The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-28
MUCH WORK DONE BY REALTY BOARD
Organization Of Real Estate Men Perfected in 1914
 Following Convention

All things must have beginning. Some time In the summer of 1914 James B. Drake, Hill Ferfuson, FL bert Jemison and c. M. McCrum re- turned to Birmingham from the, an nual convention of the National Real Estate assocation, held that year in Pittsburg, Pa. They were full of en- thusiasm for making yet another eff fort to establish at home some es- sociation of real estate men.
 They met with ready response from a number of men, and so came into being the Birmingham Real Es- tate Exchange, which in spite of the outbreak of the World war in Octo- her, 1914, with perpetual charter. subject only to the revocation by the legislature. In the articles of in corporation 1t states. ''The purposes of said corporation are to advance the interests of Birmingham and its citizens in fostering public improve ments, an equitable system of assess z ments and taxation, and the enforce ment of laws for the protection, wei fare and convenience of real estate owners and tenants and generally to devise, advocate and support legtsla- tion calculated to improve the city of Birmingham and the character of its streets and buildings, to estab- fish and maintain the calling the real eSldle dSduSl III d pOolllOil Ol di5 hllS and responsibility in the community by insisting on the principle of hon esty and fair dealing In their busi- ness of buying and selling, renting, caring for, appraising and loaning money on real estate; by the adoption of rules and regulations to enable the members to take organized ac- tion on such matters as may be deemed for the general good"
 Hill Ferguson was the first presi- dent and James B. Drake the first secretary of the new organization. The exchange adopted it's sumbol the diagram of city block, labeled "A Square Deal" and flanked by the words honesty, knowledge, efficiency and ressiveness. The adminis tration of Hill Ferguson was marked by the adoption of constitution and bylaws and code of ethics, the in- auguation of weekly luncheons, which have been maintained con tinuously; the employment of an all time secetary. by the promulgation of the own Your Home" idea that swept the country and Is still pushed by the government. They registered a protest against the jitney and ad- vocated the multiple listing system. This system was actually put into effect during the summer of 1925
 The lamented Gus Pope followed Hill Ferguson. It was during his term that the Birmingham Exchange entertained most successfully about 500 delegates en route to the national convention at New Orleans, on which occasion pr. H, M. Edmonds delivered his address on "Caveat Emptor," which has become the classic of the real estate profession.
 Next came A. M. Throckmorton. who, however. resigned after a few months of occupying the presidents chair and enrolled in the first offi- cers' training school In answer to the country's, call for volunteers. His term was completed by II. A. Nose ley, whose administration was dis tinctly marked for its enthusiastic and highly successful work in the war drives covering the Liberty loans, Red Cross and of the Young Mems Christian association.
 A c. Montgomery was elected to serve as president during the year of 1918. His term of office was signalized by the great war drives of 1918, and deserves the credit for hard work on the fair rent board and in the effort to solve the severe problem of scarcity of houses. The board lent it's aid in the passage Of an ordinance to prevent the pillag- ing of houses that was going on at an alarming extent.
 Frank E. Butler then succeeded into the highest office of the organ ization and in whose administration the ideas of a great city plan Tor Birmingham and civic center were featured, eliminating in the publi- cation of the elaborate book on the subject of "The City Plan of Bir- mingham." Out of this plan has de- veloped the location of the new municipal auditorium and the pro- posed new county court house.
 Claude H. Estes next became presf- dent and has to the credit of his term much influence in remedial measures in regard to the plumbing situation in Birmingham, the apprais- ing of the auditorium site, the initial step toward a zoning law, and the change of the name. from the Blr- mingham Real Estate Exchange to the Birmingham Real Estate Board.
 Jerome Tucker followed MT. Estes for the year of 1921 and so admin istered the affairs of the Birming- ham Real Estate Board that he was elected for a second term. It was during his second year that the board lent it's influence and aid to- the es- tablishment of similar boards at Muscle Shoals. Gadsden, Mobile, An niston and Ensley. This movement known as the Alabama Realtors as- sociation. of which A. c. Montgomery became the first president. s
 Before naming the president for the present year it is emimently proper to state this brief history of the real estate board would be in- complete without mention of the eff cient and cheerful. though unre- munerated services o5 A. B. Tanner as treasurer of the board for prac- tically the past six years.
 At the expiration of Jerome Tuck CTS second term, J. L. Yancey was elected president for the 1923 term. His term, now in the fourth quarter has been particularly marked with activity. The board was instrument tai in the widening of First avenue from Forty to Forty seventh street and selected a committee from the membership to appraise without charge the ground required, and the damage to property.
 Through the efforts of commit tee, of which w. B. Leedy was chair man, a large delegation went to Montgomery to be present at the dis cussion of the Brewer viaduct bill before the senate committee on re- vision of laws. In addition the board has pledged its support to the present city commission in it's effort to solve the grade crossing nuisance
 A zoning law advocated by the hnar and nOw tho Sfatnfa