The Birmingham age-herald. [volume], March 31, 1914, Image 5

About The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950

Image provided by: University of Alabama Libraries, Tuscaloosa, AL

                
Money Advice
“Waste Not, Want Not”
These words were never
truer than when spoken of in
connection witli MONEY.
It’s the saving, NOT wasting
of money that insures you
against want when old. In
order not to waste yours,
S save and deposit with this
bank steadily.
Quarterly interest will be
added.
The First National Bank
“A National Bank for
Savings’’
Capital and Surplus
$3,000,000
4 per cent interest on savings,
Compounded Quarterly
WILLIAMS MISTS
ALLEGED TEMEN
*
Captures Two Men in Field
Asleep—Both Deny
Charges
Giles Widenheimer and Ray Powers,
•uspected of being notorious “yeggmen’’
and burglars were arrested yesterday
morning in a field at Ninth avenue and
Fourteenth street, north, by Detective It.
G. Williams, and placed in the city jail
on the charge of burglary and grand
larceny. Widenheimer and Powers were
asleep and Detective Williams was able
to capture them before they could offer
resistance.
The cause of the immediate arrest of
Widenheimer and Powers was a burglary
of the saloon of W. C. Hawkins at Lips
comb, at an early hour yesterday morn
ing. The burglary was reported at 7
o’clock. Detective Williams found that
the burglars had taken $13 from the cash,
register, but had not bothered the safe,
although they left drills, dynamite and
caps on the floor in frorft of the safe.
It is thought that they were scared otf.
• However, Detective Williams found Tom
Bostwick, a negro, who is employed by
the Gulf Refining company, who stated
that he had met two strange men about
1:30 o'clock in the morning. The negro
gave the detective an accurate descrip
tion of the two strangers who had lurked
in the vicinity of the Hawkins saloon,
and the arrest of Widenheimer and Pow
ers followed. The negro Bostwick yes
terday afternoon identified Widenheimer
and Powers as the men he hail seen and
talked with yesterday morning at Lips
s comb.
At the city jail Widenheimer and Pow
ers both deny that they are burglars.
They state that they had just arrived
in Birmingham from Denver, Col. They
are poorly dressed.
MEETING TODAY
WILL BE ROUTINE
Dp until last night nothing of impor
tance was scheduled for the city commis
sion meeting today at 3 o’clock. Several
routine matters are to come up, but lit
tle else, it is believed.
In the last week or two the commission-'
ers have disposed of several important
questions and with the viaduct agreement
yesterday all that is left is the police
situation and the Tidewater franchise
Neither of these issues are active at the
present time.
< ECZEMA ITCHED
FOR 20 YEARS
RESINOL CURED
All Over Fare, trills and Hands. \Youl<
Walk the Floor All .tight
Dec 8. 1913: "I had eczema for 2(
t years. It started on me when i wa:
but 13 years old and am now 34, ant
have suffered all these years. It startet
with small pimples all over my face
arms and hands., My hands wouli
■ well up so that 1 could not shut them
and I was almost blind. It would Itch
then burn, and I had to keep the af
fected parts wrapped up so that I wouli
not scratch them. 1 couldn't sleep a
ail—just walked the floor a whob
night.
"I have tried many different reme
dies, and spent a large sum of money
but had no relief. Reslnol Soap am
^ ltesinol Ointment were recommended ti
me. They gave me great relief afte
the third application, and after usini
four jars of Reslnol Ointment and threi
cakes of Reslnol Soap, I am completel;
cured.” (Signed) Mrs. H. E. Fleagei
Box 13, Dauphin, Pa.
Reslnol Ointment and Reslnol Soai
quickly heal Bkln eruptions, clear awa;
pimples and blackheads, and form :
most valuable household treatment fo
sores, burns, bolls, piles, etc. For trla
size, free, write to Reslnol, Dept. 10-B
Baltimore, Md. Sold by all drugglsti
Prescribed by doctors for 19 years.
V
. *1
r.
t
FIRST AVENUE TO HAVE VIADUCT
AFTER MANY YEARS OF STRUGGLE
Agreement Reached Yester
day and Work Will Prob
ably Be Under Way
by June
1
SOME CONCESSIONS
MADE ON BOTH SIDES
DURING CONFERENCE
Total Cost Will Be $210,000—City to
Pay 25 Per Cent, But Corpora
tions Waive All Abut
ting Damages
The viaduct war is over. As early as
next June it is stated in an agreement
reached yesterday, a viaduct at First
avenue and Twenty-seventh Btreet will
be under way.
