The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-06-04
.B|G CROWDAT THE EDGEWOOD OPENING Exum, BowrOn, Hood and Fowlkes Are Speakers A HAPPY OCCASION Steve Smith and Troupe" Brazelton Receive Many Compliments on
 Their Big Develop
 ment Work

l The number of people who attended the formal opening of Edgewood, the new Shades valley suburb of Birmingham, yesterday was variously estimated at from 5000 to 10000.
 | Even before Miss Martha Dabney, the sponsor for the enterprise, had driven the last spike in the line of the Birming- ham -Edgewood Electric railway, the road 1 was swamped with people going to and 1 from the new town in the valley. 1 There were three good reasons: Interest in the new development, free rides and free barbecue, with free cigars, ice water and Ice cream thrown in for good meas ure There was also music and oratory
 There was plenty to eat, but the un- expected size of the crowd bewldered those in charge of the serving of it and it was late in the afternoon before the immense throng had been satisfied. Indeed the crowds kept going out as late as | o'clock
 The formal ceremonies began at o clock when President of the Birming ham Commissioners Culpepper Exum made short address complimenting the men behind the opening of Edgewood and the building of the new ear line on their labor of courage and enterprise. He spoke in glowing terms of the beau tiful valley and it's advantages as a residential section.
 James Bowron dwelt on. the advantages of suburban life and especially the ad- l ri nd of moderate means to acquire homes in Shades valley, so completely removed from the heat, dust and congestion of the city He commended the courage of the young men, Steve Smith and Troupe Brazelton, in the large undertaking they had assumed in opening this valley prop erty and building street railway over Red Mountain. MT. Bowron declared that it should be the most popular suburban line in the city and was certainly the most picturesque. short distance from the heart of Birmingham and yet so completely removed from the discomforts of the city, it should certainly be well recommended to large number of peo- pie of all classes.
 William Hood reviewed briefly the won derful growth of Birmingham and the Birmingham district and bespoke a sue cessful future for Edgewood and the new territory that is being opened by the new car line.
 Walter Fowlkes made a happy talk, in which he complmented the courage and enterprise of his young friends behind the opening of Edgewood. He declared that he watched the career of Troupe Brazel ton and Steve Smith from boyhood and had always believed they would become greg. in the development of their coun- t:y. They had been poor boys and de- serve all the success that Is before them.
 At the close of the speaking Miss Mar tha Dabney, surrounded by her maids and hundreds of interested spectators. drove the silver spike that completes the first section of the Birmingham Edgewood Electric railway.
 Shows band furnished music for the occasion
 George T. Brazelton and Stephen Smith were recipients of many expressions of congratulations during the day. They did everything in their power to make the occasion one of pleasure for every one present