The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-27
PRESIDENT FINLEY VERY OPTIMISTIC Says Present Dullness Can
 not Last Long NO LINE TO CORINTH The Southern Does Not Contemplate Purchase of Railroad-Officials
 of Company Here on an
 Inspection Trip
NO LINE TO CORINTH

That his company was not contem- plating the purchase of any railroad between this city and Corinth and that he had only heard the first of such a rumor in Birmingham was the state ment last night of w. W. Finley, pres idenr of the Southern Railway com pany.
 With a party of officials of the com pany he spent the day inspecting the properties of the company in the i'm mediate Birmingham district. They will leave this morning for a trip over the Northern Alabama accompanied by Fairfax Harrison, president of the Mo- non route, and a director of the South ern, who reached here last night over the Queen and Crescent at 1O15 o'clock.
 MT. Finley was found to be very optimistic last night, saying that the present slack in commercial activity was temporary. He said this period was to be followed by condition, the coming of which peed cause no ap- prehension.
 MT. Finley, in an interview, said last night:
 The report that the Southern Rail- way company intends to buy any di- is misleading. We have no such inten- tion so far as I am info rmed and the first of that report I heard In this city.
 Business shows, beginning with the second week in April, slight decline. That condition is under the business of last year, but the fact is clear that even this month is better than any year excepting tEe year 1910.
 q feel no apprehension over the fu- ture. Things look bright and I should not attribute the present dullness to any thing except a dullness liable to happen to any line. For instance, it may be dull in the lumber trade, coal trade or any line for a stated period That does not affect other lines, which show a healthy disposition.
 "The future should hold little fear for the careful business man, as this state of affairs cannot last very long, and will have spent itself very soon, in my judgment.
 q have spent very interesting day in this district We visited Ensley and a number of small places which indi- cate clearly to me that Birmingham Is very prosperous. I cannot see any indi- cations on the surface that would lead to any other conclusion. I believe every thing here looks decidedly good and be- lieve the future holds great things in store for the Birmingham district. Our trip here is merely an inspection of our properties. which takes place once every year. We have some executive offi- cials and directors on the train.''
 E. H. Coapman, vice president and general manager. and H. B. Spencer, vice president, will leave this morning for Washington. The remainder of the party will continue an inspection of this state winding up In St. Louis.
 It was stated last night that no sgnifi- canoe should be attached to the meet ing here of the party by Fairfax Harri- son, president of the Monon. He Is a director of the Southern and has not bean here before since accepting the presi- dency of the Monon route. He will ac- company the party from Birmingham today.
 President Finley of the Southern rail- way and his party spent yesterday visit ing many points of interest in Birming- ham and vicinity, including Corey. MT. Finley and all of his party are great friends of Birmingham Several of his official staff were formerly stationed in Birmingham, so they may really be claimed as citizens of Birmingham.
 The party includes:
 President w. w. Finley.
 Director Charles Steele of New York.
 Director George F. Baker president of the First National Bank of New York.
 Director S. M. Inman. Atlanta.
 Director and First Vice President A. B. Andrews, Raleigh, N. c.
 Fairfax Harrison. president of the Mon on, also a director of the Southern rail- way.
 Vice President Henry B. Spencer. Wash ington.
 Vice President and General Manager E. H. Coapman.
 Assistant to the President Henry w. Miller, Atlanta.
 Passenger Traffic Manager s. H. Hard wick Washington.
 Assistant Freight Traffic Manager E. H. Shaw. Washington.
 They were met by the local officials, General Superintendent Harris, General Agent Sevier, Superintendent Stanfiel, Passenger Agent Creagh, Commercial Agent Edwards, General Freight Agery Simpson and others
 The party leaves this morning on special train, going via Northern Alabama, thence through east Tennessee and west ern North Carolina.
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