A formal proposition made to the city
commissioners Saturday by Mr. Miller of
Atlanta, assistant to President Harrison
of the Southern, was accepted by the
commissioners yesterday and a formal
agreement between the contracting par
ties will be drawn up within the near fu
ture.
Concessions were made on both sides.
The city commissioners are well pleased.
The city’s share of the cost will be any
where from $40,000 to $70,000. It is guar
anteed that it will not be more than $70,
000, and the commissioners believe it
will run about $50,000 or $fi0,000, the ac
tual figure at the end depending on sev
eral variable conditions.
The commissioners agree not to open
Second avenue across the railroad tracks
for a period of 10 years. As negotia
tions looking to the opening of that
street are now under way, it is said it
would have been opened. At the end
of 10 years, it is believed by the city
officials, a subway or a viaduct will be
uuiii mere.
The portion of cost to the city is
designated by 25 per cent of the total cost
and abutting damages of the viaduct.
The railroads agree to finance the entire
work and allow the city ample time to
pay its share. The cost is estimated at
$210,000, and the corporations involved
waive abutting damages.
The proposition and the negotiations
now under way are to a large extent
with the Southern and the Louisville and
Nashville railroads, which have taken the
initiative. A member of the commisison
stated yesterday that recent develop
ments showed that It had not been the
railroads which were responsible for the
last break in viaduct negotiations. The
railroads have been desirous of settling
matters amicably and it is due to their
efforts, it is said, that the vaiduct or
dinance will not go into effect tomorrow
and what would probably have been a
long legal battle started.
The negotiations were reopened Sat
urday morning by Mr. Miller, who said
President Harrison had asked him to
come to Birmingham and “try his hand"
to see if he could not reach an agree
ment with the commissioners. He asked
that his presence here be kept secret.
Mr. Miller talked privately with the
commissioners and found out about what
they would and would not do. He then
got in touch with Louisville and Nash
ville officials and the proposition was
drawn up. It seems that Sunday Vice
President Mapother of the Louisville and
, Nashville and also President J. C. Maben
of the Sloss company, were In the city
for their signatures were attached to
the written proposition when It was
brought back to the commissioners.
Owing to the Importance of the nego
tiations and the press for time, the com
missioners held a conference Sunday aft
ernoon at the city hall and "agreed to
agree” to the proposition. Yesterday
morning they sent a formal letter to L.
Sevier, local representative of the South
ern. stating they would accept.
The reason the cost to the city is un
known now’ is that 25 per cent of the total
cost would b*3 $52,000. It is stated the en
gineers are very liberal in making these
estimates, however, and when the worlt
is completed it probably will not be thal
much. To this will be added one-fourth
of abutting property damages, which may
vary from nothing to a considerable sum,
Tiie proposition agreed to is as fol
lows:
“To the Honorable George B. Ward, Presi
dent; James Weatherly, A. O. Lane
Commissioners.
“Dear Sir: The undersigned corpora
tions concerned in the proposed construc
tion of the viaduct at First avenue here
by respectfully submit the following prop
osition :
"1. The city to vacate by appropriate
1 ordinances First avenue, from the west
line of the Southern railway right of wav
to the east line of the Southern railway
right of way; also from the west line oi
the Louisville and Nashville right o
way to the eastern terminus of the via
duct.
“2. The city by appropriate ordinances
> to agree not to open Second avenue, fron
• the Louisville and Nashville right o
. way to the west line of Thirty-secom
[ street for a period of 10 years.
"3. The cost of the rearrangement o
the Sloss-Sheffield slag track frqm No.
> furnace across First avenue so as tc
eliminate grade crossing at First avenue
> to he included in the cost of the via
r duct.
t "4. The city to bear 25 per cent of th<
total cost, exclusive of the sxpensi
chargeable to the street railway, cstl
1 mated at $41,760, but inclusive of dam
• ages.
