The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-06-09
MEMBER OF THE
 STAFF WRITES IN
 PERSONAL VEIN
BY WILLIAM RYAN

Looking back over my P years of resi- dence in Birmingham, l see here maghilll- cent improvement, phenomenal expansion large accumulated wealth and splenald promise for the years to come.
 In 1898, when I added myself to the pop ulation, Birmingham was just beginning to recover from a period of extreme de- pression. There were comparatively few men here then who were solvent, but ev- erybody I met was full of hope and vim and the real upbuilders had their shoul- ders well to the wheel. And from that 1 time on Birmingham has been making wonderful strides.
 | had been here only short while when | the fact became impressed upon my mlnd | that The Age-Herald was positiye'force, and felt that this newspaper was to be distinct factor in the development or Birmingham and the Birmingham district. It had been acquired by the present man agement about a year before I settled here.
 The Age-Herald had had an eventful history and had experienced many vicissi- tudes. In 1897, when MT. Barrett bought control it was in particularly bad shape. physically and financially. and as Bir- mingham itself was in poor shape at that time no one less optimistic or less self reliant than MT. Barrett would have as- stunned the task of building up this news paper property. But he was the very man for such an enterprise. To begin with he was an all-round newspaper man. On leaving college he made bee-line for a newspaper office, got into working clothes and served as printers devil. He may not have completed his apprenticeship in a composing room, but he worked at the case long enough to become familiar with the typographical trade. Quitting the mechanical department, MT. Barrett broke into the writing business and worked his way up. He had received excellent jour nalistio training in Georgia and at the national capital. Having had considera- ble newspaper experience myself. I felt that I was competent judge of those engaged in the profession, and when met Mir. Barrett here I readily appraised him dS Ollc Ol lIlc DeSl cQulppcu HIGH lOI cult ing and publishing a metropolitan daily in this country. Besides having that in- dispensible talent. nose for news, MT. Barrett had the courage of his convic- tions, a sense of proportion and a fixed purpose to print only such matter as by the way, one of the first big news stories which he had the pleasure of print ing as a scoop was the announcement that the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Rail- road company had decided to build a steel mill at Ensley. As all see now, that in Birmingham's history
 If I may be pardoned for little more personal reference, I will say that when I came to Birmingham 12 years ago to cast my lot I had no idea of re-entering the newspaper field. I had got out of the traces entirely and meant to stay out. Well, I did keep out for nearly a year, but The Age-Herald and its sane and straightforward policies appealed to me and almost before I knew 1t I was back in harness, starting over again as proof reader MT. Barrett was still struggling manfully to put the paper on its feet He had a small plant-only four typeset- ting machines and little old ramshackle press. Walter Blackman was with him. but he was then in his artistic infancy, so to speak. and hadn't got beyond his chalk plates
 There were only six persons employed in the editorial office when I took the proofreader's desk, and only three or four in the business office The paper was being issued only six days in the week, and as the Sunday edition was rare ly larger than 16 pages, the proofreader had an easy job. Salaries paid by The Age-Herald were small in those days, but they were as large as the revenues of the paper would justify; larger. I sus- pected.
 But Brminghams dark days had van ished and business conditions were fast improving. And in the nature of things, along with the general improvement The Age-Herald began to prosper. Its suc- cessful record in recent years. just like Birmingham's growth, has been widely remarked. Few newspaper properties in the south stand on such solid foundation as The Age-Herald. The struggle was strenuous. but the reward has been abun- dant. As an institution The Age-Herald is bound up in the life of Birmingham, but Its friends and subscribers are state wide. It has stood for all that is clean and true in journalism, and so 1t will continue to stand.
 Members ofThe Age-Herald force are warmly congratulated by their acquaint- ances on being ensconced in the new building. We all feel proud of it, to be sure, but we are not puffed up. This is not only a handsome building to look upon, but 1t Is the airiest and altogthef the most comfortable newspaper estab- lishment I was ever in. The old-time newspaper office usually looked dilapi- dated. Tn fact, it was dilapldated, din Nginess and dilapidation being its distin- gushing marks. It was never clean. and some of the older quill drivers like my self doubted whether the genuine newspa- per atmosphere would ever be found in ar elegant architectural pile, furnished ir modern style and with the appointments O. the building perfectly sanitary as vel as convenient. But we are all more thar satisfied with The Age-Herald's change We are in state of elation and the won. der is how we worked so long in the old shop and kept we'll and happy.
 
 ONLY HALF CRAZY
 From the Philadelphia Times.
 A certain mild-mannered lunatic, in