The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-25
From the Louisville courier-Journal.

II
 @ HE meeting of the members of the
 lOp Southern Newspaper Publishers
 association last week at Birming- ham, Ala, was one of the most success full held since the organization has been in existence The discussions were of an edifying character. and those who at tended the meeting profited by the in- formation secured. not to speak Of the entertainment afforded by their hosts or Birmingham. These latter were the city's newspaper men and the members of the Chamber of Commerce.
 The Birmingham spirit" so distinctly in evidence and so forcibly impressed upon the visiting newspaper men, holds an unclouded belief in the future great ness of the "Pittsburg of the South" It is not to be confused with Birmingham spirits" which the writer found to be easily accessible here as he was told they were elsewhere in this new land of pro- hibition
 The average Birmingham citizen seems to possess a peculiar combination or Yankee aggressiveness and southern cor diality. The hospitality extended to their visitors last week was of that matchless species which has made the south famous in song. story and history. It must be experienced to be appreciated, and no amount of eulogy can exaggerate it.
 sThe newspaper men from other portions of the south who were present were all deeply impressed with Birmingham achievements. They could scarcely realize that 40 years ago there did not exist such a place as Birmingham. Today 1t has much to back up its claims as an in dustrial center of the south, and it is question whether any city of the country can show greater growth within the past 20 years. The native will tell you that there were scarcely 10000 people there two decades ago, while now there are 100000 within the city proper; and, with Greater Birmingham, which it is expected will be created by legislation this summer, will have a population of nearly 10000. Jeffer- son county, in which the city of Birming- ham is located, enjoys a population in excess of 100000 In the district there are more than 30 furnaces, most of them of the largest and most approved type mak- ing the cost Ol pfOuuCtioh oi Pi6 hoA tho lowest anywhere in the world. The output is nearly 100000 tons a year, and the supply of coal in the district is sufficient to last 300 years, with almost unlimited iron ore. The freight cost on raw materials to make ton of iron is about one-fourth what 1t is in Pennsyl- yania There are about 75 coal mines in Jefferson county, and some 10000 men em- ployed in the coal industry of Alabama. The steel industry Is one of the most in-, teresting of all in the Birmingham dis trict. Steel making is done here cheaper than anywhere in the world. About 5000 men are employed by the steel plant at Ensley of the United States Steel corpor- ation.
 The total investment in furnaces, steel plants, mines and manufactures in the Birmingham district Is more than $125, ,0O0,- GOO. There are more than 10000 people on the payrolls among whom is distributed every month between $35OO,0O0 and s4, ,00o- 000
 Birmingham has nine trunk lines of railroads and magnificent new terminal station which Is possibly not equaled else where Tn the country SoutH oI washing ton, representing an investment of nearly g, 100000.
 Birmingham's street railway system has about 1SO miles of track. The average number of persons hauled daily is about 75,oO0 More than dozen banks with resources of about $25, ,o0o,0OO and deposits of about s2o.O0o,OOO make the city an im- portant banking center for large terri tory. The total volume of business. wholesale, retail and manufacturing in the city for the last year is estimated at s175,00o,0O0.
 Undoubtedly Birmingham owes much of it's progress to its press. The city has excellent newspapers, ably edited, and they are creditable in comparison with those issued from the center of any of the great cities of the country.
 But the greatest thing in Birmingham Is the Birmingham spirit. It Is unques-