The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-08-23
Organ Zod Work
preparations

NlJnln the past nVe or SIX years Biz
mingham has made good progress in
the development of civic pride and the
cooperative spirit without which no
community can take high rank in the
commercial world. Public spirit and
concert of action on the part of its bus
mess men have made Atlanta, and the
same habit of united effort that has
characterized the Georgia metropolis
will have telling results in this or any
other reasonably well conducted city.
Until recent years the people of Bir-
mingham had depended on the wonder
full natural resources of the district for
the citys growth, but they now realize
that in order to reap anything like
full measure of the benefits of Birming-
| hams geographical position and its OBJ
yious advantages as a coal, iron and
steel center, intelligent organization
and energetic work along organized
/ lines are necessary. The Chamber of
Commerce, the Board of Trade and the
Business Mems league are accomplish
ing practical things for the upbuilding
of the city and the promotion of the
city's mercantile interests, and an or
| ganization recently formed here as an
auxiliary of the Chamber of Commerce
| is beginning to make record for valu-
able achievement. This new branch of
the Chamber of Commerce is styled
the Merchants and Manufacturers as
! sociation, and among its objects is that
of securing lower freight rates for
products manufactured in Birmingham.
Persons who are not familiar with
the situation might think that all a
manufacturer had to do In the matter
of getting better rates for his concern
was to go and see the freight agent.
But rate-making is a science. Owing
to the vast development of railroad
traffic and the manifold questions to
be considered in compiling rate sheets,
the whole business is complex and can
not always be dealt with in hurry
Rate changes asked for often involvs
many knotty points, and hence expert
ence and tact are required on both
sides in dealing with matters of the
sort referred to.
An instance of what Is needed to pro-
mote the success Of new industries and
the growth Of old ones was given in
brief report of the Merchants and Man
ufacturers' association printed in the
Age-Herald of Sunday, relating to rates
made especially for the American Ra-
diator company's Birmingham works.
| The Radiator company Is one of the
largest and best managed concerns in
the United States. Early in the sum-
mer it started a plant here--the only
radiator works In the south-as an ex-
pertinent 1t was soon learned that the
expansion Of the Birmingham business,
If not, indeed, its permanence was de-
pendent upon better freight rates to
the principal southern cities. The Mer-
chants and Manufacturers association
took up the matter with the railroads
and worked on 1t quietly but earnestly
until the desired concessions were
made. According to the comparative
table of old rates and new there is now
difference in carload lots in favor of
the Radiator company of AZ per cent
to Louisville, 60 per cent to st. Louis
and IS per cent to Charleston and Sa-
yannah, and in less than carload lots
there is also a considerable reduction
to practically all southern cities
The above rate reductions are only
examples. What has been done through
organization for this new industry will
be done in behalf of others. And all
such work is of incaluculable benefit
m pirmin cham