"5. 7f desired, the corporations sgrci
to finance the city’s proportion for f
STREET CAR AND
BIG VAN ULIDE
Horse Killed and Four Ne
groes Injured—Occurred
in Storm
[ Due to the heavy rain an Avenue B
I Loop car collided head-on with a furni
ture van from the J. T. Camp Transfer
company, near Fourteenth street on
Eleventh avenue, south, about 7:06
o’clock last night, and four negroes were
injured.
Accounts of the accident vary. It is
stated by J. M. De Wlndt, general traf
fic manager of the Birmingham Railway,
I^ight and Power company, that the
driver of the furniture van turned into the
car track to avaid an automobile, and
that due to the heavy rain the van col
lided with the street car, which% was
coming east on Eleventh avenue. Gen
eral Manager De Wlndt states that both
the driver of the van and the motorman
of the car saw each other too late to
prevent the collision.
The accident happened immediately in
front of Dr. E. M. Robinson's infirmary.
The rapidly moving car played havoc
with the heavy furniture van drawn by
two horses. One of the horses was in
stantly killed, and the other so seriously
Injured that it is thought that it will
have to be killed before morning.
The van was driven by Ranee Ricks,
and three other negro assistants were
on the dray. Their names are Emmet
Cobb, Tod Walker and Joe Howard.
When the car struck the van these ne
groes were hurled in several directions
and all received numerous bruises about
the head and limbs. It Is not thought
that any of the negroes are seriously in
jured. The furniture van was completely
wrecked as well as the front of the col
liding street car. No one was injured in
the street car.
SLOSS OFFICIALS
MAKE NO STATEMENT
President Maben Expresses Belief
That All Furnaces Will Soon
Be Closed
There will be no announcement of a
definite nature relative to the projected
improvements of the Sloss-Sheffield Steel
and Iron company until the visit of 11.
Bronner, a director, of New York, who
is expected Thifrsduy. This was made
plain yesterday by Col. J. C. Maben,
president of the company, who is here
with Director W. H. Goad by of New
York, to inspect the properties.
There is no definite information that
they will make an official statement even
after Mr. Bronner gets here. Colonel
Maben said that the viaduct question was
all right, but that he had not thought
about viaducts lately. He said if within
three years the new ovens were built the
company would be fortunate. He indi
cated that the industrial situation was
"intensely unsatisfactory" and ventured
the prediction that "all the furnaces prac
tically will be closed down within a year
or less."
Colonel Maben and Mr. Goadby will
make a trip over the company properties
today and tomorrow if the weather clear;
up. They will visit Sheffield and othel
points. The Sloss company car "Ala
bama" will *be used on the trip. Vie*;
President J. C. Maben, Jr., Vice Presi
dent J. W. McQueen and J. .1. Shannon,
general superintendent, will probably ac
company the visiting officials on the in
spection tour.
period of five years on a basis of 5 per
cent interest on the amount advanced,
the city’s proportion to be paid in five
annual payments.
"6. The corporation parties to this prop
osition agree to hereby waive any and
all claims for damages to tHeir property
by reason of the construction of the via
duct.
"7. The corporations to form an organi
zation to construct the viaduct for ac
count of the etty and advance all neces
sary funds. All contracts for construc
tion to be approved by che city.
"8. The corporations to form an organi
zation immediately upon the acceptance of
this proposition, the work to be prose
cuted as diligently as possible.
"It will be our purpose to arrange for
a conference of the engineers represent
ing the various corporations early next
week for the purpose of perfecting the
organization for the construction of the
viaduct, whereupon the work of prepar
ing plans in detail will be immediately
' entered upon and the contract will he
awarded and the work prosecuted as dili
gently as possible. It is our belief that
the contract can be awarded and th<
work well under way by June 1 next.
"It. is proper to explain that the Bir
mingham Railway. Light and Powei
company was not represented at the con
' ference that resulted tn the agreement
as to the foregoing proposition, but we
are of the opinion that tHat company
will subscribe to the terms of the same
"SLOSS-SHEFFIELD STEEL ANE
IRON COMPANY.
"hv J. c;. mAr>Eii\, ^resident.
“LOUISVILLE AND NASH VILLI?
RAILROAD COMPANY.
“By W. L. MAPOTHER, First Vice
i President.
"SOUTHERN RAILWAY COMPANY,
“By I/. SEVIER, General Agent.
