The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-18
BANQUET GIVEN
 TO STEEL WORKERS
BUILDERS OF EMPIRE BUILDING SHOW APPRECIATION TO MEN WHO HAVE MADE REMARKABLE RECORD ON CONSTRUCTION.

A banquet full of lire, such as only the men of muscle can produce while in their moments of relaxation. made the Central hotel ring with merriment last night. It was given to the steel workers who have builded the great steel skeleton, which formed the bone and sinew of the 16- story Empire skyscraper, by the men whose money is responsible for putting up this building, as a token of appreciation to the men whose rapid work has not only gained for them the admiration of Bir- mingham residents, but which also broke the record for the steel work construc- ton of a building of this size.
 To many of the steel workers gath cred around the banquet board it was the first affair of this particular kind which they had ever attended, and this doubled their appreciation. An exempli- fication of just how close the steel work CTS heart is to the surface was shown when the enthusiasm generated by the banquet reached such height that as many of them as could possibly do so gathered around Frederick Larkln Of New York, superintendent of construction for Architects Warren G Welton, and tossed him in the air fully dozen times. These steel handlers have muscle akin to the metal they handle and with each bounce their genial superintendent caromed in the air, almost touching the high cell ing.
 Five days were clipped off the record by these men for a 5Ox1O0 16-story build ing. The former record was 2S actual aa, r-fa healthy-looking fellows brought it down to 2S days. Beginning work March Is they sat down at a banquet board April IT with the steel work entirely completed
 There were talks by many of the steel workers present which fairly bubbled over with enthusiasm and good fellow ship. Host J. A. Brown fairly overdid himself on the spread and thereby won the gratitude of every guest It was not a stiff, formal affair, served in courses, but instead everything was served in straight country style and the hard work of these men who delve in steel creates magnificent appetites The speakers proved themselves orators. Not a one of the talks lasted five minutes, but each was interesting and received the atten- ton of every man present.
 Those making the talks were K. l.. Henderson, Harry Haver, superinten- dent for the Nolke-Richards Iron Works of Indianapolis, contractors for the steel work on this building; J. s. liar rell, president of the steel mems local and also president of the Building Trades council for Birmingham; Charles DuBose, foreman; H. F. Manthey, foreman for the ornamental work Oscar Waterman, time- keeper; Charlie OHaver. w. McGuire, Tommie Smith. Jake Castleton, Arthur Mass, J. A. Burns representing T. c. Thompson. contractors, and many others.
 There were songs by Charlie DuBose, toast to the iron works by Mcclure, a whole lot by Billy Moore, some by c. M. Griffith and others. Whitney Bat terson also executed a neat buck dance.
 It was a complete relaxation for these hard workers. Each one is a stanch mem Der of the steel workers union and this organization came in for much praise from everybody for the calibre of the men who had builded the Empire sky scraper.
 One thing which was brought out at this banquet which is not generally known Is the fact that insurance con- panies figure on a steel workers life at the extreme limit of ten years.