The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-23
ARE MAKING PLANS
 TOATTRACT TOURISTS
 HERE IN THE WINTER
Birmingham After Part of Travel to FlOrida-Ef- forts to Be Made to In-
 tereSt Golfers

Birmingham intends this season to at tempt to deprive Augusta and Florida of number of winter tourists. A plan is being formulated at this time to obtain for Birmingham this season at least 600 winter guests. In order to start the travel to this city instead of the stream of winter tourists passing through here to Florida all local hotel interests, the railroads and the Chamber of Commerce are expected to cooperate.
 Charles II. Markham, president of the Illinois Central railroad. is authority for the statement that over 1d00 men in Chi cago go south or to other warm climates every year in order to play winter golf Some of them go to California. others to the Carolinas and others to Florida. Mr. Markham has suggested that perhaps Birmingham could interest some of the Chicago golfers and secure their pres ence in Birmingham during the winter season. There will be made first an at tempt to get the golfers to stay here for the season. If that falls there will be put forth an extraordinary effort to get them to come here after the Florida season closes. which is along in February and remain in Birmingham until 1t is warm enough to return ro Chicago and other points in the north. In both eff forts success is anticipated.
 Railroads Get Busy
 The railroads of this city have started on their own initiate to interest the golf CTS in the climate and the golf courses that are to be found here. A coalition has been formed between the Roebuck Springs Golf club. which course Is held to be undoubtedly one of the best In this coun- try, the hotels and the Country club .I..s4x t1,. privilege of playing on those courses while remaining in Birmingham. It is believed this partnership, If presented to men accustomed to seeking warm climates in the winter, that Birmingham will be found extremely profitable.
 proposition of this kind has been im- possible in the past by reason of the inadequate local hotel arrangements. However Birmingham at this time claims to be in a position to entertain any per- son however exacting.
 With the Tutwiler hotel, the Ridgely apartments, the Motion hotel, the Hill man, the Morris, the Florence and the Empire Birmingham Is well provided with hotel facilities, As for clubs none in the south can compare with the Country club, the Roebuck, the newspaper club, the Southern and the Edgewood club. which is just now about to come into its own.
 May Acquire Agent
 The local hotel men. it IS stated. have in mind sending an agent to Chicago and Cincinnati as well as other points for the purpose of starting this movement, which is expected to be of great worth, not only to Birmingham, but to those interests em- ploying the means to get the winter tour ists to this city.
 In connection with Birmingham activi- ties it was pointed out yesterday that conventions scheduled for Birmingham at this time will bring as many as 5000 prominent persons here his fall. The meetings include the American Iron and Steel institute. the Phi Delta Theta fra ternity. the Merchants association next week, the State Fair in October and the Southern railway. Alabama Great South ern and Mobile and Ohio meetings