The letter of acceptance from the com
. missioners is as follows:
‘March 30. :914.
“Mr. L. Sevier. Southern Railway Com
pany, Birmingham, Ala.:
“Dear Sir: As per your verbal request
» we are notifying you of the result of out
. conference today on your viaduct propo
sition, handed us by Mr. Miller yesterday
“As outlined, the proposition is accep
table, with the understanding, of course
that the Birmingham Railway, Light anc
Power company is to co-operate, aw
that the reconstruction of its roadway or
the viaduct is to be done under the su
pervision and approval of the city. W<
have Mr. Miller’s assurances that tin
Birmingham Railway, Light and Powei
company will become a party to tin
agreement.
"It is understood that the word "dam
ages” in the proposition refers to "abut
ting damages" only.
“Of course, it is understood that the at
torneys of the respective parties are tr
make a formal draft of the agreement t<
be adopted by ordinance. Yours ver;
truly,
“A. O. LANE.
“JAMES WEATHERLY,
“GEO. B. WARD,
“Commissioners."
The viaduct controversy has been undei
way In Birmingham for many years, li
old aldermanic* times it used to be a fa
vorlte subject to start debate on wher
other material ran short. Finally o>
agreement was reached which was late
repealed by the city commission w'hei
the new form of government came in
Commissioner Lane's vote deciding in
Issue, as Mr. Weatherly declined to vob
on the grounds that he had been attorney
for the Southern. Judge Lane oppose<
the agreement then on account of its call
ing for vacation by the city of some 3
acres of ground.
Mr. Weatherly then took the lead ii
representing the city and since that tirw
has brought about various conference,
until the last one has been successful.
MUSIC FESTIVAL
Association Being: Formed
and Capital Stock
to Be Issued
A music festival for Mfly fi and 7, under
the auspices of Birmingham Musical as
sociation, seems practically assured.
Instead of getting up a guarantee, fund
as was done In order to make former fes
tivals possible, those Interested in the
forthcoming event are subscribing to
shares of stock in the newly organized
association. Should there be a deficit it
will be paid out of the treasury. The
following circular letter has been pre
pared and copies will be mailed to busi
ness men and other citizens who appre
ciate the value of a festival as a civic
enterprise, to say nothing of its artistic
side;
Circular Letter
Birmingham, March 3D, 1914.
Dear Sir: You have, no doubt, noticed
mention being made in the dally papers
of the organization of the Birmingham
Musical association, the purpose of which
is to foster music in Birmingham, build
up a festival chorus, provide entertain
ment and instruction for the benefit ol
the citizens of Birmingham and vicinity,
and further the musical interests of the
city.
The. first work that this association de
sires to undertake Is to give a festival
on May fi and 7, on which occasion tin
oratorio of Paradise Lost will be rendered
It Is Intended to secure the St. Louis Sym
phony orchestra of 52 pieces, with lout
vocal soloists to assist the chorus of 171
voices now being trained by Mr. Rlenzl
Thomas, who will be director of the fes
tival. The Tennessee Coal, Iron and
Railroad company male chorus from Ens
ley. the Arlon society, the Treble Clel
club and the Music Study club are all
aiding in this work.
To pay for the orchestra, the soloists
the rent of the theatre and other ex
penses will take approximately $3000. It
is expected that the festival will pay
all expenses and leave a surplus, bid
before making the necessary contracts,
the association must have the funds hi
sight.
The members of the several societies, ns
well as putting some hard work in the
rehearsals and giving their service in
the int* rest of Birmingham and Birming
ham muslin 1 development, are subscribing
to the capital stock. It is hoped that the
citizens of Birmingham, generally, will
also subscribe in as liberal amounts as
they feel justified in doing in order to
promote this commendable cause. The
shares are $10 each.
Tt is desired to make this organization
permanent, so that ultimately an associa
tion may l>e built up, which when the
auditorium is completed, can give great
choruses and assist In the establishing of
grand opera in Birmingham, thus adding
to the attractiveness of our city.
As a business proposition there are few
things which will pay our merchants,
bankers, and citizens generally, better
than to have a great festival every spring,
one somewhat similar to that of our sister
city, Atlanta, which starting in a small
way several years ago has built up an
organization which by offering the attrac
tions referred to has brought, thousands
of people to Atlanta every year and a
large income annually to the association.
