The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-04
Annual Report of Secretary
of Chamber Shows Re-
markable Progress
BETTER HIGHWAYS
BUILT IN COUNTY
Among Achievements Accomplished
Securing Summer Maneuvers, the
Lynchburg Pipe Plant, College
Boys Farm, Etc, Etc.

Admission, August 3.-(Special)- THE an
nual report of L. c. Watson, secretary,
TO President L. L. Turner of the Admission
Chamber of Commerce, covering the work
of the civic organization for the fiscal
year ending In July, tells a story of re-
markable industrial progress in the Model
City. New lifeblood has recently been IL
jected into the membership of the club
and there is a spirit of unprecedented
unanimity and cooperation on the part
of the business men of the city. with the
result that Secretary Watson and Presi-
dent Turner voice the belief that the
Forthcoming year will be the best in the
history of Admission.
The first big achievement of the past
year. Mr.. Watson recounts, was the To-
cation in Admission of the summer man-
euvers of the state troops of eight south
ern states, in addition to two regiments
of regular army troops, some 10000 in
number In addition to being an excel
lent advertisement for the city, there
not having been a single death among the
20'0o0, with the exception of one person
killed by lightning, fine health record.
this encampment was worth between
$4,000 to 100000 to the city.
Worlds Greatest Pipe Center
Another notable feat of the past year
was the closing of a contract with the
Lynchburg Foundry company to build a
high pressure cast iron pipe plant here
that will represent an expenditure of
$225,o00 and have an annual payroll of
100000. In August, w. r Johnston and
r. Hamilton were given the support of
the chamber of commerce. which placed
Sl5,ooO of the preferred stock, in the or
ganization of the Alabama Pipe and
Foundry company. now in operation with
an annual payroll of $4,000. This gives
Admission two high pressureN pipe plants
and four sanitary cast iron pipe plants,
Justifying this city's claim to the largest
tonnage of cast iron pipe of any city in
the United States, if not the world.
The Union foundry has made several
additions to its large plant during the
year, and is now said to be a world
oeater in the manufacture of white way
posts. The Kilby Locomotive and Ma
chime works has added an axle forge shop
to their plant, increasing their number
OF employees and payroll, and the Annis-
ton Knitting mills are now erecting new
DuSl-
ness
The extensive developments of the Ala
balna Power company in Admission and the
Anniston district, Mr.. Watson SAYS gives
this city hydro-electrc power, enabling
II to compete in this respect with any
city in the United States; and although
coal can be brought to Admission as cheap
II net cheaper, as to any other part of the
country, large number of the industries
of the city are now using electric power
Better Highways Built
we have spent considerable time and
lent aid to the building and improve
ment of the highways of the country the
report continues, and in the connection
Mr.. Watson mentions the fact that the
Chamber of Commerce brought the state
highway engineer, w. S. Keller, to the
city in an effort to get the east and west
state highway located through Admission
This road will probably traverse Annis-
ton, and in cooperation with the Chamber
OF Commerce the county commissioners
have built in the past year or so between
% and so miles of model highway, while
Mayor j. l. Wikle has put the city streets
in the best condition in their history.
College Boys on Farm
Mr.. Watson's report further mentions
encouragement lent to the farmers of Cal
houn and the agricultural interests. FL
nancial assistance was given toward the
building of a farHers' telephone line to
Ehoccolocco and White Plains, and money
is being contributed toward the support
of the girls tomato clubs and the boys
corn clubs, and "the most encouraging
sign we notice along this line" says the
report, sis the fact that some of our most
able, college bred young men are pur-
chasing farms around the city and faim-
ing after the most up to date methods. +"
Significant in this connection is the OPEN
ing of Glenbarr, northern suburb, tor
truck farming and country homes
Annistonians are contented and satis-