The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-13
PERMANENT EXHIBIT. .OF HOME PRODUCTS
 READY BY JULY 15
Officials of Association Much Gratified at Co., Operation of Manu-
 lecturers

The permanent exhibit of Birming-
 hams raw material resources and
 manufactured products now being pre-
 pared in the large new building next
 to the Chamber of Commerce on First ! avenue is being heartily welcomed by
 manufacturers and men of big inter-
 ests generally. All are agreed that
 in promoting better knowledge of
 what is made at home and influcnc-
 Ing greater patronage of home indus
 tries by local people such an exhibit
 will be invaluable. The advertising
 value to the Birmingham district at
 large is also another important fca-
 ture, for in no other way can It's op-
 portunities for investment and devel-
 opment be so thoroughly exploited to
 the world
 Very elaborate preparations are be-
 ing made for the housing of displays.
 The floors are divided into booths ar
 ranged along wide aisles and on ele-
 vated hardwood platforms The indf-
 sidual booth Is surrounded by pipe railings and ornamental pilasters at
 rear divide the booths and support a
 uniform sign strip the length of the
 floors. The association is providing the
 booths gratis, charging only for the
 space occupied at a nominal monthly
 rental
 The first floor is practically sold out
 and several booths secured on the
 floors above. The first and second
 floors will be devoted to exhibits of
 local products exclusively. The third, floor is given up to exhibits of goods 1 sold in Rirmin pb a ma, hff .l
 and not in direct. competition with similar local product, such as paints. furniture, shoes, certain brands of
 focdstuffs, machinery, office supplies, dcsks devices. The fourth floor is in-
 tended to be fitted up as an auditorium or clubroom where such semi civic bodies as wish may meet and lunch. This floor will be an ideal one for meetings of manufacturers club which Is expected to develop from the joint cooperation of manufacturers .n
 making exhibits and for pure food shows. etc.
 A visitors register will be kept and every visitor invited to register. A | competent demonstrator capable of ex- plaining the merits of all goods on his floor and care for same will De provided and a janitor to keep the premises in apple pie order assigned to each floor. Proper advertising will pt tollt bS tNtIN itSlliindle fnttHOu lO attract the visiting stranger and in- i duce frequent visits of local citizens. | The exposition will be launched with I an suspicious opening event during which those whose goods permit will dispense souvenirs. samples and at tractive advertising matter.
 | Offices have already been estab- 1 lished in the building and the lower | floor Is now nearly completed Install lation of exhibits will begin next week and the management feels sure that l all will be ready by July 15 for open | ing the building to the public. Many who have selected space are going to l considerable expense to make attract 1 i've displays, some of the machinery | manufacturers even building models of their larger products. Officials are l much gratified at the cooperation of l some of the largest industries in the 1 district, very few of any size. in fact. refusing to come In and be ready by | the date set for opening.
 In Nashville their exhibit was opened when two-thirds filled and now there 1 is rot an available inch to spare in the 1 fve-story building occupied with more l than a dozen companies on the waiting | list. The same condition practically rules In Chattanooga, where seven floors are filled. and it is predicted l l that even though the Birmingham building Is larger there will be no room I to spare In only a short time.