The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-17
Citizens of Wo0dlawn Ob- ject to Erection of S100,000
 Cotton Seed Oil Plant
TWO-HOUR FIGHT
 BEFORE COMMISSION
Attitude of People Shows Lack of h. terest in City-Spirit of Co-Opera- ton Entirely Lacking-Plant
 May Go to Bessemer
By RALPH R. SILVER

What's the matter with Birming- ham%" was the title of one-act trag- edy enacted in the offices of tho city commission yesterday morning.
 For over two hours strong men shouted and argued. Women-on the verge of hysterics-hovered between laughter and tears Bitter words were spoken. Threats we're made and coun- tered. An the issue was
 A new industry for Birmingham.
 group of Birmingham men, seek ing as much as anything else to lenG some little aid to the current depres- sion in business and building activity. seek to construct in Woodlawn cot $100,000. The citizens of the immedi- ate neighborhood in which the pro- posed plant site is situated yesterday appeared before the city cininnission, men, women and children, some 30 or 70 strong, and made most vehement protest, personally and through their attorney. R. Dupont Thompson.
 They stated in dramatic sentences that their homes. representing the saw Aht5S OL d. 1lIS -tiliit, were threatened.
 They declared their health was en- dangered.
 They cried that their peace and com. fort were about to be disturbed.
 They drew pictures of financial and physical and moral ruin which threat ened them unless this new industry was shooed away from their midst
 And fIau tua7a cipnaro
 Side of Capitalists
 There were present J. Frank Rush ton. J. w. Donnelly, George Blinn and others interested in the new industry
 They stated that the value of the property adjoining their factory site would not be decreased; they decleared the odor and dust from the pjrrosed mill would not be dangerous to hea -th, unpleasant or uncomfortable; they al- legged that the property would be GIL hanced in value; they declared in sheir intention to harm no one, but to help in building up industrial Birmingham they pointed out Birmingham needed small industries and it's people should cooperate to that end; they stated
 
 on a low piece of ground which had not been occupied except by ncgroe houses for years and which was un- desirable for residence and therefore a legitimate and proper factory site.
 The citizens threatened to break up the company by filing damage suits and the company threatened to with draw their proposition and build their plant in Bessemer, as others have done.
 The commissioners listened anI said rothing; after two hours they adopted a resolution to take the matter under advisement and report on it next Tues. day. It is even doubted by legal au- thorities whether or not the city has any authority in the question.
 Talks were made for the citizens, chiefly by R. Dupont Thompson Mi Donnel1y, MT. Blinn, Hill Ferguson pr. A. w. Bell and others spoke on the side of the proposed company.
 Will Harm No One
 J. w. Donnelly, we'll known business man and civic worker, closed tho pro- ceedings, together with Mir 1hcmp- son. Tt is to be deeply regreti ed,' g said MT. Donnelly, that this contro- versy has been aroused. 1t has come upon us entirely unexpected. We de- sire to harm no one. We will harm no one. But this typifies to me a spirit which has done and is doing much to injure Birmingham.
 This is a city. It must have in- dustries. The more it has, the more immune will it's citizens be from the effects of periodical hard times. Peo- pie cannot expect to live in a city and be without noise from factory laachin- cry and without smoke from factory chimneys. A city cannot be alone a city of ideally situated homes. Unless there are the industries to keep in cir culation the money to keep up those homes there can be no city, except in the ideals of the dreamer.
 ''The railroads were first, the city builds up about them. Along the railroads is the natural site for industrial plants. Private residences along the railroads bring to the great transportation sys- tems no revenue, the industry does. Be- sides property adjoining a railroad is not considered residential property. We have secured such a site. When lots in the neighborhood were bought no purchaser had the right to believe that his purchase prohibited anyone else making a pur- chase in the same community
 But now you come here and wage bitter opposition to the establishment of