The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-07
WASHINGTON BOY
ON BIRMINGHAM
Tells Why City Is the Greatest
In South
BABB COMPLIMENTS HIM
High School Boys Prepared orations
on Southern Cities and David &.
Bornet championed Birmino-
hams Claims.


orators in the Business High school de-
bated before a large audience the COM
parative eminence of southern cities. Day.
Id e. Bonet championed the cause of
Birmingham, and in a telling argument
showed conclusively that Birmingham is
to become the leading city of the south.
Those having read it are of the opinion
that few treaties have been written so
comprehensive and so ably. Secretary ].
B. Babb, of the Chamber of Commerce,
wrote the young man his congratulations
upon the pleasing manner in which he
presented the claims of this city. Ger
tainly," he said, Birmingham could not
expect to be represented better than you
represented her. Your clear and concise
statements covered the ground" Mr..
Babb attributd the fact that the paper
on Galveston won the prize more to the
element of sentiment due to the heroism
of Galveston than to anything else.
Here is the paper in full:
Some 40 years ago. In the northern part
of the state of Alabama, there was a
series of small farms in what was known
as Jones valley. Today ON that same
site. stands the most modern and enter
prising commercial and industrial city in
the south, Birmingham.
Birmingham is destined to be the great
est of southern cities. Her geographic
cal location in the center of the most
wonderful mineral region in the world;
an important center for the distribution
of timber; and in addition, her splendid
climate, together with an open season
throughout the year, foretell her advent
as the metropolis of the south.
The growth of Birmingham has been
nothing short of marvellous. The popula-
ton of Birmingham is distinctly cosmo-
politan. Capitalists, manufacturers BUSH
ness men, various specialists, and the la
boring men, all have recognized the vast
future possibilities that lie before them
in Birmingham.
Pv -, Incorporation of Greater Bir-
Flilf laul, there are at present 100 900 peo-
Die of i classes working tremendously
side as side for continuing the vast de-
Hsioflnsit of Birmingham.
fl1 ,ham is the capital of the rich
t anl srsndest coal and iron empire of
sac A1lt d States. 1t Is the center of
f'ef of coal, covering about 900
srna ru les, and according to statistics
E very reliable mining expert, If
a lauction of coal averaged 10000 tons
a5fY ae supply of coal would last for
$4,000 rcs $. 1 wish to add that the ex-
b dered this a conservative es-
flnsle
~ ai nerals, iron Is the most import
-nl most useful, and most influential. 1t
az h'en aid, that 1t seems to invest all
countries which possess it in large quaint
sizes af vhlch manufactures it extensive
s. WITH its hardy nature and sterling
7Haiitit1 The mountains surrounding
ni1 nam are heaped up masses of
rr ore and biologists confirm this
1eilff s further add, that for hundreds
81 years men will be taking mineral
Waflth ON the center and sides of these
n9uuisi ranges.
an1 .tainly from the vast quantities
ot 1fs At are being mined, it might seem
a. Y ls end was near, but somehow or
o.ler, they find more.
Because of the proximity to the ma
terial necessary for the manufacture of
steel, the development of It's manufacture
falls short of being phenomenal. The
steel mills are turning out the best steel
rails made. and convincing proof of this
statement is found In the fact that Bir-
mingham rail commands 81 more ton on
the open market than the Pittsburg rail-
In addition to its mineral wealth and
possibly as a result of it, Birmingham
is great railroad center. No other city
south Of the Ohio river handles near its
tonnage. Statistics show that the ton
mage of the Birmingham district alone Is
equal to that of Great Britain, with all
her countries combined. It's railroad Ia
cities are excellent. At present there
are ten trunk lines coming into Birming-
ham; besides five local lines. Birming-
ham has recently completed magnificent
terminal station at cost OF $1,0O0000 1t
Is among the handsomest passenger sta
tions In the United States.
Birmingham is the distributing point
Of the south for large portion of the
yellow pine. Tt Is the center of the
southern lumber trade the volume of
which is equal in value to that of the
production of coal and iron.
Birmingham is city of skyscrapers,
leading every other southern city in this
respect. 1t has the largest office build
ing In the south. With half q dozen big
office buildings, three more are now In
the course of construction. 1t would ap-
pear at first glance that this feature
of the city's growth Is abnormal and
too rapid, but second thought recalls
the fact that the great mining and man
ufacturing enterprises, not only of Bir-
mingham, but of practically the Ala
bama mineral district are directed from
the city Of Birmingham.
Birmingham has an immense jobbing
and wholesaling trade, the volume of
which has grown in ten years from prac-
tically nothing to $60.000,000 per annum