The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-18
Qonel Robert Galloway of Memphis Makes Princi-
 pal Address
GVES VALUABLE
 PARK POINTERS'
cnmissioners Exum and Weatheriy nd Many Prominent Birmingham Men Speak-Expect Results
 From Montgomery Soon

,e much talked of plan for park
 hn boulevard system for Birmingham
 an the idea of a civic center was thor
 ouhly discussed and given a grand send
 ofAast night at the dinner of the Cham
 bei of Commerce at the Turn verein
 cae. The attendance far surpassed even
 th most optimistic expectations of the
 mn in charge and the large banquet
 hA was completely filled with an enthu- si stic crowd.
 .ol Robert Galloway of Memphis was pfsent by special invitation of the Cham bf of Commerce and delivered the main z address of the evening. He is the man wio was back of the movement which sesured the splendid system of parks and bbulevards for Memphis, and is well lhown in Birmingham as president of tbe Galloway Coal company of the Bir hningham district.
 In the absence of John l.. Raul, Robert Jemison, Jr.. presided at the meeting Seated at the speakers table were Col onel Galloway, John W. Sibley, Robert Jemison. Jr., James Weatherly, Culpepper Exum. Job Going c. B. Rogers. ]. B. Vines, R. F. Lovelady. A. H. Ford, r. P. Glass. Y. P Hanson. W. M. Clemens, William Ryan, R. F. Johnston, James J. Smith. Maj. E. M. Tutwiler Robert Jemison, Sr., Frank w. Smith, Hhl Fer euson. Hugh Martin and w. c. Radcliffe. After an excellent dinner had been served, Postmaster Jemison introduced Colonel Galloway as the father of the park system of Memphis
 Tn order to keep Birmingham in the leadership strenuous action for parks, roadways, a civic center and a general civic plan must be started" said MT Jemison. For that purpose this dinner has been called. system of parks and boulevards means more for Birmingham at present than new industries will mean, for with the civic plan worked out more people and more industries will want to come to Birmingham. I believe that the splendid personality of MT. Galloway will inspire the richer citizens of Birmingham to spend more on their parks and road ways
 Galloway Applauded
 MT Galloway was roundly applauded when he arose to address the meeting He
 ant directly into the matter of a park
 stem and spoke of his troubles as chair man of the park commission of Mem- phis. He told of the great benefits of parks and a system of boulevards His address in part was as follows:
 MT. Toastmaster: l thank you very much for this kind reception I am here not as a stranger, for l have had invest ments and many kind friends in your progressive city for many years
 Nothing can establish the greatness, ligh social standing and progressiveness ol city more than sIer civic improve ments, parks. etc.
 Tt has been well said that cities are measured today more than ever before by the happiness of the people; and that city is the greatest which gives to its eiti- zens the most. in protection, education recreation, amusement and beauty. '1t should be the purpose of the park commission to make the parks not sim ply beautiful pictures. which would serve the people in q passive way, but to make them active agencies for social service. Of course. however. as public places they do. by sheer beauty, perform a service of incalculable value The wide, rest full stretches of the valley are very soothing to overwrought city nerves. The l long shadows, the cool expanse of green ! the gentle curves of the road-all these have an effect greater perhaps than we can measure upon the tired nerves and brains of the thousands of city workers who rest their eyes upon them. How can we measure the value of the sudden ksense of spaciousness which comes with the broad view over miles of sunny eoun- try to those whose lives are spent in cramped quarters? By what means shall we calculate the benefit of the forest paths. or of the tens of thousands of blossoms which bloom in these various gardens of the people? With the beauty of the widely scattered parks intended . for all. no life need be starved for the want of the beautiful. This service is perhaps then. the first and greatest which the parks can give. There are people who must be educated to appreciate the beauty of flowers parks, etc. All of us enjoy from time to time q splendid. over whelming gift of floral glory of the sum- mer days. It Is, then, with this pur- pose in mind, that we meet tonight.
 Civic Improvement
 "You have asked me to say some- thing about civic improvement and my