The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-06
COOPER SPEAKS
HIGHLY OF CITY.
Representative of Rockefeller
Interests Departs
HIS FIRST VISIT HERE
Came for No Specific Purpose-Was
With ]. S. B. Thompson of South
ern-Visited and Interviewed
BY Prominent People.
HIS FIRST VISIT HERE

H. E. Cooper of New York, a represent
tative Of John D. Rockefeler's interests,
who spent Sunday night in Birmingham
and the greater part of yesterday in look
ing over the district, left for the east late
yesterday afternoon. He is travelling in
a private car Of the Southern railway and
by special train. and is escorted through
this section by J. s. b. Thompson of At
lanta, assistant to President Finley.
While the Standard Oil syndicate has
holdings in the Southern railway and
very large holdings In the United States
Steel corporation, being represented on the
board Of directors of the corporation. Mr..
Cooper was the first official of the Rock
efeller organization to visit the Birmng-
ham district and look over iron and steel
properties here. He is secretary of Mr..
Rockefellers investment department, and
is said to be exceptionally well informed
on the resources of every part of the
country and of the earning capacity of
the principal railroads and the large min
ing and manufacturing concerns.
Mr.. Cooper is returning east from a trip
to California. He came by the way of
New Orleans and was met there by Mr..
Birmingham Sunday evening, reaching
here over the Queen and Crescent route
Mr.. Thompson invited few prominent
citizens to meet Mr.. Cooper and accom-
pany his party on a tour of the district.
The party left the Terminal station at
a. m, and among those who made the
/ trip We're President George G. Crawford
and Vice President F. II. Crockard of the
| Tennessee company; Frank Nelson, pres
/ ident Of the Birmingham Chamber of
Commerce; W. E. Leake. the well known
coal operator; D. w. Lum, chief engineer
OF maintenance of the Southern railway,
and General Superintendent II. e Hule-
tens or the Southern. President ]. C.
Maben Of the Sloss-Sheffield Steel and
Iron company was invited to join the
party but having an Important engage
ment In the forenoon had to decline He
met Mr.. Cooper, however, and had a
short talk with him Just before the latter
departed eastward.
In going over the district the party
made stops at North Birmin gh am, Ems
ley and Bessemer. The ore mines on
Red mountain were inspected and al
together the day was one of great
sightseeing.
Mr.. Thompson said that Mr.. Cooper
in visiting Birmingham had no specific
object in view, but that as he had
charge OF the Rockefeller Investments
naturally desired to become ia
mlliar with conditions here. Mr.. Cooper
having intimated that he would like to
see Birmingham and the Birmingham
district on his way back from the Pa
c,1c coast. the president of the South
ern requested Mr.. Thompson to place
train at his disposal and act as er-
cort.
Mr.. Cooper, just before leaving,
said that he was much pleased with his
visit to Birmingham. II had known
great deal about this district from
reading and hearing" said Mr.. Cooper.
but now that have seen something
O fthe extensive developments going on
here, / feel, OF course, better acquaint-
ed with Birmingham's resources. i was
greatly interested in the Tennessee
company's new steel plant at Ensley
and in the many other evidences of ex-
pansion along large lines.
Birmingham is fortunate in having
a fine summer climate; and 1t Is siugu-
larly favored, too. in Its beautiful nat
ural scenery. I have heard that few
cities in this country had such attrac- +
tive residence sections as Birmingham.
l rode on Highland avenue Sunday
night. l only regretted that [ hadn't
time to see the highlands by daylight"
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