What Atlanta has done Birmingham
can do. You are cordially Invited to
assist in this undertaking and asked to
subscribe to one or more shares. The
subscription lists may be found at any
of the banks, at the offices of The Bir
mingham Age-ITernld. the News and the
Ledger, and a committee of citizens will
also solicit subscriptions.
Colonel Tom O. Smith has consented to
act as treasurer, Mr. Eugene F. Enslen
as vice president. Mr. Paschal Shook,
president of the Chamber of Commerce,
as one of the directors. Tt is expected
that other prominent citizens will also
consent to serve on the board.
This is a boost for Birmingham. Help
it along. Yours very truly,
JAMRR H. HARD, Secretary.
DISCUSSES NORFOLK
CITY GOVERNMENT
Information regarding commission form
of government in Norfolk, Va., wns
brought to this city yesterday by B. A.
Steele, a Norfolk city official. Mr. Steele
is a commission enthusiast and was much
interested In w'hat the new government
was doing here. He called upon the
city commission yesterday afternoon.
He stated that In the state act giving
commission government t/> Norfolk the
city was given power to change its own
charter at any time such a proposition
was indorsed by a majority of the voters
of the city and lie expressed the be
lief that this was a feature of tremen
dous importance. He also said that Nor
folk being separate from the county had
no county taxes to pay, only state and
city.
Rev. Swanlund to Speak
The Scandinavian Ladies' Aid society
will be addressed this afternoon by the
Rev. A. A. Swanlund of Thorsby, at
: the home of Mrs. C. E. Lind, 2719 Avenue
C, Ensley. At 7:30 o’clock this evening
lie will again speak at the home of Mrs.
Lind. Although there is no church of
the Scandinavian Lutheran faith In the
Birmingham district, it Is said there arc
not a. few representatives of that de
nominaton here and the Judes’ Ad so
ciety is very active. The Rev. Mr. 3wan
lund has been heard in Birmingham be
fore on several occasions.
Marriage License
The following marriage license was yes
terday recorded in the office of the pro
bate Judge:
Ireson Smith, Birmingham, to Miss
I.ula Thurmond.
Right Now!
Make it a point to
! drink freely of WHITE
ROCK.
Let it become a habit
with you—a habit which
will grow throughout
the year.
There** vim, vigor,
and virility in every
glass of sparkling
WHITE ROCK.
“ There *s Health in
White Rock ”
CAN TIDEWATER AND
B. R. L. & P. CO. SLEEP
IN THE SAME BED?
—
j Officials of Both Companies
Having Significant Con
ference in New York
BULLOCK DISLIKES
COMPETITIVE LINE
Tidewater Expected to Abandon North
and South Extension and Get
Use of Rival's Tracks
Downtown
There is being held in New York a
conference between officials of the Bir
mingham Railway. Light and Power
company and of the Birmingham, Ens
ley and Bessemer railroad (Tidewater)
which rumors here say is to bring to
an end the keen competition of the lat
ter street railway.
The statement is made that local in
dustrial Interests expect the two sets
of officials to return to Birmingham
with an argreement ns to the use of
the Birmingham Railway, Light and
Power company’s tracks downtown by
the Tidewater lines. Heretofore that
right has been denied the Tidewater by
the Birmingham Railway, Light and
Power company. It is further expected
that this agreement in reference to the
use by the Tidewater of certain street
railway tracks will carry the further
statement that as business is rather
dull at this time and as money is dif
ficult to secure the Tidewater will, for
the time being, abandon its plan of
constructing the south and north cross
town linos for which franchise appli
cations have been before the commis
sion for some time.
This is in effect. It is believed, the
first step which will ho taken to bring
to an end the competition of the two
lines in Birmingham which has been
very spirited since the Tidewater
opened its lines east and west some
time ago.
Officials in New 1 ork
It Is stated that Georg© I. Brown of
the Tidewater, Fred Morris of the Tide
water, George Bullock of the United
Gas. A. H. Ford of the Birmingham
Hallway, Light and Pow'er company,
and Lee C. Bradley of the Birmingham
Hallway, Light and Power company
will have reached an amicable adjust
ment of the trouble here before the
local citizens return from the east.
