The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-08-09
More Than 5000 Fed at Bar
becue Tables Spread in
Beautiful Grove
SILVER SPIKE is
DRIVEN AT CLOSE
All Places of Business Are Closed and
Entire City Makes Merry and
Helps Entertain Thous-
ands of Visitors
nv CLYDE w. ENNIS

Tuscaloosa Mineral railroad Is officially
open The Druid City opened wide her
arms yesterday, all day, and even far
into the night entertained guests and
home folks by the thousands. In festive
garb and with a spirit of carnival the
entire population assisted In the formal
tiles attending the opening. When Miss
Annie Wallace Hays, one of the city's
most popular daughters, tapped silver
spike at the terminals of the new rail-
road. the bands fared forth Dixie" and
the official completion was accomplished.
with this stroke" said Miss Hays,
II signal the opening of the Tuscaloosa
division of the Louisville and Nashville
system" and when she struck the spike
with a silver hammer the cheers rent
the air
With the completion of the line the
people of Tuscaloosa have reached goal
and realized an ambition sought for many
years. With no connection through the
eastern coal fields to Birmingham, where
side lines might be constructed, the city
felt that such a fact retarded its growth.
And the people pulled off their coats
| and went to work. F. G. Blair the Oscar
Turner of Tuscaloosa, led the march. Mr..
Blair is president of the completed limo
and helped convince Milton III. Smith of
the Louisville and Nashville that his Tus-
caloosa scheme was worth while. He said
yesterday that the people of Tuscaloosa
whose spirit of cooperation and whose
aid had been constant were entitled to
the credit of the railroad as much as any
other factor.
Judge Foster Master of Ceremonies
The ceremonies at Tuscaloosa were ham
died by Judge II. B. Foster, who acted
as master OF ceremonies. He started out
by asking the vast multitude to lower
their umbrellas. in which he was sue
cessful. Judge Foster then pointed out
that This day is the greatest in the
history of Tuscaloosa. This achievement
is one OF which any city should be proud
1T will be the means of opening up to
this city tunresponsive fields of the past
but which will now become live centers
of trade for our city"
| The speaker complimented President
Blair of the line and the Louisville and
| Nashville management for the combined
efforts of the two and said the people
| were for them.
The Rev. DR.. Penfck invoked the bless
ings of God upon the occasion and there
by officially opened the ceremonies. Com
missioner S. Fl. Sprott, Jr.. welcomed
the visitors to Tuscaloosa on behalf of the
officials and paid a tribute to the spirit
!, of cooperation in Tuscaloosa which made
1.-THE Tuscaloosa Mineral possible and which
he believed would continue to be of great
material value to that city. He spoke of
Birmingham being more closely linked
with Tuscaloosa and said it was very
happy situation.
President Blair Speaks
President F. q. Blair spoke after Mr.
sprott and said he appreciated the verbal
poesies and compliments that had been
flung at him, and while he had taken some
little time to work for the interest Of
Tuscaloosa. yet" he said, this is an ex-
ample of what the people can do by CO.
operation. We owe to the board of trade
and the people here unrestrained praise
for their work. and were II not for the
| fact that they did most of the sentiment
moulding the line would have been longer
coming.
Mr.. Blair thereupon as the president of
the line turned it over to the Louisville
and Nashville as the parent company, by
which company the operations of the line
will be carried on. Turning to Miss Hays,
the sponsor, Mr.. Blair directed her to
drive the spike, and she performed that
service with grace and dignity while sur
rounded by her maids as follows: Miss
Claire Abercrombie, Miss Beth Bradffeld,
Miss Rose Turner, Miss Rosa Pegues,
n IS Emily Leach, Miss Wilhelmia Mon
n fh, Miss Carlotta Pratt, Miss Augusta
II srwood, Miss Sudie Beck Powers and
n iss Helen Brady.
Brooks Called Upon
After the strains of Dixie had foated
over the river, President Blair turned to
T. f. Brooks of the Louisville and Nash
vile operating department and told him
TO take the new line as his own. where
upon Mr.. Brooks saidf
II have been engaged often in business
relations with Judge Foster and Mr..
Blair. They have always impressed me
with being men of business sagacity and
sound Judgment. But in asking me TO
make this talk they have failed one time
to live up to that conceived reputation.
However, wish to thank you for the kind
words spoken of the Louisville and Nash
Vile, and TO assure you that they are in
tensely appreciated. You now have this
line, which will bring Tuscaloosa into
closer relations with new and untried
territory. You have asked the Louisville
and Nashville railroad to operate it,
assure you that, as it Is service you want,
both freight and passenger, we will give
you the best that we have and certainly
hope 1t will be of such type as to
merit your entire approval and receive
your commendation."
The speech of Mr.. Brooks. while brief
was received with great interest. and
his assurances of fine service between
Tuscaloosa and Birmingham brought
forth rounds of applause.
Enormous Barbecue Dinner
Following the speech of Mr. Brooks,
the special train of 10 coaches which
brought the crowd to Tuscaloosa was
filled and the barbecue grounds were
visited. Gen. w. w. Brandon said that
over 5000 persons had been fed
The dinner was served on the beau
tiful lawn that adjons the university
grounds. Old time barbecue "fansp said
1t was the biggest proposition they had
ever attended. Tables were built over
1000 feet in length An immense auan-
tity of meats was served. In addition
picnic baskets were sent out to the
grounds by the rejoicing ladies' of
Tuscaloosa. which added a great deal
20 the menu
Bands rendered continuous selections
while the crowds we're being served
and afterward a baseball game was
played between two closely competing
local teams.
The celebration linking Tuscaloosa
| and Birmin CHAM more closely by new
! short line route was the biggest affair
ever hid in that section. Birming-
hams Welcome to the Atlanta. Birming-
! ham and Atlantic was attended by no
81 greater enthusiasm than the Tusca-
E loosa Mineral at Tuscaloosa. Every
Il