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

A brilliant assemblage, seated in beau tifully decorated banquet hall, extended to the incoming railroads hearty well come and listened to the polished oratory of Birmingham's guests last night at the Hotel Hillman.
 Beginning with an array of welcome by Postmaster Walker Percy, Henry Hiden, City Attorney E. D. Smith and Lieutenant Governor Henry B. Gray, the railroad men were assured that Birmingham ap- preciates the value of her railroads
 The speeches of Vice President I. G. Rawn of the Illinois Central, General Manager R. V. Taylor of the Mobile and Ohio railroad, General Counsel J. M. Dick inson of the Illinois Central and President J. F. Hanson of the Central of Georgia were rare treats of deep thought. Es- pecially was the great legal warning against legislative oppression sounded by President Dickinson of the American Bar association applauded by the representa- tive citizens who attended.
 MT: Percy as Postmaster The toastmaster, Walker Percy, opened d few shovels of Birmingham coal We are here to welcome our guests. We all ways have cordial reception for strang- CTS who visit us. We are proud of our town; a great city both to live in and to work in, made up of a broad gauged, hgh-minded business citizenship. We would like to have you here longer, to meet the lovely women who constitute the chief charm eI the community.
 "In remote days the advent of rail road was often the occasion for celebra- tions and display of hospitality. Then came period of self-stIfficiency when we lest sight of the value of railroads. It is a significant fact that while many rail- roads have entered Birmingham during the past 20 years this is the first occasion of public demonstration during that time. Tn the recent depression we have learned that we are still interdependent, that the prosperity of any industry is beneficial to the general good; that none can be | injured without detriment to the public welfare. No place in America should more keenly recognize the value of the | railroads than the city of Birmingham, | for they serve as the chief consumer of our products. Birmingham is entering | into a long era of good feeling between the railroads and the people,"
 ! MT. Percy then introduced Henry Hiden of the arrangements committee. He said that with one voice the community had bid them haste to welcome the incoming roads. If we continue to be dry we will always be dependent upon the railroads. We extend to you a glad hand and hope to see you early and often"
 City Attorney E. D. Smith, the repre- sentative of the city administration, was introduced with a bouquet for Mayor Ward and all his assistants.
 Mr. Smith pulled the throttle blew the whistle, let off little of the Greater Birmingham steam, and pictured both the Greater and the Greatest Birmingham. He declared that the policy of the city to-
 ward corporations has always been to live and let live, and said he was glad to express the feeling of the city toward the incoming roads,
 Percy EIectrifies Hearers.
 MT. Percy made sensational and inter- | eSting announcement at llllS polil, sWHci he said that the Illinois Central, by one order for 10000 tons of stel. rails recently made, will put 75OO men to work on June 1 in the Ensley steel mills and the mines of the district.
 Lieutenant Governor Gray read an ex- tract showing the future growth of Bir- l mlngham as seen by an historian. He | declared that as prohibitionist and an anti-railroad man he preferred to thus ex- press his opinion of Birmingham's future. Lieutenant Governor Gray said:
 Lieut.. Gov. Gray Speaks. "rhe historian who a quarter of cen tury hence endeavors to write the his- tory of the south will write a story that will astonish the world.
 "The material progress of the sourh in the past ten years alone cannot be equalled by any section of any country. The following is an illustration of the growth of the south in productions of