The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-19
Improved Schedules Dis cussed-Frisco and South
 ern Men Confer
ALL ARE BOOSTERS
 FOR BIRMINGHAM
Frisco Is Doing Fine, Says Alex Hill tOn-W. B. Riddle Looks for Heavy Tourist Travel This Winter-Plan
 to Advertise Birmingham

Big men in the railroad world of the south met in Birmingham yesterday and discussed improved schedules for the south and business conditions in general. Optimism was the keynote of the meeting and every one predicted the best times for the south that has been it's lot for many years. Officials of the Frisco and Southern railroads held conference in regard to the im- proved connections between the two roads for the winter tourist travel
 Nothing of importance outside of the schedules of the roads was discussed Alexander Hilton, passenger traffic manager of the Frisco one of the best known and most highly esteemed rail- road men in the south proved to be the most enthusiastic booster at the meeting. In speaking of conditions he said:
 "A good price for cotton, good price for grain, better prices for iron coal and steel, and an abundance of winter tourist travel for the south makes me realize that the golden opportunity for the entire southland as we'll as the
 
 The people of the south, in particular are Keen to the realization that they are on the verge of a great prosperity era. Our road is doing a big business in all lines and things look exceedingly bright. The fact that Birmingham had one of the biggest pay rolls in its his- tory this month is enough to make the most confirmed pessimist sit up and take notice. Its here to stay, prosperity shall be our lot for sometime to come and everyone is heartily glad to well come it."
 Business Is Good
 Frank Riley. assistant traffic man. ager of the Frisco conceded to be one of the best glad handlers" in the busi- ness, talked of the good times in his usual breezy way:
 You can't beat it anywhere. I am speaking of the good times that are here in the south to stay. Of course business is good, does any one meet a fellow these days that has nerve to say it isn't? l am one of the kind that can't help but feel good when times are picking up and at the present time feeel able to cope with any white hope in the land" w. B. Riddle. receiver and chief traf- fic officer of the Frisco, says he can't help but like Birmingham and every one knows he likes the south.
 We are putting on the best trains possible for the travelrs and We feel sure the passenger traffic this season will warrant all preparations" he said George H. Bower, general passenger agent of the Illinois Central, with head quarters in Memphis spent the entire day in conference with the local agents and in seeing that more publicity would be given to Birmingham as a winter resort. He had talk with w C. Rad- cliffe, secretary of the Chamber of Cam merce. in which he outlined plan to see that any man of prominence from another section of the country who had been induced to stop over in Birming- ham would be given sufficient publicity and all the courtesy of the citizens There is not enough stop over tour ists in Birmingham said MT. Bower T can see no reason for this state of affairs. Birmingham is a live. hust- ling city and its climate is excellent
 l am of the opinion that publicity given to man who stops over here on his way to Florida and other southern re- sort points will be of great benefit to this city. Invariably the paper from the tourists home town will copy the interview and theVeby advertise the city of Birmingham to a great extent.
 Learning Passenger Agents "The Illinois Central has been one of the most progressive roads in the south when it comes to boosting few months ago we had more than 50 of our passen- ger agents here to talk over the condi- tions of the south and particularly Bir- mingham. They were shown all the sights of the town, the modern high class hotels were pointed out the beautiful residential portion of the city, the wide streets and
 good pavements were impressed upon them. Al, of this was done for the pur- rose of making the agent selling the tourist a ticket familiar with the city of Birmingham so that he may oe able to talk intelligently to the purchaser. Conditions in the south are excellent Cotton bringing a big price and the farmer will undoubtedly get more if he can hold his product The industries are loaded down with orders. The railroads are doing q big business. No business in the south today can be suffering from r0or patronage. I confidently predict that the times will be even better within a month. This is saying a lot for we are getting big share of the prosperity now, but believe we will get even more before many moths"
 Mr Bower left last night on the Semi nole Limited for Jacksonville. Last night