The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-14
President George Bullock
Here Only Two Days, But
He Started Something"
AVAILABILITY ONE OF
HIS CHIEF ASSETS
Is Cornell Man and Engineer and Has
Worked His Way to Top in
Public Utility Corpora
ton Circles
BY CLYDE w. ENNIS

The statement will no doubt pass un-
disputed that few men have ever come
into Birmingham connected with public
utility company, remained two days and
created such a favorable impression in
all circles. including the city hall. as
George Bullock. president of the United
Gas and Electric company
AS a dashing unexpected Santa Claus
he is certainly entitled to the label AAAI.
He came here unheralded and without
anyone attaching any extraordinary in
terest to his visit. He left here after
presenting the city with $4,000 in taxes
granting a reduction in the gas rate of
cents per 1900 feet promised further re-
duotions and said engineers had planned
to spend $4,000 on the gas plant. More
| over he said that engineers We're studying
the local electric properties and that Inn
provements will be made in that depart
ment
! He issued the clarion statement, Our
! company must keep ahead of Birmng-
ham" which when analyzed means that
his company must "trot a rather hurried
heat" as race track man would say.
Mr.. Bullock created a most favorable
impression ON the officials with whom he
will work. He also completely captivated
the newspapermen who were thrown into
contact with him, won the city commits
sioners favor apparently in a visit of Is
minutes, while on the part of all those
who use gas he undoubtedly made a 10
strike.
He enjoys the position of being able
atfrt,&
be without lot of red tape. and In that
respect his friendship to this community
will be of great and lasting value.
1T is not immodest to say that 1t is
rather difficult for any man to put any
thing over on three newspaper men at
one and the same conference so it is
equally as safe to assert that George Bull
lock is the seasons hit in the Industrial
stage, and the hope was expressed yes
terday that his run" would be long and
successful.
Inasmuch as Mr. Bullock is destined
to play big part in affairs here backed
as he is with untold wealth and wide ex-
perience, brief account of Impressions
made by him on the newspaper men
should be of interest.
He is apparently about 43 years of age.
He is over six feet tall He has blue
eyes and the ruddiest English complexion
in our midst with the possible exception
of Herbert Charles Ryding of the Tennes-
see Coal, Iron and Railr Dad company.
When interviewed he wore a suit of cloth
ing almost green. He was dressed "a
well and tastfly as Oscar w. Under
wood ever was, which is the last word in
anv deScriptiop for neatnesS He wora
a blue scarf. wherein deftly pinned
scarf pin of the exact shade of his tie.
He wore black shoes and blue shirt.
Mr.. Bullock wears stubby moustache
and has the most open and frank man
nerism of any man that was ever placed
in big authority in this community.
He Is as amiable as George Gordon
Crawford which is saying the last word
In amiability He Is refreshingly frank
as one would refer to Jere King and sim
ply beams good nature. His statement
printed wherein he discussed with re-
freshing frankness the work he wants
to do here, with the assistance of his staff
and the people, indicates that he is not
aloof to open reviews of the situation. He
shook hands with the reporters when In
terviewed and invited them TO fire away.
He asked them to help the company OBJ
tain the best relation with Its patrons
and said he wanted all the support pos
sibe IN that line. When the reporters
were leaving he grasped each of them by
the hand again and said: You are Mr..
-?'' and to the next the same question
until he had planted their names In his
mental card index for future occasions.
He then added: II think l can remem-
ber them easily. Doubtless he can.
Mr.. Bullock is TO the yernaoular
a big man. He is Cornell graduate. He
is engineer by profession and mod
estly asserted that he was engaged in
street railway and electric work In Gin
cinnau for some time. He went to New
York city 10 years ago and was with a
small company. the Edison Electric. un-
I'll it full grown proposition. He
Is now one OF the most highly rated street
railway officials In this country and has
been tremendously successful. That sue
cess Is doubtless largely due to his wonS
derful tact and equally as wonderful
amiability.
That he will work great bettermsnts
here. that he will prove valuable ac-
QUESTION for birmingham and that his
administration of affairs Will be a greater
tribute to his capacity than any possible
written statement could be Is the general
opinion of all those who saw him ana