The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-06
BOARD OF TRADE IS FOR ENLARGED CITY Urges Action Even If Extra
 SeSsien Is Necessary MORE WATER PRESSURE Council Is Urged To Give Better Fire Protection To South Highlands.
 Shopping Day" Committee
 Makes Report.

Greater Birmingham if it takes an extra session. was the unanimous senti- ment expressed at big meeting of the Board of Trade yesterday afternoon. A committee composed of J. F. Shelby. John w. Tomlinson, John l.. Parker, Leo Loeb and Colman Blaeh was appointed to take charge of the fight and get the big city in time for the 1910 census.
 The water pressure question was also brought up and resolution passed, urg- ing the City Council to take such steps as possible to force the erection of stand pipe on Red mountain, but conforming any contract with the company which would allow the installation of meters. A committee composed of J. D. Collins, Joe Loveman and Colman Blach was ap- pointed to study the situation and do everything in their power for the protec- tion of the fine residences on the south slope of Red mountain.
 Temporary failure was reported by the committee on shopping days, but it was continued to work out a further plan and submit it to the railroads.
 For Greater Birmingham.
 The resolutions on Greater Birmingham were perhaps the most important In in- troducing them, J. E. Shelby took oc- casion to say that the destruction of the King bill was great disappointment and a big block in the way for enlarging the city He declared that no suburbs would enter under the Smyer bill, and plainly declared that an extra session of the leg islature will be necessary to get through a bill, and see that 1t is not tempered with, and all fraud is prevented. He then read this resolution, which was unani- mously adopted:
 "Whereas, It is the desire of the great majority of the people of Birmingham and vicinity. as evidencel by their vote in January last, to have Greater Birming- ham so as to have uniformity of plan in regard to sanitation, schools, municipal improvements and other matters which can only be brought about by united CO., operation; and
 "Whereas It is of the utmost import ance that the city be enlarged before the next federal census is taken; therefore, be 1t
 Resolved, That the Board of Trade of Birmingham again puts itself on record in favor of most vigorous steps for Greater Birmingham at the earliest possible mo- ment. Be it further
 Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed to aid the city officials in talk ing steps to make Greater Birmingham an assured fact as early as possible, and to take all steps necessary to that end"
 Here is the report of President R. w. Ewing, which he read to the meeting:
 Since the last meeting reports to me in dicate that our merchants have enjoyed the best months business experienced in year. The strenuous times succeeding the panic of year ago have served to bring the merchants of Birmingham closer together, and the more friendly relations have resulted in good for the mercantile interests of our city, and there has been a marked improvement and growth Of the progressive Birmingham spirit
 New City Directory.
 The 1909 city directory just issued by R. l.. Polk & Co., is an illustration of what may be accomplished through organized effort and cooperation. The previous di- rectory being inadequate to the require ments of Birmingham business houses, your president took this matter up last summer, and at once procured the co-op-' eration of other organized bodies in the city, and the joint committees appointed, of which the president of the board was In, Ina promise of various improvements in the new city directory. It is not necessary to go into detail here as to these i'm provements, mention of which has all ready been made in the papers. but suffice to say that practically every point contended for by your committee was granted by the directory people with the result that the new city directory for 1909 is much superior to the former edi- tion, and is more serviceable to business houses especially.
 Trading Stamps.
 It is a matter of regret that a1 effort should have been made to force the trad ing stamp scheme into Birmingham. AS soon as the matter was first known some weeks ago, the merchants in the various lines commenced to investigate and found that the people in Birmingham who had formerly used trading stamps soon real ized the many disadvantages and dropped it, and are now among those most bitter ly opposed to same Letters were writ ten to other southern cities where trad ing stamps have been in general use with the result that every place heard from