They are expected home during the
next few days. They have been in con
ference there two or three days. In thrt
conference it is stated that the Ala
bama Power company is also partici
pating and that the local interests of
the English syndicate are being taken
care of In the propositions that are be
ing worked out in New York.
It is confidently believed that George
Bullock, head of the company controll
ing the Birmingham Railway, Light and
Power company, frowns on competing
street railway propositions and W’lll
strive to bring the local competition to
an end. In his whole operations extend
ing into many Rtates it is said that Mr.
Bullock has few' competitors.
There has been observed In local In
dustrial circles a marked depreciation
in the bitter feeling that existed in the j
beginning between officials of the Tide
water and the Birmingham Hallway,
Light and Power company.
Plan to End Competition
Questions directed to local men yes
terday that are more or less directly
concerned in the two companies brought j
out in almost every instance that the
officials had up for consideration the
proposition of ceasing the competition
here and the proposition of the Tide
water using the Birmingham Hallway,
Light and .Power company’s tracks,
provided the north and south feeders
were not constructed.
In a settlement of the fight here be
tween the two companies there would
naturally enter the provision of the
Tidewater grant that It could not sell
out to a competing company. However,
the officials of the company are pos
sessed of many ways whereby they
could attain the same end which would
occur by an actual sale. The Tidewa
ter is not seriously hurting the Bir
mingham Railway. Light and Power
company as now operated, but Its future
plans would throw' a serious bomb into
the Birmingham Railway. Light and
Power company’s camp. So an agree
ment to suspend further extensions and
leave the Birmingham Railway, Light
and Power company alone would In of
feet be all that the astute managers of
the Birmingham Railway, Light and
Power company would reasonably ex
pect. Again the Tidewater franchise
lasts only a certain number of years
and the matter of ceasing operations
at that time would not. be a very seri
ous problem. Naturally the existing
company would at a public auction se
cure the properties of the dead concern.
There is expected to be, therefore, some
very interesting communication to th«
commissioners when the officials re
turn from the east.
LARGE JUDGMENT
IN THE CITY COURT
Will Si8Able Sues W. S. Cole, Char8
ing False Imprisonment—L. &
N. Damage Suit
The largest Judgment ever rendered Jn
the city court of Birmingham was entered
yesterday in the first division, presided
over by Judge John H. Miller. It was in
the case of Mrs. Angelina Woodward,
widow of the late W. H. Woodward,
against the Woodward Gas, Asphalt Con
struction company, in which a Judgment
by default was rendered for $HS,143
Judge A. Latady represented the plain
tiff.
Will S. Sigsbee has entered suit in the
city court against W. S. Cole, in which he
clajms 110,000 damages for an alleged ma
licious arrest and imprisonment. The
plaintiff alleged that without probable
cause he was arrested and imprisoned
In the city jail.
Lizzie Sant ley, administrator of the es
tate of John Sant ley, has sued the Louis
ville and Nashville Railroad company for
fanoo damages for the death of the In
testate. who was killed at the railroad
crosrlng on Eighteenth street and Rail
road avenue.
Certificate of Incorporation
The following certificate of Incorpora
tion was yesterday recorded in the office
of the probate judge:
The United Development company, to
begin business with capital of $24,000. Of
ficers chosen were George M. Webb, pres
ident; Alvin M. Douglas, vice president
and treasurer, and W. T. Bolton, secre
tary.
If safety quick*>NQ^
I • ST//valuables or no valu- Yy||
ables. When YTw
ffcsj a^*over’ 'f *s a Question of val- Ui
ill * Would you rather look for them
I VwW 'n Vfl‘n or *n an American Trust //Tm
y * wi safe deposit box! J J my
I ^ Wu If costs very little. /f&fj/
HUNDREDS VISIT
THE NEODGELY"
Apartment House Makes
Good Impression
BIG RAIN IS IGNORED
Everybody Delighted With Arrange
ment of Rooms and Artistic
Finishings of the Hig
Apartments
Tile Rldgely, Birmingham's now and
magnificent apartment building, was
thrown open to the public yesterday aft
ernoon ami last night at an informal re
ception. The building was brilliantly
lighted, and everything was on ‘‘dross ,
parade.” The visitors numbered upwards
of 1600 and at times there were as many
os 500 people in the building at the same
time.
