The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-09-06
GREAT BENEFITS
 FOR THE SOUTH Southern Commercial Congress
 Is Active Factor
BUILDING LOT SECURED
Erection of the Home of the Congress In Washington Will Be Great Step Forward In Progress of
 Southern Commerce.

Washington, September 5.-(Special.) 1 Old St. Matthews church, corner of
 Fifteenth and H streets, which in Feb
 ruary passed into the hands of MT John M. Parker of New Orleans and MT. Charles Hall Davis of Petersburg, acting for the Southern Commercial congress, has now been deeded to the Southern Building corporation, of which MT. T. F. Schneider, the well known architect and capitalist of Washing ton, Is president, and MT. John M. Parker of New Orleans, vice presi- dent. The lot is 150 feet square and a magnificent office building of the finest type will be erected, 10 or 12 1 stories high. This corporation has been organized for the express purpose of erecting the building a home for the Southern Commercial congress as well as for revenue. The building and ground will cost $1,50O,OO0 The only difference between this enterprise and building corporation along the usual lines is that each stock certificate bears the following indorsement:
 Tt Is condition hereof that the Southern Commercial congress may, at Its option. at any time within three years from the date hereof, take over this certificate by the payment to its owenr and holder of the par value hereof and aclued interest at the rate Of per centum per annum.'
 This action in relation to the home and revenue producer of the South hern Commercial congress renders sure the erection of a building which will mean much of practical benefit to the south ern states in attracting attention to them as the region of greatest present opportunity in the United States. While the building Is being erected, the gen. era1 publicity work carried on by the Southern Commercial congress for the benefit of all southern states will go forward without cessation. The move- ment has already been a distinct suc- cess in stimulating local confidence and in creating a desire for cooperation among the commercial organizations of the south who in a sense have similar problems to meet. The work of the Southern Commercial congress is for "a greater nation through a greater south."
 The Southern Commercial congress is a natural outgrowth of the organized effort being made throughout the south and Is supplemental to all lines of work carried on by oh ambers of com merce, commercial clubs, etc. It will devote its power to calling into being throughout the south commercial or ganizations where none exist, to strengthen existing organizations and to prompting on the part of every thinking man an immovable confidence in the commercial destiny of the south l. ern states. At the same time, it will carry forward general propagation. be- yond the power of local organizations so that the south as a wh ole may be fully understood and there may come to 1t the development possible through more investment in enterprises and through the arrival of men of kindred impulse with those already in the south.
 The stupendous truth regarding the south is this: Nature has given to the states south of the Mason and Dixon line more available coast line, more navigable streams, more water power, more water products, more minerals conveniently placed, more forest re- sources, more agricultural range from the products of Florida and Texas northward, more unusued but valuable land and greater general accessibility to coast line than can be found in com bination in any other portion of the United States.
 Commenting upon this stupendous truth. the Washington Herald recently said granting the accuracy of this statement 1t follows that there is to be unfolded south of the Mason and Dixon line, a commercial drama of marvellous meaning for the whole United States"