The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-10-19
BOARD OF TRADE
PASSES RESOLUTION
ON MUSCLE SHOALS
Former Gov. Emmett O'Neal
Made Strong Address
Before Executive
Board

At the meeting OF the execuptive board
of the Board Of Trade yesterday, called
for the purpose of taking action regarding
the raising of the $4,000 tentatively sub
scribed by Birmingham for the Muscle
Shoals nitrate plant campaign fund,
former Gov. Emmett O'Neal was the prin-
cipal speaker. He discussed the various
sites that had been mentioned or sug-
gested for this enterprise, and gave his
reasons why Muscle Shoals was the log
ical location, and the benefits which would
accrue not only to Birmingham, but to
the entire south. During the course of
his remarks. he said: From the day the
first pick is stuck in the ground at Muscle
Shoals Birmingham will begin to con-
tribute material and supplies for the con-
struction of this plant. With your ma
chine shops, rolling mills, blast furnaces,
cement quarries and supply depots you
will be in better shape to furnish prompt
ly the materials used in this construc-
ton than any other city in America. And
when the construction at this plant has
been completed and the operation COM
mences Birmingham will continue to fur
nish more Of the material used in the
manufacture of the products of this plant
than any other city in America But
these are not the only reasons. The
question of the supply Of cheap fertiliz-
ers is, in the aggregate, worth more to
Alabama, many times over, than any
other one thing in connection with the
operations of this plant. While Birming-
ham is distinctively a coal and iron cen
ter it should not be closed shop 10
everything else. The facts are Birming-
ham is more largely dependent upon the
fertility of it's soils in the surrounding
counties than it is in the value Of the
iron fields of Red mountain, or the coal
fields of the Warrior, Cahaba and Coosa."
RESOLUTIONS PASSED
At the conclusion of his remarks the
following resolution was unanimously
adopted:
whereas, The attention of the Board
of Trade has been called by former Gov.
Emmett O'Neal, vice chairman of the
Muscle Shoals association, to the pressing
necessity of raising funds for the pur-
pose of properly presenting the claims OF
Muscle Shoals for the location of the pro-
posed government nitrate plant, and
whereas, The Chamber of Commerce
has already manifested a deep interest ir
the location of Muscle Shoals by sending
delegates to the initial meeting of the
association, held at Nashville and has
expressed a desire to cooperate in every
possible way in securing all the necessary
data and arguments to be presented to
the government in favor of the claims
of the Muscle Shoals location; and
whereas. The Board of Trade is heart
lily in sympathy with this movement;
Therefore be it resolved, That James
H. finder, the president Of the Board OF
Trade be requested to confer with the
officers of the Chamber of Commerce
with a view of securing joint meeting
of the Board of Trade and the Chamber
of Commerce. to which the general pub
lie shall be invited, and at which time an
opportunity will be given for full dis
cussion and presentation of this matter"
A copy of the resolution was mailed
Morris w. Bush, president of the Cham
Der of Commerce. and ]. Frank Rushton,
vice president, by Dr. finder. Along with
the resolution, DIR. finder asks that they
cooperate with the Board of Trade and
that they confer with him at an early
date regarding the matter set forth in the
rocoIy1fiop