The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-10
5. STEINER, EAR[y' BUILDER, DIES AT
 HOME IN NE w YORK.
Was One of Birmingham's Most Progressive Citizens in Initial Development
 Period

B. Steiner, for years one of Bir- mingham's most progressive and in- fluential citizens and a live and in- spirational force among the builders of the city from 1887 until 15 years ago, when he moved to New York city, died at his home there Thurs day night, aged 67 years. The re- funeral exercises being conducted Sunday by Rabbi M. Newfield of Temple Emanu- Ell, who has gone east on that mission.
 Mir. Steiner was native of Ma rienbad. in what was then Austria. but Is now Czecho- -Slovakia. He was educated at Pilsen and began his business career as a bookkeeper. He came to the United States in 1875 and settled at Uniontown, Ala. Later he moved to Hamburg. in the same section of Alabama, and there he and his late brother, Sigfried Steiner merchandised with success. They came to Birmingham in 1887 and established the present banking firm of Steiner Bros, building the Steiner block at a time when structures of that size were extremely scarce In Birmingham. Later the banking house opened a New York branch and E. Steiner, who was head of the firm from the beginning to his death, was in active charge of the New York house.
 Helped noys' School.
 Between 1887 and Is years ago, when he left Birmingham. there was not a real community enterprise in which B. Steiner failed to have a prominent part and to which he failed to give time. work and his full. share of money. He was one of the earliest and most generous support CTS of the Boys Industrial school at East Lake and his support was given at a time when the institution was in it's cradle and depended for just such support for prolongation of its life.
 Mir. Steiner was a member of the city board of education for many years. He displayed the same active interest in the public school system as in other community affairs and was always progressive in his view of public school expansion. He served as president of the Chamber of Commerce. He was among those who raised the money and built Bir- mingham's first auditorium, now the Bijou theatre. He was an original stockholder in the Avondale mills when that enterprise was brought into reality through the effort of the then Commercial club and that group of citizens who were always on hand when the community interests called.
 He was social by nature and he was deeply, although not ostenta- tiously, religious. He was president many years and among the principal contributors to the support of the congregation.
 Full of Optimism.
 A man of great optimism and viril- ity of expression, B. Steiner was a spokesman of the city's progress and welfare at practically every mass meeting held for those ends. There are those who well remember how rarely entertaining he was and in spring as well as ruggedly eloquent.
 Mir. Steiner never ceased to call Birmingham his home and he re- tained his temple membership here. He made regular yearly trips back to Birmingham. spending a week to ten days, and was never so happy as when his former associates called on him and old times were discussed
 Q o o Artistic Taste.
 MT. Steiner was a man of rare ar tistic taste and during the latter part of his life collected curIos from all parts of the world. his gallery of old worries and bronzes being re- garded as one of the most choice and best selected in the country.
 The surviving relatives are: Mrs Rosa Steiner. his widow; his nephew, Leo K. Steiner; three sons, Arthur, who lives here, and Erwin and Mil ton, who reside in New York; a nephew, Carl Steiner, who resides in Birmingham; Sigfried Steiner, a nephew, who resides here; Irving Steiner and Miss Amelia Steiner. nephew and niece, residing in New York city. His law, relict of the late Sigfried Steiner, his brother, also resides in New York.
 Leo and Arthur Steiner left for New York Thursday as soon as sum- moned by the telegram announcing Mir. Steiner's critical condition.
 Tribute to MT. Steiner's memory was paid by the banking house yes- terday, when the flag was placed at
 R. R GREGORY DOING WE'LL