The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-03-15
REALTORS HAVE BIG
5. DAY AS GUESTS OF
!. FAIRFIELD LAND CO.
Luncheon Served Exchange
Members by Ladies of
the Plunkett Memorial
Church Was Enjoyed

Birmingham Realtors will long remen-
Der their most enjoyable and interest
ing trip to Fairfield yesterday as the
guests of the Fairfield Land company
About 60 members of the exchange gath
cred in front of the Chamber of Com
merce at 1 o'clock, from whence they
proceeded in automobiles down through
Ensley and on out to the little Pres
byterian church, where a most tempting
feast was prepared and served by the
ladies'.
President Alex Montgomery started the
speechmaking with an eulogy of Bob
Jemison. we have in our midst, gem
tlemen, a man who has probably done
more for the development of Birming-
ham than any other citizen; a man whose
energy and indomnatable spirit has car
ried this community (Fairfield) through
the darkest hours of it's early tribula-
lions. l refer to the president of the
Fairfield Land company, and our lat
est addition to Uncle Sans forces, Bob
Jemisotn.
Mr. Jemson discussed the history of
the model city and the part Alex Mont
gomery had played in the construction
of its sewers, streets, sidewalks, etc
You fellows really don't appreciate the
magnitude Of this development" he said
you talk about the value of canton-
government plans, but they are small in
their advantages compared to the perma-
nent and tremendous investment the
Steel corporation is making here. There
was never a time in the history of Bir-
rningham when so much money was be-
ing spent in one place.
EARLY INVESTORS
I'm the early days of Birmingham it
was the nonresident who saw the posi-
bilities for making money here and con-
sequently we find that most of the own
ers of our most valuable property are
now living outside the city. Here in
Fairfield the same opportunities for in
vestment exist and trust that you gen.
tlemen will not only avail yourselves OF
them but encourage your friends to do
likewise"
Paschal Shook told of the growth Of
Ensley and how it had sprung from
cornfield, when he came to the district
in 1898, to city of 10000 people at the
time it was taken into Birmingham. He
recited an instance of four blocks in
Ensley that were sold in 1898 for $4ooo,
and that now pays $4,000 a year income.
The buyers of these lots, McCormack
& Ramsay. were called fools for their
investment, and, according to Mr.. Snook,
these two fools still own it,"
SPARROW IN FORM
John Sparrow was in rare form ana
made one of his inimitable talks, full OF
humor and interspersed with serious COM
ments on our duty in the war crisis lie
paid a glowing tribute to the sacrifice
and spirit of Bob Jemson in giving his
services to the country at time when
they were most needed in his business.
Mr. Sparrow urged all Realtors to CO.
operate with the government by buflding
houses at Fairfield for the employees who
will be engaged in shipbuilding. He de-
clared that this expenditure of the Steel
corporation would be followed, by the
dawn Of a new era in Birmingham Ala
bama and the south.
The meeting wound up with several
feeling speeches of praise for Mr.. Jemi-
SON Major Leedy, w. j. Rushton and
others extended the best wishes of the
exchange to its lost member IN the new
government work which he has under
taken.
MANAGER SMITH HOST
The host of the day, Manager Ruffin
smith of the Fairfield Land company,
made a few remarks of welcome to his
guests
At the suggestion of the president. a
collection was taken for the Plunkett
Memorial church. and something over
$50 realized.
OF cars went through the new eonstruc-
ton being done by the Tennessee com
pany, among whichis the building OF l0V'
houses for workingmen.
The party, also visited thes lite of the
new $3.50, 900 hospital, which will, when
finished, be the handsomest in the south
1t was an optimistic bunch that re-
turned home full of dust and Fairfield en-
thusiasm for looking at S15,000.0O0 worth
of building is enough to fill any Realtol
with low