The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-27


non ball, the spontaneous recognition OF
Birmingham as the jobbing center of the
state of Alabama has not yet fully dawned
on the merchants and civic workers of the
city.
There is not doubt that outside of the
team work of the local Chamber of Com
merce committees and officials who have
had charge of the convention, it was the
recognition of Birmingham's leadership as
a jobbing house center which made nearly
500 merchants in one-half of the state
enthusiastically enter into the plans of the
North Alabama Merchants convention
which convenes here today.
A movement has been started which
many believe means more for Birmingham
and not only Birmingham, but Alabama
than anything that has occurred in some
time 1t has often been said by en-
thusastic boosters in the past that some
day Birmingham would be the, CONNER
cial as well as the industrial center OF
the SOUTH all of which meant in other
words that the city would be the iobbing
center of the southern states. But never
until today, probably, has an actual move
Spontaneous Success
Seldom in the history of the city has
anything of a similar character been un-
dertaken that has met with the spon-
taneous success and enthusiasm of this
merchants convention which will be held
here today and tomorrow. 1t has proven
that the time was ripe for the event.
Whether by rare foresight or whether by
luck, the fact remains that the first mer-
chants convention in Birmingham was
undertaken at the opportune time. 1t re-
mains to be seen later how much credit
is due the actual foresight of the men
In charge, but it apepars from present
conditions that very much. was due to
this and nothing else
1t is not only the right time of year for
such an event, but it appears to be the
right year in many years for the launch
ing of the movement. A spirit OF pros
perty and progress has come over Ala
bama in the past few years which has not
been seen here in long time. In all
parts of the state business affairs are
booming, every class of endeavor appears
to meeting with more than the usual sue
cess. The wonderful resources of the
state in a dozen different directions are
being developed with lightning speed, and
as a result there is a prosperity wave
sweeping the state. 1t is the exact time
to launch such movement as the or
ganzation of the North Alabama Mer-
chants association is to be. Probably in
no other year in some time past would
such movement have met with the ap-
proral and success it has today. and it
is well known that thing well begun is
more than half done.
Will Soon Be Enlarged
The association which is to be formed
at East Lake park tonight will prob
ably soon be enlarged. II is founded
upon such a firm and substantial basis
that it cannot help but grow. The next
move probably will be to make 1t a
state organization instead of the north
ern half of the state; the next move
will be to take in parts of other states
and many a man who has observed the
fever of enthusiasm which has been
aroused by the convention is predicting
that within two or three years the as
ISOLATION will become a southern or
cry year in Birmingham and that the
coveted title OF "the jobbing center OF
the south will then in actuality be.
long here.
There can be no doubt but what the
railroad facilities of Birmingham and
its propitious location will be import
ant factors in this ultimate achieve
ment. There are few cities in the coun-
try that have as good and none prob
ably very much better railroad facil-
tiles than this. The city can be
reached from any direction with good
train service and schedules. Trunk
lines radiate from Birmingham like the
spokes of a wagon wheel A dozen
hours ride from Birmingham in any
direction and Il man can be placed in
almost any section Of the country. 1t
appears to be a natural center and il
the years to come bring improvements
as the years gone by have done the
advantages of the city along this line
will be even greater No city, no mat
ter what other advantages she might
have, can ever aspire to such CONNER
cial greatness without these two i'm
portant factors.
Opportunity Is Here
The people of Birmingham should
stop, look and listen" this morning as
they prepare to welcome these hun
dreds of merchants. 1t means more than
mere gathering and a few business
deals in terms of dollars and cents
AS opportunity comes to men, so does
the tickle goddess come to cities. There
is small doubt but what she is in Bir
mingham this morning.
Every man who is proud of his town
and interested in her growth and pro-
gress should enter into the spirit of the
merchants convention today and to-
morrow. no matter whether he has any
thing else to do with 1t or not. The
success of the merchants convention
does not rest with the men who are
most vitally concerned or with the job
ping house men or the Chamber of
Commerce officials. Theirs is an i'm
portant part and that part must be
1n 1r1.d ALL H.. ,l..a.. /.