The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-29
CHAMBER URGES
 BIG PROJECTS FOR
 REBUILDING CITY Abolish Fee System and Put a Greater Birmingham Under Commission Government
BRIEF TALKS MADE ON
 SUBJECTS OF MOMENT
Nelson Becomes President and Raul and Pabb Are Praised For the Administration During the
 Past Year.

With 300 of the citys most prominent
 citizens in attendance, the Chamber of Commerce began new year in its his
 tory last night. The retiring president,
 John L. Raul, delightfully."- entertained his guests. and President Frank Nelson was inaugurated with great enthusiasm. The meeting was notable for it's en-
 thusiastic stand on the abolition of the fee system, in favor of Greater Birming- ham and the commission form of govern ment.
 The speakers condemned the fee system
 and poll of the meeting discovered but
 two who were in favor of it.
 Politics, making Birmingham a basing
 point the county jail, farming, small in-
 dustries and everything that pertains to
 Birmingham's success was handled brief ly and effectively.
 The announcement was made by Gen. Rufus N. Rhodes that the Wilkinson Turbine works are to be moved from Providence, R. l., to Birmingham, and
 General Rhodes gave voice to a rumor that E. H. Hartman had demanded that
 at least 75,0OO tons of the Illinois Gen.
 trars 15o, o,OO0-ton rail order to be filled by the Ensley mill
 Regrets From Prominent Men.
 Regrets were read from D. H. Gary, Joseph F. Johnston and J. H. Bankhead,
 who had been invited to attend the meet ing. MT. Gary, of the United States Steel corporation, wrote that he was greatly in
 terested in Birmingham and said: We hope to make our steel mill there one of the best in the country" Senator John ston wrote that he was unable to attend
 on account of the tariff debate, and Sen ator Bankhead was prevented by tho income tax measure in which he is par ticularly interested
 President John L. Raul then read his re- port for the year which was well received and considered thorough resume of one
 of the greatest administrations the club ever had.
 Mr. Raul Speaks.
 MT. Raul said:
 Members of the Chamber of Commerce Gentlemen-After having served as your
 executive officer for a year l more keen ly appreciate than ever before the ne- cessity of cooperation and team work
 in an institution of this character When
 I took up the work year ago it was
 with a statement of our need of these
 things and an appeal to our members to recognize this need, and to lend them-
 selves and their energies to the perfecting
 of an organization which should have
 for its watchword "Co-operation." To- night I feel that working along these lines we have succeeded in accomplish
 ing a great deal toward this end, for
 during the year for the purpose of en-
 larging the scope of its work and im-
 proving the efficiency of its service,
 change in the organization was made from the Commercial club to the Cham
 Der of Commerce. The purposes of re- organization are already being fulfilled.
 The Merchants and Manufacturers as-
 sociation. which has organized freight
 bureau and maintains credit depart
 ment, both most important adjuncts to
 our business relations has affiliated with the Chamber of Commerce The Business Mems league, organized for the purpose of promoting the local trade of Birming-
 ham, and which has already rendered i splendid service in celebrating the open ing of the new Terminal station, has en-
 tered into an utilization arrangement with
 the chamber. It Is not too much to
 hope that other organizations will do
 likewise.
 On the corner of F irst avenue and Nine
 teenth street we have built our new
 home. It is an evidence of the faith that
 our people have in the organization; 1t
 
 fitness; 1t is an inspiration to new ac- tivity. The building itself is not only
 a credit to the city, but the manner
 in which the project was launched and
 carried through was most gratifying. The enthusiasm that so quickly carried the
 plans of the building committee to suc- cess is indicative of the doing of even greater things by the Chamber of Com
 merce Your committees and board of Loxr haI i,, oh ho reorganization, deserve your hearty com
 mendation for the time and untiring ef- fort they have devoted to working out
 with care and deliberation the details
 connected herewith.
 Much good work has been done along
 other lines; the growing reputation of
 Birmingham as a convention city was enhanced by the manner In which the Confederate veterans were entertained
 here last June. More than 40,00o visitors
 were brought to the city and they re-
 turned to their homes singing the praises of Birmingham. Numerous other con-
 ventions were entertained during the year.
 The chamber also celebrated the entrance
 of three great railroads into Birmng- ham-the Illinois Central, the Mobile and Ohio. and the Atlanta Birmingham and Atlantic-all trunk lines, and, interesting to note reaching out to almost all points of the cOmpaSs-to the Atlantic, the gull, and the Great lakes.
 A committee of some 25 of your mem-
 bers secured special train and journeyed to Augusta, Ga., for the purpose of in
 viting President Taft to pay Birmingham visit during his stay in the south. His engagements were such at that time that | he could not set a definite date at which | he could visit us, but left this until his return from Panama, when he endeav- ored to fix the date. Unfortunately, train schedules did not permit of his mak- ing as long stay as was desired, so promise for another visit later in the year was secured Needless to say when he comes Birmingham will give the President | characteristic welcome.
 | A pleasing incident of the year was the presentation of the silver service on be- | half of the citizens of Birmingham to the | cruiser Birmingham, named in honor of l the city, delegation visiting Mobile for | the occasion. ] Headquarters were secured for the l Farmers union, a special fund being raised for the purpose. The chamber ap- Ionted a special campaign committee to arouse a sentiment against the proposed Idismemberment of Jefferson couRfy, which committee did signal service in defeat | ing the new county constitutional amend