The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-11
ANNUAL MEETING 0F
 INTERSTATE FIRE President Cooper's Report to
 the Stockholders LUNCHEON IS SERVED Visitors Are Taken to Country Club. First Years Business Is Found
 to Be Very Gratifying to
 Those Interested
LUNCHEON IS SERVED

The first annual meeting or the Inter- state Fire Insurance company. which Is a Birmingham institution. was held in the local offices yesterday. The meeting was attended by stockholders from several southern states who were given every item of information concerning the opera ton of the company since its formation in April of 1910
 The stockholders who came to Birning- ham for the meeting were seemingly well pleased with the reports of President B. H. Cooper John l.. Parker, treasurer, and A. M. Throckmorton, secretary. The reports show that the local concern has been admitted to operate in several states Of the south and that rapid strides have already been made to make the Interstate company one of the best insurance com panies of its kind in the country.
 Luncheon at Country Club
 After the annual meeting the visitors were carried to the Country club, where they were the guests at an elegant lunch con provided by the officers of the com pany. The luncheon was attended by 75 men, all of whom are leading citizens in their respective communities.
 Short speeches were made by the visi- tors, who expressed themselves as be- ing we'll pleased with their connection with the company and expressing confi- dence that every feature of the busi- ness would be strictly attended to by the present officers.
 President Cooper's Address
 The annual address of President B. H. Cooper, which was received by the stock holders, follows:
 Your constitution and bylaws provide for stockholders meeting annually. Jan- uary 10 of each year. This Is our first regular meeting. The Interstate Fire was organized April 15, 1910. Soon after that time its stock was offered to the public. During September, Alabama's in- surance commissioner carefully checked our affairs and sufficient funds were on hand, and all laws had been compiled with. License was issued permitting us to carry on a fire insurance business in the state of Alabama. Soon after that time we qualified in the state of Missis- sippi and are now writing fire insurance In these two states.
 During the nine months which we have had life a great deal has been accomplished This institution, like other nterprises-machinery has to be secured and a plant established before it is pos sible to realize revenue for those inter- ested. We have moved forward rapidly and conservatively, keeping the organiza- ton expenses down to the least amount possible.
 'The officers have served the company, not only for the compensation which they received, but for what they believed the future would reward them. There have been many things to contend with. One in particular is the insurance schemes that have been sold the public by men whose sole object was to get rich quick. These men and their methods have hurt pecially in the south. Some of these schemes have been exposed. As soon as all of them are weeded out the better 1t will be for sane, legitimate insurance companies that have been and are be- ing organized in the south Dishonest men and corporations whose intentions are selfish, not good and sound, live but a short time.
 Men Who Control Company
 with this company you have made an investment, it was your duty to have found out who the individuals were that are managing its affairs and handling your money. Serving you as president and realizing how essential 1t is to a fire insurance company that the right men should handle the affairs of such q company as we have, I considered it my duty to study each man in his position. The officers of this company are presi- dent. vice president and general manager, assistant manager, secretary, treasurer and counsel.
 Much depends on w. L. Reynolds your vice president, the 'underwriter. This company was fortunate in securing his services, and having him as a stock holder. He knows the fire insurance busi- ness as well as the best lawyers and doc- fors know their professions. He pos sesses the tact and ability to apply his knowledge and is doing it for the welfare of this company. The assistant manager, J. F. Stockdel, is thorough office and an experience fire insurance man, and