The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-09
Reports Made on Various Lines of Endeavor During
 the Past Year
.ENSLEY CITIZENS TALK
 FOR GREATER BIR INGRAM
Resolution Asks That Belgian Blocks Be Removed From Principal Bus mess Streets-Buying More
 Parks Is Urged.

| ly to reports of all committees, the final
 report of President R. W. Ewing, who
 was prevented from attending by illness,
 and the speeches of a delegation from the
 Ensley Board of Trade.
 The Ensley citizens declared that their city is in favor of Greater Birming-
 ham and wants to become a part of the i big city because they favor the 5-cent
 car fare. as well as lower lights and
 water rates They urged the Birmingham
 men to attend mass meeting in Ems i ley Monday night when Greater Brming- ham will be up for consideration. Among l those present from Ensley were John Donelson, J. H. Leath, T. J. Kennemer,
 Frank Davis, G. D. Warwick, w. B.
 Beacham, Capt. W. A. Ward MT. Tyler
 MT. Piper and MT. McCary.
 They were given assurances of sym
 pathy by President Collins and J. D. l Shelby. The reports for the year were l then read after which resolutions were l in order. Among those adopted was the l following:
 Be it resolved, by the Board of Trade of Birmingham, That vote of thanks
 be and is hereby extended to R. w.. Ewing, retiring president. for his faith
 full and efficient work as president of 1 the Board of Trade during the past year."
 Would Remove Belgian Blocks. John L. Parker secured the passage
 of a resolution requesting the City Coun- | cil to remove the Belgium blocks from the main streets of the city. The board
 decided to push the matter, and to get of At-ft hn
 blocks were condemned for their filth,
 roughness, wear on vehicles and the noise
 caused by traffic passing over them. l This resolution was introduced by Oli- yer Chalifoux and passed:,
 Be 1t resolved, That the Board of Trade of Birmingham will in the future,
 as in the past. heartily cooperate with
 the Chamber of Commerce and other or | ganizations in promoting the interest of
 Birmingham and of the district, and will appoint committees at any time to CO., l operate with similar committees appoint | ed for the public good; but the Board
 of Trade, its membership and purposes being limited, will maintain it's own or
 ganization and rooms.''
 Buy More Vacant Property. l Alderman Heidts resolution putting the
 board on record favoring the purchase | of more vacant property by the city for | park purposes was unanimously adopt l ed. A resolution was introduced by j.. l E. Shelby condemning the ordinance l raising hack fares in Birmingham. AL l dermen present explained that the ordi-
 nance was introduced by request and l would no doubt be voted down without | any trouble.
 1 Resolutions were also adopted express | ing regret at the death of Col. A. K. l Mcclure, and inviting the BaracaP Phila- thea union of the world to meet in Bir-
 mingham next year. On motion of Oliver l Chalifoux resolution was passed thank l ing the Atlanta, Birmingham and At 1 lantic for it's weekend shopping rate, 1 which was put on this week. Here are l the reports which were read in order: 1 Committee on Nominations. Report of the committee on nomination: | J. E. Shelby was appointed secretary by l Chairman John W. O'Neill. J. D. Collins nominated president; Sol Caheen, first vice president; J. D. Shelby, second vice
 president; Oliver Chalifoux, third vice president; George McCreary, fourth vice president; Colman Blach, fifth vice presi- 1 dent; J. A. Berger, sixth vice president; | c. c. Heidt, seventh vice president; John L. Parker, eighth vice president; John w.. l O'Neill treasurer; Roy Mccullough, sec
 retary John W. Tomlinson. attorney l On motion of the secretary the entire | vote of the committee was cast unani-
 mously for the above candidates. The motion was carried. M | Present: John w. ONeill, Oliver Chali- | foux. J. D. Collins, John W. Tominson, | George McCreary, J. E.a Shelby and J. A. | Burger.
 Ewing's Annual Report.
 Annual report of retiring President R. l W. Ewing:
 l Gentlemen
 l Viewing the work of the Board of Trade 1 for the past year from the standpoint of | it's retiring president, will say that while | l feel that much has been accomplished l for the benefit of our members and the ! mercantile interests of Birmingham in | general, 1 also feel that, owing to the ex- | acting cares of the active management | of large business, I have not had the l time to give to the boards affairs which I l would like to have given, but such time l as I have given l have given freely and l gladly, and will feel amply repaid if I l shall have in a measure proved worthy l of the confidence which you placed in 1 me when you conferred on me the high | honor of the presidency of this organiza- l tion last June.
 | New Members.
 l The aim of the Board of Trade has al- l ways been to have an active and infiuen- l tial membership among the leading firms l in their respective lines, rather than to | ship, and only merchants actively en- | gagged in business in the city of Birming- ]; ham are eligible for membership. Few l solicitations for members have been | made although the membership has been l increased during the year and a number l of new firms have been added to our ac- l tive membership rolls. As this is the | only commercial organization in the l city embracing more than one line of l business, which limits its membership l strictly to merchants. you can readily see | its advantages and power of benefit to the individual merchant.
 Special Executive Work. l The Board of Trade has always stood 1 very close to the merchants, and zealous- | ly guarded their interests, and in the | matter of procuring a reduction of 25 per | cent in the fire insurance rates of the | city thousands of dollars have been saved | to Birmingham merchants and business men during the past several years, and