The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-24
By Months of Hard Work Bir- mingham Has Been Able
 to Achieve Wonders
OFFICIAL PROGRAMME
 GIVEN FOR FIRST TIME
Every Detail Has Been Looked After and Every Citizen Will Do His Part When the Visitors
 Arrive.
BY BURR BLACKBURN.

f
 partment, working on a broad plan, with
 l. definite end, the city of Birmingham is
 preparing for the reunion of the Confed- crate veterans to be held here on the | 9th, 10th and 11th of next month.
 The machinery, beginning way out
 among the details, is gradually working
 toward a completed whole. The plan was
 roughly sketched by tAe executive com
 mittee, every little detail was assigned to
 some committee and yesterday, founded upon the reports of these committees,
 the programme was finally announced
 The supervision of the great work has
 been faithfully performed by the execu- tive committee, meeting several times a
 week and giving attention to every de-
 tail. For faithful attention the assured
 success of the reunion is greatly due to
 J. M. Wilzen, chairman; J. L. Yancey, | w. D. Nesbitt, J. W. Sibley, R. NJ.
 Goodall and J. B. Babb. secretary. Eclipse Former Efforts.
 They have changed what seemed to be
 too enormous a job for Birmingham into 1 an easy reality, reunion which promises l to eclipse many a former one. Bedecked
 and appearing in her best manners, the city will take all the old veterans into her arms, and give them the best love
 squeeze ever administered When they leave they will know that the new. bust l ling, thriving, 25-year old city of indus l try is not too busy to lay down her tools
 and welcome the men who fought for the south. And they are going to throw
 around the whole a spirit of the new 1 patriotism, the bravery of the man who
 honors the deeds of his father in war.
 and displays the same courage in time 1 Of peace.
 More than appropriate it is that the
 men who hurled their strength against | the enemies of their country in the past
 years should be entertained by the men 1 who are marshalling their forces against
 the hills and battling out of the very dust a name and world standing for the same l section.
 Raising of Funds. h4 1 And as in the organization of a great
 mining company, the first thing necessary was money. The finance committees
 headed by M V. Joseph, chairman, and J. H. Frye, vice chairman, set out to raise s25,O0O The business people of the city responded literally and nearly all of that sum has been subscribed. The
 committee, by constant effort. personal 1 solicitation, was able to report great suc- cess.
 Special Rates Offered.
 First in importance was the problem
 of getting the veterans here. Henry Hi den, chairman of the transportation com
 mttee, and John C. Pugh, vice chair man, met with signal success with the railroads. A fare of cents per mile was 1 granted from all points. Special rates 1 averaging 1 1-3 cents were made for points
 within 100 miles for the day of the parade.
 The roads have agreed to park several
 hundred cars and equip them for living. l Cheap excursions for all three days were arranged to points of interest in Alabama
 and Mississippi and this letter explains 1 itself: 1 MT. J. M. Wilzen, Chairman, City:
 Dear Sir-As per our conversation, I beg 1 to advise that our general passenger agent has authorized round trip tickets to l be sold on June Il at rate of l cent. l This will enable quite large number 1 of people to arrive in Birmingham not l later than 11:55 a. m. and leave that night at 11:25 D. m after the fireworks I will appreciate it if you will give this
 as much publicity as possible as we would | like to have banner crowds on that day.
 Yours very truly H. S. LATIMER, T. P. A, Alabama Great Southern R. R. How They Will Be Welcomed. l Once aboard train, they will be re- 1 ceived, welcomed and comfortably cared
 for by the reception committee, Frank l P. O'Brien, chairman, and Erslsine Ram
 say, vice chairman. assisted by a very l representative committee
 l The homes committed Jerome TuclSer chairman, and J. L. Darby, vice chair
 man, has accomplished wonders by a house to house canvass. Homes for near ly 5000 have been pledged, but many more 1 are needed. Persons wishing to be listed
 should get in line right away
 Under the careful direction of Fred s. ] Ferguson, beautiful invitations, with Con- | federate emblems and the old Father Ryan lines, Fold it, furl it, let it rest"
 beneath the flag have been sent out.
 The parade committee, J. w. Bush, | chairman, in close touch with General 1 Harrison of OpeliSa, who will be chief
 marshal, and assisted by the marshars chief aide, E. J. McCrossin, has mapped i out complete plan, including the fam | ous counter march down Twentieth street ] and review at Capitol park, where the firemen's grandstand will be erected. | Elaborate Street Decorations. The decoration committee, John L. Par
 ker, chairman, has arranged beautiful 1 system of street decorating, which in ] cludes a continual color archway all the 1 way up Twentieth street and pictures of 1 the notable deceased veterans. They have l also offered beautiful prizes for the best | decorated buildings or homes during the i reunion. Birmingham promises to be veritable city of color in honor of her vis- l itors.
 l Perhaps the two busiest committees have been those on commssary and l music Chairman E. l.. Higdon of the l former has arranged for the use of the
 state fair grounds, has turned the expo sition building into Hotel John B. Cor don, where 40o0 veterans will be enter l tained free of charge. A restaurant has