Although Birmingham suffered a visita
tion of rain beginning about 2:30 o'clock,
in the afternoon and continuing until
late In the night, the visitors came in
large numbers. They were mot at the
entrance by a committee and escorted to
the beautifully decorated lobby, from
which they entered the elevators and
were carried to the eighth floor. The
visitors began the tour of inspection at
the roof, but because of the rain very
few ventured out to view the "little
Dutch village,” as the red gables and
children's playhouses were dubbed.
Exclamations of delight were to be
heard at all points. The guests appar
ently were amazed at the magnitude of
the building and the elaborate treatment
of the interior. The handsome furnish
ings of the lobby, the ladles' writing
room and the gentlemen’s smoking and
| lounging room, on the main floor, were
objects of much laudatory comment. The
I lobby was decorated with palms, ferns
and flowers for the reception.
A Society Show
The informal opening of the Rldgely
resolved itself into something of a so
ciety affair after 8 o’clock and many were
the ladies and gentlemen who came to
look, and who were astonished at what
they sav^. The elasticity of the apart- ,
ments proved the delight of the feminine
element among the visitors and they re
marked the beauty of having an apart
ment which could he enlarged without the
slightest bother. The gentlemen were Im
pressed with the quiet, restful atmos
phere that pervaded the entire building
arid the conveniences of the whole.
The kitchenettes In the apartments
were of so much Interest to the ladies
present that the guides h'nl difficulty in j
persuading them to leave them.
The bachelors' quarters proved a real '
haven of refuge to the gentlemen and
there was a constant stream moving
along the corridors. Robert Jemison, Jr.,
and other officials of the Jemison Real
Estate and Insurance company, were pres
ent, welcoming the guests. Mr. Jemison
last night expressed himself as being
greatly pleased with the success of the
opening, despite the rain. Mr. Jemison
gave to Maj. E. E. Tutwiler great credit
for his having built the apartment, as
well as the Tutwiler hotel. Investing his
money in Birmingham, where it will he
of benefit to the city, Instead of buying
| New York stocks and bonds.
Step Forward
"The completion of the Rldgely is hut
another step forward In the progress of
Birmingham," said Mr. Jemison. "It
should prove of great benefit to officials
of railroads and corporations who are
sent to Birmingham ami, not knowing
how long they will he here, hesitate to
rent a house, or to buy a home. They
will have all the comforts of home with
none of Its annoyances, such as the serv
ant problem, etc.
"The convenience of the Rldgely will
appeal to everyone. Business men will
find it convenient to their places of busi
ness and to the clubs and places of
amusement. Teachers will find the apart
ments convenient to the public schools,
and lady teachers have the assurance of
perfect safety. Traveling men will find
tlie Rldgely especially desirable, because
when they are compelled to be out of
the city, they arc assured of the safety
of their families from burglars and other
lawless denizens of any great city, such
as Birmingham.’’ •
The officials of the Jemison company,
knowing that hundreds could not attend
the opening yesterday because of the rain,
extend an invitation to the general pub
lic to call at the apartments and be
shown over the building at their con
venience.
FREIGHT WRECK
TIES UP TRAFFIC
Alabama (treat Southern Passenger
Trains Held for Over Kight Hours
by Accident
One of the most serious freight derail
ments In the history of the Alabama
Great Southern railroad occurred yester
day morning near Boligee. when a ditch
was piled to the overflowing with the
contents of a throught freight and traf
fic was tied up for over eight hours. For
tunately no one was killed or injured
and the only loss was financial.
Train No. 2, which Is due here at S
o’clock every morning, was unable to
reach here until about 3 o’clock p. ni.(
and the other trains were relatively an
late. It was stated that the position ȣ
the wreck made it Impractical to detour
the fast trains, so they were held at the
scene of the wreck waiting until the
tracks were cleared. Wreckers wore sent
to the scene from both terminals of th.'
division. Birmingham and Meridian. Traf
fic was normal last night.
CALLS IGNORANCE
OF THE GOVERNOR
VERY DEPLORABLE
Selheimer Replies to Gov
ernor’s Last Statement
Published Sunday
ASKS QUESTIONS
ABOUT AGREEMENT
Says, However, Henderson and (iov
ernor Need Not Answer If They
“I)o Not Want to En
lighten People"
H. <\ Selheimer, spool.il counsel fo»
the state of Alabama In the railroad rate
litigation, yesterday replied to the state
ment of the governor published Sunday.
