The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-04-06
MILTON SMITH AND
 HENRY WALTERS IN
 CITY ON INSPECTION
President and Chairman of Board of Louisville and Nashville Looking
 Over the Line

Henry Walters, chairman of the Louis vile and Nashville directors. and one of the largest owners of the Atlantic Coast Line, and Milton II. Smith, president of the Louisville and Nashville were here yesterday on an annual trip of inspection. They left yesterday afternoon on special train for the south.
 Mir. Walters and Mir. Smith. it was re- ported, were engaged in looking into the river navigation plans in this district. which will it is admitted. affect the rail- roads operating to the gulf very seriously.
 Mir. Smith, whose aversion to newspa- per men Is proverbial. was in an excep- tionally fine humor yesterday. He did not shrink when he was approached by re- porter and laughed very heartily over the way he had been refusing interviews for the past two score years. He Is said to be the only railroad executive in the United States that has never been interviewed by a newspaper man. He was asked yester- day if he would consider making a local reporter famous by giving out an inter view, and laughingly replied, Nay, nayw
 Too Old to Begin
 "I never have talked for publication, young man." said the veteran Louisville and Nashville executive. And I am to old to start now. I do not mind talking to you personally, and 1 would not object to making you famous. as you term it, but l much prefer not to be interviewed. You must never tell anything I say to you"
 MT. smith being unable to get away from the presidents office of the First National bank, where he was cornered. talked informally of general matters. He is apparently in the very best of health. nd l,ttt ipb s in ri Is in complete possession of all his faculties It was reported short time ago that Mir. Smith was not in the best of health. He added to his short statements here that the trip he was taking with MT. Walters was simply to look over the two lines. Mir Smith and Mir Walters called on sev- eral local men while here.
 Is Not Significant
 MT Walters, who invariably gives an interview when he comes here, smiled in evident appreciation of efforts to get MT. Smith to break his rule He was asked what the trip meant at this time. and water transportation was suggested to him. He said that the trip he was mak- ing was, as MT. smith explained, of no special interest, as they were simply looking over the line.
 "We arc trying to find out how business is down here" said Mir. Walters. 'Mr. Brooks, superintendent of the Louisville and Nashville in this district, tells us that business is very good. In fact, MT. Brooks is invariably an optlmist. In New York business is up one day and down the other There is apparently no accurate way of determining whether it is bright ening or not I am somewhat like Mr. Brooks fin that l am optimistic. look for better conditions soon. As for the war, we have no way on earth to determine when that will end. hope It will be con cluded soon.
 ''I am very much pleased to hear of the progress of Birmingham. I learn on every hand that the city is going forward with very rapid strides, and that new houses and home are being built every month. Birmingham is certainly most interest ing city and [ am always glad to get here"
 Mir. Walters with MT, smith called at the First National bank to sec Chairman J. II. Barr and oscar Wells, president.