The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-10
Skyscraper Club Rooms
Promise to Be One of Show
Places of Birmingham
PLAN IS SUBJECT OF
UNUSUAL COMMENT
Many Prominent Citizens Point Out
Clubs Advantages as Place From
Which to Show Visitors
the City
BY oLDYE w. ENNIS


The Announcement yesterday that the
Birmingham Newspaper club had closed
a contract for the top floor and the
roof garden of the new Jefferson coun-
" Savings bank 25 story skyseraper
created widespread interest in Bir-
mingham.
The announcement that the press club
would have that place for a permanent
home for period of 10 years at least
was the subject of unusual comment.
That the club will be the most popular
place in Birmingham as downtown
club is generally admitted by men Of
this city who are members of all the
clubs.
No Place Quite So Popular
The statement was made yesterday
by several prominent men that If the
newspaper club carried out it's outlined
programme no place would be quite so
popular. The announcement brought in
timations from at least 100 prominent
men that they wished to be counted
in" on the new club and would be in
clined to accept invitations to join
when the membership committee has
taken up its work. Taken generally,
there have been few propositions in
volving the whole city's interest that
have attracted quite so much atten-
tion.
1T the press club carries out the
programme outlined this morning in
The Age-Herald it will be the most
popular city club and the most de-
sirable one in the SOUTH" said Edward
b. Crawford, widely known club man
and assistant cashier of the American
Trust.
'The surroundings. I take it,, will be
incompatible. The service outlined will
make a hit with the people of Bir-
mingham who wish to have the best
service OF every kind. 1 hope that the
newspapermen will handle the new club
carefully and without haste and make
it one of the most exclusive and promi-
nent in the south. | am for you"
Frank Folk Enthusiastic
The same line of talk was given by
Frank b. Fowlkes. director of the Roe
buck club and one of the best known
citizens of Birmingham.
Il am certainly going to join the
press clQDs SAID MI HoWiheS. ltei
that the new club wili fill an actual
need here We can properly intertain
business men and others there where
we can show them Birmingham at
glance and at the same time show
them one of the best clubs in the coun-
try. The idea is a great one and J
am heartily in favor of it,"
Col. e. II. Graves, commanding the
Fourth regiment now in camp, who will
become one of the associate members OF
the Press club. was enthusiastic over the
plan. He said that the club would APP
peal to overy one in the state that goes
in for any club life as an excellent prop
osition.
"You may count me in said Colonel
Graves. Il visit Birmingham occasionally
and | certainly will be glad to become
associated with such a club. 1t will be
downtown and if state man has only
two hours here he will be able to visit
that club. The view from the highest
point in the south of this remarkable city
will be a showing place The general
scheme is a great one and L certainly
entertain no doubt but that the club viii
be a great success
Charles j. Barr's Views
Club men of Birmingham who are mem
hers of all the clubs are inclined to view
the Press club as d pleasant innovation
in local club life.
Il was deeply interested In the an
nouncement that the Press club intended
10 utilize the two highest floors of the
Jefferson County bank building as club
rooms" said Charles j. Barr OF the Ten
nessee Coal. Iron and Railroad company
Il am member of all the Birmingham
clubs, and will he glad to become asso-
ciate member of the new Press club.
The innovation is sure to be one that
will interest every merchant, business
man and professional man of this district
I hope the leading citizens of Birming-
ham who are for the general welfare of
the community, will get in line and help
the newspaper men make the greatest
possible success of the Press club. Ii
can be one and | am sure we are all
for ii"
Encouraged by Expressions
The expressions heard from business
men. and others here greatly encouraged
the members of the newspaper club in
t6eir work. While there has never been
tie slightest doubt but what the club
would be a great success, yet the most
sanguine were unprepared for the encour-
agement following the announcements of
yesterday.
Ii is announced that q meeting will be
held oMnday OF the membership tomr1it-
tee for the purpose OF launching the plans
10 secure members 1t is gathered that
about 500 members are desired from Bir-