Regarding the governor's assertion that
Mr. Selheimer was offended because “the
pipe line which supplied him SI000 a month
had been severed,” Mr. Selheimer says
he has never drawn any such amount
from the state, and that the governor
knew it when ho made the statement.
Regarding another of the governor's
assertions, Mr. Selheimer says: “It. is
worse than ignorance; it borders on im
becility.”
He asks a series of questions of Mr.
Henderson and the governor and say*
if they are afraid to enlighten the peo
ple by answering them, they may remain
mute as he would not ark them to in
criminate themselves. His statement id
as follows.
“1 have carefully read Governor
O'Neal’s reply in Sunday's Age-Merahl
to my denial of the statement made by
him in hts Montgomery speech with ref
erence to my connection with the recent
settlement of the rate cases. As he does
not deny any fact stated by me it must,
of course, be conceded that he did enter
upon ami complete negotiations for a set
tlement of the rate cases and reduce all
the terms of the settlement to writing
without consulting either of the special
counsel for the state or the attorney
general, and that he and the president of
the railroad commission did sign and
execute the agreement of settlement with
out seeking or desiring the advice of
the state’s attorneys as to the advisability
of making the settlement.
Lawyers Will Understand
"Governor O’Neal seems to think, how
ever, that, although he had completely
Ignored me In deciding upon the terms
of the settlement, yet when the attorney
general sent me a copy of the agreement
already signed by the parties. It was my
duty to communicate to him or to the
attorney general my objection to the
terms of the agreement. If Governor
O'Neal, himself a lawyer, eftnnot under
stand why, under the circumstances, utt
er he had completely ignored me in mak
ing tho settlement. I should feet reluctant,
after the agreement Imd been signed, to
volunteer any advice in regard to it or
to express to him my objections to the
terms of the settlement already made,
then I fear nothing I or anyone els#
can say will enlighten him. The defect
Which renders the governor unable to
understand this feeling on my part, what
ever else It. may bo, Is not Intellectual
Any lawyer with proper respect for him
my subsequent silence.
•'If Governor O'Neal means that if 1
had any objections to tlie terms of lb#
settlement 1 should have made my ob
jections known to the public between the
date of the signing of the agreement tvd
• the date of its formal approval by the
commission, then '1 call his attention to
the fact, which he doubtless knows, that
when the attorney general telephoned to
me on February 21 that the agreement of
rettlement had been signed, he Impressed
upon me. very urgently the necessity of
keeping the matter secret until Monday.
March 2. when the agreement was to be
filed. I told him that we had five sten
ographers at work on the transcript for
the appeal and that if wo discharged thus
at once the fact of the settlement would
immediately he suspected. He replied
that they had considered that fact and
decided that we were to keep the sten
ographers at work during the following
week Just as though there had been no
settlement, and so Instructed me. Does
Governor O’Neal think, under these cir
cumstances, that I should have violated
this confidence and these instructions
of the attorney general of which ha
doubtless was aware, and made public
the agreement and my objections to it?
Regarding “Pipe Line** Assertion
“Governor O’Neal says In his reply, as
quoted iu The Age-Herald, thut the set
tlement of the cases ‘caused the sever
ance of the pipe line which for seven
years has lead from the state treasury to
him (met at the rate of 91000 per month.*
In the copy of his reply as printed in Die
Montgomery Advertiser he says this by
innuendo, and intimates that my an
guish* is caused by this severance of tf:>»
pipe line. Governor O’Neal had posit!VS
knowledge when ho made this statement
that it was not true. He knew that In
August. 1912, I myself severed that pipe
line by severing my connection with the
rate cases for reasons which he knows.
He knew that my connection with the
cases since then has been only tempor
ary and only at his urgent solicitation.
He knew positively that the only com
pensation drawn by roe from the stats
treasury, exclusive of expenses, between
August, IW2, after I had withdrawn from
the cases, and March 1. 1912, a period of '
19 months, was $3500, and he knew post- v
tively that I had not received $1900 per
month during all my previous eonnec
tContinued on tut Psf«)