The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-30

closely on the coal shortage trouble and other disturbing influences, it was thought that there might be less traf. fife than in former years. But all signs of the times were contradicted by the crush that developed.
 NOT ENOUGH CARS AVAILABLE
 In speaking of the Christmas rush period, the railway people mean from December 19 through December p, and and the estimates mentioned concerns those dates in the main
 obviously says one official, the roads could not provide sae innumer- able extra cars that couli have been used, simply for use through four days. especially with heavy passenger traf- fic movement indicated in many parts of the country"
 But only in a few instances during the past two weeks have local trains been forced to pass up regular stops fer lack of room. This has occurred on more than one road. but the officials say it was unavoidable.
 The opinion seems to be unanimous among those in position to speak with authority that general prosperity in this part of the world was the one and only reason for the big pa ssengt T business.
 The railroad folk do nos expect the unusual crowding that preceded Christ mas. The after holiday business is more scattered than the crush for the big day. and the roads do not foresee any difficulty in comfortably accom- modating the return flow.
 As a complement to the ralroa1 l rush, the hotel registers show Up in bold relief. Sorry. we are filled up." begins to be sounded every evening in the hotels of the city these days. It is needless to name any of the hostel ries, all say the same thing capacity business daily. In fact the hotel peo- pie say that these conditions have ob- ta;ned with them for weeks and months. that never in the history Of the city has there been such hotel patronage, so continuously and with out the slightest suggestion of d let-up
 No few of the older and smaller 'ctels of the city have seen the time fdVorab for what improvements can b. trade, and removal tions and. in some eases, no little remodelliag has been done It has not been long since one of the hotels sold it's entire furniture equipment to Texas hostalrv and re- fushished throughout.
 RUSH IN RETAIL BUSINESS
 And, passing from the hotels to the retail stores. the unfailing barometers Of business conditions, the same joy note is sounded. good business. world without end One small merchant summed the situation when he said, If I could have but foreseen the rush!''
 Orders that were bought to carry business through the whole Christmas season were swept clean in a few days, leaving a emi-sorrowful mer- chant to see weeks of trade bearing real money pass in and out of his doors unable to spend it.
 Old stocks that had been gathering dust we're broken out and found ready purchasers
 Advices that banks in this section are in a condition of wholesome and opulent fatness such as had not been dreamed of in their earlier days. Banks throughout the state are in fine shape, but in North Alabama. and particularly the Birmingham area, their condition is most gratifying
 There is one fly in the local oint- ment, lack of accommodation for the incessant stream of newcomers reach ing the city. Daily arises the wall for more room. more rooms, more houses
 A feature of this situation is the demolition of dwellings to make room for new business houses. On some streets dwelling after dwelling has been torn down to make room for new garage. oil station or accessory shop, and, though the business loca- tion proved excellent, the city could