The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-07
BOARD OF TRADE
To HELP ROAD WORK
VIII Assist In Making State
Convention a Success
COLLINS MAKES ADDRESS
New President outlines His Policies
and Asks Cooperation of Men,
bers In Making Work of
Board a Success.
COLLINS MAKES ADDRESS

At the regular monthly meeting of the
Board of Trade held yesterday after
noon a letter was read from President
John Craft of the Alabama Good Roads
association requesting the board to CO.
operate with the association in the hold
ing of its convention in Birmingham dur
ing the State Fair next October. A res
olution was adopted pledging support and
in addition requesting the governor and
the association to call on interstate as
sociations to meet here at the same time.
A committee was appointed to handle the
matter vigorously.
The meeting was the first to be held un-
der the presidency of ]. D. Collins, and
his address was the feature of the oc
casion.
A resolution was adopted continuing the
present special Greater Birmingham COM
mittee and requesting the members to
hold meeting at an early date and CO.
operate with the regular Greater Biz
mingham committees OF the council and
other organizations.
President Collins address was as fol-
lows:
Gentlemen and Members of the Board
of Trade. l hardly know how to ex-
press my appreciation of the honor con-
ferred upon me In electing me to the
presidency of this body for the ensuing
year. When I recall the names OF your
former presiding officers. all of whom
have so ably, honestly and efficiently
conserved the interests of this board,
fully realize the responsibility of the posi-
ton. This is the second time that you
have seen fit to place me at the head of
A6xr A,Ixr tr,,r L.
small measure, come up to your ex-
pectation.
In assuming my duties. 1t will be my
earnest desire to carry out the purposes
for which the Board of Trade was or
ganized and chartered by the legisla-
ture of Alabama and l feel that / shall
have the earnest support of all OF our
members The first purpose Is to espe-
cially subserve the interest of the mem
bers of the Board of Trade. the prime
purpose being to promote and protect
their interests. This can be done in the
future, as In the past, in the matter of
licenses, taxation, insurance. water, cleo
trio lights charges and In adjusting
claims of It's mem bers in the matter of
overcharges In freishts all of which has
been and will be in the future without
expense to the membership. The way
these matters have been handled has
brought beneficial results without litiga-
ton, and such will be the policy for
the coming year
I'm the second place, the Board of
Trade, in the future as in the past, will
!, lend its influence in all public questions
on which its members are united. The
membership of the Board Of Trade usual
ly stands as a unit on all matters affect
ing the public good, and through COM
mittees acting Jointly with other public
organizations. has done much toward ad-
xx<xf.~
ham and of Birmingham district Such
will be the policy of the Board Of Trade
for the coming year. In reference to pub
lie matters on which the members are
divided, trust the membership will con-
tinue to see the wisdom of the policy
heretofore pursued by the Board of Trade
In leaving such matters to be handled
outside Of the Board of Trade. There
are enough important questions on which
our membership stands united to enable
the Board of Trade to accomplish bene-
ncial results. not only for It's member
ship, but for the public in general
In conclusion, might add that 1t Is my
opinion that the city will prosper in the
future, as in the past, but in order for
this prosperity to be enjoyed to its fullest
extent, favorable conditions to that end
must exist In other words, to secure
greater out of town trade to the Bir-
mingham merchants, II Is necessary for
the railroads entering Birmingham to ar
range their schedules so that more trains
will arrive In Birmingham during ths
day 80 that out of town people may come
to Birmingham and do their trading and
return the same day My opinion Is that
the conditions, for instance. in Atlanta,
Ca, in this regard are more favorable
than those In Birmingham. In the next
place, in order that her manufacturing
interests may be developed, 1t Is of prime
Importance that Birmingham may reap
the benefit Of her natural location In the
heart of the mineral district of the south,
the iron and steel producing center of
this section. In order for this to be so
we should have Birmingham price on
steel and not Pittsburg price with
freight added. The Pittsburg <rice with
all interests to the great steel producing
organization should induce 1t to give Bir-
mingham the benefit of her natural To-
cation. No other city or section could
complain Of such just treatment. In tho
next place scent fare between Birming-
ham and all the suburban towns, l be-
lieve, would result, not only in benefit
to Birmingham and the suburban towns
but would bring about that Increased
travel on the street railroads which would
be of profit to the road itself.
Furthermore, it is necessary that the
citizens of Birmingham should have as
cheap rates for water, electric lights and
other public utilities as are enjoyed by
cities similarly situated.
'All such matters the Board of Trade
will continue to agitate by giving to the
public the facts in order that public opin-
Ion may be directed to these matters to
the end that the favorable conditions de-
sired may be brought about without in
jury to any one"
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