The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-15

Atlanta, July 14-(Special) )-President r. G. Shook of the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce this morning submitted a brief outlining reasons why the Meth odist university should be located in his city to the subcommittee of the educa fional commission of the Methodist Epis copal church, south, which is holding hearings here today. Accompanying MT. Shook, when he made the presentation of his brief at Il o'clock, was very strong delegation of the most prominent pusi- ness men in Birmingham. Most of the delegation spoke and enlarged upon some of the points MT. Shook mentioned brief ly in his report.
 Atlanta was the first to present a brief this morning ana offered in addition to the Wesley Memorial church property and the Wesley Memorial hospital property, to underwrite approximately sl,750,0oo. The property offered Is valued at S550. 900. Of the cash amount which wealthy At lantans offer to guarantee, it Is under stood that Asa G. Candler has agreed to sign a pledge for s1,00000O of the total. Tbis, however, is only a rumor and MT. Candler refused to confirm it. The At lanta Chamber of Commerce will guran- tee S5OO,00o.
 Birmingham's Strong Plea
 The plea for Birmingham was admit tedly very strong one. A. G. Cander entertained the Birmingham delegation at lunch at the Capital City club here today and during the dinner remarked that Brmingham's claims as advanced by MT. Shook were much stronger than he had anticipated. MT. Shook, as well as other members of the deieGatton, stressed the archaeological advantages to be had in Birmingham, and which no other city in the south can furnish in so complete a variety. The many industrial plants in the Birmingham district would be of inestimable value to the technolog- lcal department of the university in - event it is located in Birmingham, and this point was forcibly brought to the attention of the subcommittee.
 TEat Birmingham already has in hand pledges and property to the amount of s6OO.000 Is regarded a good point for the Magic City. The offer of Atlanta was conditioned upon the university s first being located in the Georgia capital Birmingham has it's pledges signed and the first payment on the donations will be made October l.
 Nucleus of Site Offered
 The nucleus in the site of the Brming- ham college, also was called to the at tention of the committee. With the pres ent equipment of Birmingham college the university could begin its first fall term without great expense aid in the theological department 1t has been deemed wise to start this year Buildings could rot be erected in time to open the theolog- ical school of the university at the usual time. This is expected to carry weight with the educational commission
 Mir Shook in his talk before the com mission laid emphasis on Birmingham's growth and the many industrial advan- tages here. A. c. Candler admitted dur lpg some of the speeches that Birmingham had a decided advantage over Atlanta in that the corporation hs ads in Birming ham favored the location of the univer- sity in that city. Their support means that the archaeological department of the university will have at it's disposal the great industrial plants in the Birmingham district. And first hand impressions. it was pointed out are better than theo- reticaI teachings.
 Chairman Shocks brief in part fol- lows:
 .Birmingham's great railroads make it easily accessible from all parts of the territory to be served. Its citizenship is made up of people from all parts of the country, particularly from the south, many of whom have maintained their connections with their former homes, and whose acquaintanceshop will be useful in gaining students. Its student body the university) will be larger if located at Birmingham than at any other point which could be selected
 Birmingham is the most Methodist of all our southern cities. There are more than 90 Methodist churches with mem- bership of 10000 in reach of electric street car transportation over the lines of the systems running cars adjacent to the site included in this offer
 These students will be able to see every denomination of Christians at their best. Being comparatively a young city, some constructive work of the commu- nity at large for the good of humanity Is constantly going on, such as the cre- ation of charitable organizations, building churches. and other works of Chris tian civilization. These will help direct the student mind how to reach the people.
 Tn this connection. it may be stated that there is an unusually heavy pro- portion of people of foreign birth and rearing in Jefferson county. Ala, 42 dif-
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