The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-11

After an exhaustive survey the engineer Tn charge made 8 comprehensive report covering this subject. This report at once LOOK the project out of the visionary and established 1t as practicable, with the governments stamp upon 1t.
 The question of the desirability of a waterway to the gulf, admits of no arsument-it Is Birmingham greatest need. I was told yesterday, in a con- versation with gentleman fully quali- fled to speak intelligently on this sub 1ect, that 1t would mean a saving of more than $1,O00. 900 a year to the com mercial interests of Birmingham to have a water route to the gulf. Not that this saving would actually be made on the shipments by water, but 1t would enable Birmingham to secure a water rate which we are now unable to get ~
 Thing, gentlemen, what this means to the commercial supremacy of this district. With the ability to deliver heavy tonnage to gulf ports at a small part of the present cost-to be able to compete with Pittsburg coal and iron means much to the continued pros perity of Birmingham. As soon as the Panama canal Is opened. tremendous development will immediately follow, and if we are to receive our share of the worlds trade, we must be prepared to compete with other districts more favored now than we with water rates To bring the greatest mineral region In all America in touch with this great canal is the biggest undertaking to which this chamber can devote it's time and energy.
 Gentlemen. this may appear to you to be a Herculean task-yet by con- certed action of the chamber, and through the chamber the cooperation of the industrial bodies of the state of Alabama, we can start such a move ment as will gather momentum as 1t goes, and with the cooperation of the great corporations of this district. es- pecialIy the United States Steel corpor- ation-with it's tentacles spreading throughout the country, exercising a tremendous power in favor of the pro- ject, it can be accomplished. "Our position at Washington at this time is peculiarly favorable, more sso than 1t has been at any time during the past decade, for the securing of ap- lpropriations and the favorable hearing of any project which we may present for consideration. Shall we do it?
 The time is now opportune for the Appointment of special committee to uldhc d luOiOuSi ihNSStAeosiOiA oA sAsS feasibility, practicability and advisa- bility of this project, making such rec concentrations back to the board for action as in its Judgment the com mittee may deem advisable. Then if this work be undertaken, let us go into 1t with a well organized move |ment, vigorously, insistently persistent ly, until we get results.
 Asks Aid of Members "Gentlemen, in accepting the presi- dency of this Chamber of Commerce, II call upon each one of you individually to render all assistance within your power. No achievement Is possible without your hearty cooperation. Each one of us is link in the chain of &C., complishment-break the chain and the next man must not only do his own part of the civic work, but he must reach over and do the work of the broken link, If the chain be held to- gether We can accomplish much If we pull together. Birmingham Is rapid- ly developing a spirit of patriotism the greatest asset we can have.
 Tt has been truly said that there are two kinds of boosters--the one who throws up his hat and hollers "Hurrah" for the big town-the other figurative- ly speaking, hangs his hat on the hook, takes off, his coat, rolls up his sleeves and goes to work for the big town
 "Gentiemen, let us be optimistic let us make 1911 a banner year In the history of the Chamber of Commerce Let us pull together for a bigger broader and a better Birmingham-to- ward this accomplishment I pledge my best efforts"
 New Standing Committees
 ~Acv fno f. tees as announced by President Mas sey for 19a1:
 Railroads and transportation: H. w. ,Coffin. chairman; H. M. Beck, J. K. Norris, A. H. Ford. s. w. Lee.
 Mining: Jones G. Moore, chairman; ; Morris w. Bush. J. V. Allen. Sterling Lanier,. T. H. Benners.
 Manufacturing: w. D. Tynes. chair man; J. D. Scruggs. Sydney Lazarus J. s. Ramsay R. w. Roland.
 Banks and Banking: John H. Frye, chairman, w. M Manly. T. s. Bowron. Henry l.. Badham. John D. Elliott.
 Conventions: c. w. Ufford. chairman; {; Burr Blackburn, M. V. Joseph, E. T Shaw, John V. Coe.
 Location new industries: M. P. Mes ser, chairman; Mat s. Sloan. J. W. Sib- :. Education:' E. P. Hogan, chairman; J. H. Phillips. Richard F. Johnston, A. F.. Montague, John L. Parker.
 Promotion local trade: Robert w. Ewing, chairman; J. B. White, Herman Saks, George McCleery, R. H. Baugh.
 Real estate and insurance. R. P. Mo- David, chairman; Frank B Fowlkes, S. E. Thompson, J. l.. Yancey, c. T. Braz- elton.
 Promotion wholesale trade: Murray Brown, chairman; R. E. Collins. I. F. Young, J. T. Doster. R. D. Burnett.
 Finance and taxation: J. D. Moore chairman; D. M. Drennen. Henry R. How7e. Robert Jemison. ST.. Otto Marx chairman: F. Y Anderson. Henry Hiden, M. J. billiard. John T. Yeatman.
 Legislation: s. J. Bowie. chairman; J. T. stokley. w. E. Fort. J. H. Miller, c. w. Yancey.
 Civic Improvements: George B. Ward, chairman Hill Ferguson, w. D. Nes- bitt, L. Sevier Bertram Jacobs.
 Membership: B. B. Burton. chairman; Oscar C. Turner. George A. Blinn, J. M P. Otts Walter Fowlkes.
 Advertising: T. A. Weller, chairman: John c. Lusk, J. A. German, A. R. Dearborn, Colman Blach.
 Agricultural interests: John H. Ad- ans, chairman George B. Mccormack A. H. Ford. E. w. Lee, James Bonny- man.
 Public policy: John L. Raul, chair man; Walker Percy, George H. Estes. Nat L. Miller, Richard V. Evans
 City and county affairs: E. l.. Brown, chairman; s. E. Greene. F.. D. Smith, ID. j. Dunn, Hugh McGeever.
 Information and statistics: Willia m ID. Jelks. chairman; Walter Fowll3es,