The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-31

I
 consideration of Congress- he said. Messages of Regret Letters and telegrams of sympathy with
 the movement and expressing regret that they could not attend were received from
 President Taft, Secretary of War J. M. Dickinson, Governor Conner, Henry Par sons, H. B. Gray. Joseph B. Ransdell w. | w.. Finley, J. H. Davidson, R. w. Austin, Frey l.. Blackmon, J. W. Byrnes, T. c. Thompson, John A. Patten, Judge S. D. | Weakley, John l.. Burnett, W. B. Craig, | J. T. Heflin, George w. Taylor, S. H. Dent, O. w. Underwood, T. E. Burton, R. P. Hobson, John A. Moon, Leroy | Percy, w. W. Screws, John B. Weakley,
 Bruce Kennedy, Charles H. Baker and w. P. Lay.
 Congressman E. S. Candler of Missis- | sippi spoke on Muscle Shoals; Help It On." He pledged his hearty support to the project in Congress. He told num- Der of good stories and made good im-
 pression on those present He is small and insignificant of stature, but proved
 that he was strong of voice and mental
 power.
 Among the visitors were J. B. Babb and James Weatherly of Birmingham, J. G. Oakley of Bibb, Frank V. Evans of Jas per, Hector D. Lane of Courtland, R. F. Kolb of Montgomery. James Weatherly was introduced and explained that he
 was here by accident, but was glad to be present. He made some pleasing refer ences to distinguished men present and strongly indorsed the Muscle shoals de- velopment project. MT. Weatherly made
 a strong argument for high-class inm-
 grafton to settle and develop the fine
 lands of the Tennessee valley.
 Judge J. H. Nathan of Sheffield spoke
 briefly on Muscle Shoals city as an &C., complishInent worthy our utmost en- deavcr. Judge D. B. Almon of Tuscumbia
 suggested the proposed new city of Muscle Shoals as one of Alabama's big four. He drew a vivid picture of the
 possibilities of the city of Muscle Shoals with 500,00O people and teeming industries J. w. Worthington of Sheffield gave some interesting facts and figures on some of
 the natural industrial development that
 would follow the development of Muscle shoals. The exercises continued until far past midnight. J. B.. Babb of Birming-
 ham spoke briefly. He pledged Birming-
 hams sympathy in the movement
 Ashcraft states Object of eMeting
 The banqueters assembled at the club
 rooms at o'clock and entered the ban
 quet hall at o'clock Shortly after as- sembling the business of the1meeting was stated by Mayor C. w. Ashcraft, the orig inator of the Muscle Shoals city idea. After brief but eloquent review of the advantages of the tri-cties and the value of cooperation through a closer union, he introduced Col. Emmet O'Neal, who
 presided as toastmaster.
 In opening the meeting Mayor Ashcraft
 spoke in part as follows:
 When my eyes for the last time be-
 hold the sun in the heavens, may they
 rest upon the glorious ensign of this re-
 public, still high advanced, its arms and
 
 star obscured or stripe effaced but everywhere blazing in characters of liv-
 ing light all over it's ample folds as they wave over land and sea, and in every
 wind under heaven, that sentiment dear
 to every American heart, Liberty and
 union now and forever, one and insepa- rable.'
 Most of you recognize this sentiment
 expressed by Daniel Webster, and many
 of you, no doubt, have in the days of the old field school, had practiced in deliver Ing these high sounding words. Beautl- full in sentiment, more beautiful in the ory, most beautiful in practical results,
 experience has proven that union. one and I inseparable, Is consummation achieved
 out of trying experiences and heroic, un-
 selfish endurance. People grow together
 and become united, according as they
 suffer together; just as the friendships of youth are cemented by youthful trials and experiences.
 Glad to Welcome Tuscumbia We of Florence are glad to see you of Tuscumbia in our midst tonight. Nearly hundred years ago these two towns be- gan life like two children together, and many and varied have been their exper- fences many their distinguished sons.
 Let Florence push out her chest in pride at the mention of her Coffee, Patton, Houston, O'Neal. H. c. Jones, George P. Jones, Emmet O'Neal. and you of Tus-
 cumba proudly name your Lindsay, Rather, Carmichael, Kirk, Almon. Should we of Florence revel in the beauty of our natural scenery of creek and crag and broad expanse of river, you of Tuscumbla can boast of your magnificent spring, your broad expanse of splendid farms and elegant country estates. When the tocsin of war resounded our cause was common, our people suffered as one Their joy at victory was mutual their grief at re- verses was consoled the one by the other. For half century, when we of Florence have gone on journeys out into the wide, wide world we have passed out through Tuscumbia and Tuscumbia has always been at the station to see us off and bid us God speed.
 "Our men have sought and married your women, and your men have made similar raids into our camp When our distinguished citizens have been honored, you have rejoiced with us, and when yours have been elevated to thigh stations they have had our enthusiastic support. Our hopes, our aims our accomplish ments are one
 Proud of Sheffield
 And so genuine was our enjoyment in one another's society, that while we rev. eled in our ease our full grown offspring, Sheffield stepped in and claimed a di- vision of the parental estate, and so | Justify has this offspring uontended tha.
 we have been compelled to acknowledge
 the wonderful value of her youth and
 vigor take off our hats and proclaim her, | although our very own, free and inde- pendent. With glad hearts we rejoice to-
 night in the presence of this magnificent | offspring.
 | But independent as we all are, never theless we are brethren. and our interest and prosperity, if we progress, is abso-
 lutely dependent upon the fraternal bond, | l.. ,or1xr eli dar Of