The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-07
Birninghan's Business Men Tell RaiIroad Visitors That
 They Want to CO-Operate
RAILROADS PROSPER WHEN
 PEOPLE ARE PROSPEROUS
Optimistic View Is Taken By Visitors and All Express Gratitude for Birmingham's Evidences of
 Appreciation.

The happy conclusion of the opening of the Birmingham terminal resulted in love feast at the Hotel Hillman last night, in which the Business Mems league and the railroads got together to stay together and to make Birmingham the greatest city of the south.
 There were speeches which drew rounds of applause in dry Birmingham. Besides being what A. H. Ford called the great est, most representative, finest looking and braniest set of railroad men that will ever be gotten together in this city, there were present the business men and the backbone of Birmingham.
 The optimistic view taken by such men as President J. T. Harihan of the Illinois Central, c. H. Ackert of the Southern and a half dozen other prominent officials surpassed even what the business men had expected. For example, Vice President A. R. Lawton of the Central of Georgia said 1 that while financing the terminal in At lanta the railr<ads had simply f1oated enough bonds to build the station, but when they came to build in Birmingham they provided a margin on those bonds of full million dollars because i've knew that so phenomenal would be your growth that before those bonds mature this ann pie station will be too small and will have to be enlarged.'
 Congratulations were paid John L. Par ker, chairman of the banquet committee, for the wonderful success of the affair. While MT. Parker was not on the pro- gramme he and Mir Nabb made a good 1@ot,, served.
 President c. W. Ufford of the Business Mems league presided as toastmaster, or 'interlocutor," as he called 1t, and he had an introduction ready to open the oratory cork in every speaker at the banquet.
 Ufford Starts Love Feast.
 After the dinner had been served Pres- dent Ufford stopped the music and started the love feast.
 He said: 'rYou remember the old Quaker who said once to his wife: Everyone in this world is queer. but thee and me and sometimes, wife. thee is little queer!
 "A closer relationship may, we trust, eliminate these peculiarities. And so with this thought above all others, we have invited you to join in this days cere- monies-the celebration of the opening of our new terminal-the celebration of new spirit in our business intercourse.
 "To the visiting railroad officials, our guests of tonight, the members of the Business Mems league and the citizens or Birmingham extend a most cordial and genuine welcome; welcome that means more than the formal welcome usually ex- tended visitors. It Is a welcome that car ,~fo axynr ton, not only for the splendid new termi- nal just given this city, but for the con- stant and substantial Improvements made by all the railroads entering the city.
 Tt is a welcome that carries with 1t an expression of confidence in your attitude toward this district; an expression of sin eere good will and friendship, an expres- sion of deep and genuine desire to be of assistance to you, if possible in sov- ing the perpexing problems confronting you It is the hope and the belief that this days social and business association may be the means of bringing into closer touch and more cordial cooperation all who are concerned in the future of this section.
 "It seems strange, indeed, that at times we become blinded to the great self-eyi- dent truth that our interests are com mon; that your prosperity, the railroads prosperity, is dependent upon the peo-
 
 injures us and what injures us injures you.
 Result of Misunderstanding.
 And so, believing that our differences are. to a large extent. the result of mis- understanding, we have asked you here to meet us in close companionship, for getting all past disputes and differences, to advance the get-together spirit, which is the slogan of the Business Mems lac to o11r mi to work to use to their fullness and to our mutual benefit the gifts that nature has bestowed upon us.'
 Joseph Introduced. After loud applause MT. Ufford intro dnced M " Joseph, as "a man who came here to trade off a pair of mules and Is now head of the greatest department store in the south, the originator of the Bus mess Mems league.'
 MT. Joseph said: First, desire to ex press a sentiment of appreciation of your presence with us tonight. Hustling bus mess center that we are, we well know the important position of the railroads in the development of this country. '"The purpose and aim of the Business Mems league is simplified in one single thought, to bring trade to Birmingham. We are getting together in this county as we never were before. We intend to stay together. We are young In years. I came here just 20 years ago, and where we are tonight was duck pond.
 "We recognize that without your aid we cannot divert more trade to Birming ham. We recognize the need for your sympathy and know that with your help we can triumph.
 "Today this district furnishes tonnage ten times greater than the entire cotton crop of the south. We are not satisfied with s15 ton for our products, but we will take lessons from Pittsburg. Birming- ham can and WILL
 we recognize that the prosperity of 1 the railroads is the prosperity Of this | citv and this state This country full | of hives of industry was only obtainable | through the brains and the efforts Of 1 these capable men who sit around this board tonight"
 He spoke of the beauty and adornment l of the Terminal station and thanKed the visitors for their presence. Rhodes Next Speaker. President JJfford introduced Rufus N Rhodes as lone of the few men who would rather be right than consistent brave enough to change his position when l he finds he is wrong; who has spoken always as he felt, honestly always, and maintained the respect of the commun- it."
 MT. Rhodes spoke of his having been the oracle of the occasion in his demands during five years for a new terminal sta ton. He referred to the time when J. T.