The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-07-20

Blazing firth, a beacon OF promise
and prosperity, against the inky black
OF night, the big sign was shown to
several thousand Montgomerians last
night. It was flashed on just before
o'clock, and a gasp and an involun-
tary murmur of admiration broke out.
Its brilliance rendered superfiuous the
fireworks in whose sparks 1t received
its baptism. With its mammoth red
key transhxed against the sky, and with
the lettering. Montgomery" and Your
Opportunity" playing on and on. 1t
ELECTED q gasp with its undeniable
beauty.
And In the limbo of its glare there
was Inspiration for the dreams of a
I magical city--inspiration for every one
Of the two or three thousand who saw
II flrst burst Into being-a sort OF
thrill which became q fervor of patri-
otism when kindied by the music Of
I the Cavalry Band.
And there was an unexpected ADJ
tion to the big sign In North Mont
gomery. An electric fountain Is placed
on the sign. with lights which alter
nately fash on and of, bathing the let
fering In a shower OF gold and GRIM
son.
A single line Of lights that come up
like q skyrocket, were frst flashed.
ana at the crest of its long curse, break
into shower. which plays about the
crimson key. Then Montgomery" In
its brilliant letters, appears. then the
lower line. "Your Opportunity 1t all
flashes off and on alternately. except
the key. which remains.
It appeared as an apotheosis OF
Montgomery. The glitter flashed from
the panes of the windows In the down
town Office buildings, across the miles
~ n vi faffAc-
ton. aud it's surface echoes the posi-
bilities which the stream holds for the
city.
The sight of the sign was viewed first
by q throng on the vacant lot on Court
and Jefferson Streets. whore the
speeches OF presentation and accept
ance Were delivered. The light. half
mile OF. on the roof OF North Mont
gomery manufacturing plant. on the
river bank, shone respondent, as II
the intervening space was nothing.
And the hundreds in the throns were
Impressed.
The big light, probably the single
one of its kind in existence. was the
outcome Of an idea of George Williams.
an attache of the Montgomery Light
and Water Power Company. The idea
proved popular when 1t was hroached
several months ago; II would advertise
Montgomery to the world. 1t would in
spire native Montgomerians, 1t would
serve the practical purpose of lighting
more efHcientIy any dark portion on
which IL might be placed variety of
favoruble reasons sprung into being.
That the mammoth light would be
constructed was decided to bear some
slogan indicative OF the city's posi-
biifties and progress. AS to what the
nlogaa would be was left TO the citi-
xsus: o contest was instituted. open to
an ctttHsns. who were to offer sug-
aeskfons; fwenty-five prominent citi-
xsns wege named as q committee OF
Judges.
me slogan, as finally adopted. was
H2le onz1curs1e Of q dual intellect. Miss
Anita Ssra@burger conceived the idea
81 the kew. and Gordon Mckinley, an
Advertiser reporter. originated the
ASfpuk gcmerss Xour Opportunity" word
su&.
And 90 the conceptions were carried
4rfo execution. The sign was built {
trenasndous. lighted skeleton, holding
1900 electric bulbs and with letters
which oveytop most men In height.
FOR several weeks under construc-
6sdn. Il was erscted. eighty-ffve feet