustnal enterprises of Birmingham, and l am here to announce that our freight trains will begin to run in and out of this city on June 10.
 When the Mobile and Ohio Railroad company was chartered in February. 1S4S, by the concurrent action of the legisla- lures of the states of Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee and Kentucky, then all contem- poraneously in session, it was the great est railroad enterprise which had ever been undertaken in the history of the world. It's conception was part of a grand scheme to furnish a channel ot communication between the Gulf of Mex leo and the great lakes of the northwest, along which might flow an ideal inter change of commodities between sections O. the country dlssimilar as to climatic conditions and productions.
 Since it's completion between Mobile and the mouth of the Ohio river this prop erty has played a great part in the his tory of the territory which it serves. In war it's possession was the prize over which the armies of the north and e the south had some of their sanguinary battles, and since the close of this strug gle it has been a most important factor in the remarkable agricultural, industrial and commercial development which has taken place in the south.
 From the time the last spike was driven at Columbus, Ky, on April 2, 1861, and the original project completed, the scope of its work has been greatly en- larged, it has by extensions and addl- tions reached out to St. Louis, Mo, on one hand and to Montgomery, Ala on the other, and by close and friendly relation ship established with ships at Mobile, has ft, Tad tir,ttf