The Birmingham age-herald. [volume], May 23, 1914, Page 5, Image 5

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

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cess to your private safe.
Once you turn the key—neither
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contents, and from $3 to $50 yearly
pays for this protection and con
venience.
Let us show you a private safe to
suit your requirements today.
The First National Bank
Capital and Surplus
$3,000,000
$ Per Cent Interest on Savings.
Compounded Quarterly
200 ACCEPTANCES
Interesting Programme of
“Stunts” Being Prepared
by Committee
Approximately 300 acceptances to attend
♦he Bayview May party and barbecue of
the Chamber of Commerce to be given
next Tuesday had been received by Secre
tary Radcliffe up to yesterday. Announce
ment was made yesterday that a pro
gramme of interesting "stunts” is being
arranged for the time to be spent at the
lake.
Mr. Radcliffe stated yesterday that he
■wanted to urge through the press that all
persons who intend to take the trip Tues
day send in their acceptances at once. All
acceptances must be in the hands of the
committees in charge by not later than
tonight in order that proper arrange
ments can be made for the barbecue and
other features of the party. Persons de
laying their acceptances longer than to
day may find themselves without any
thing to eat Tuesday, and in other situa
tions similarly embarrassing.
A programme of fat men’s races, bald
head men's singing contests, tug-o'-war
events and similar things is being ar
ranged by the committee in charge of this
phase of the outing, and it is stated that
ne doubt some handsome prizes will be
offered to the winners. These prizes prob
ably will be announced today.
The crowd will gather Tuesday at 10:30
o’clock at the chamber building, march
to the Louisville and Nashville station and
the special train will leave for Bayview
promptly at 11 o’clock.
i — ■■ ■».--—.
MILNER WILL HEAD
CITY BEAUTIFUL CLUB
Accepts With Pleasure Commission’s
Offer of Presidency of Highland
Avenue Association
H. K. Milner has accepted the ap
pointment by the city commission mak
ing: him chairman of the Highland Ave
nue Improvement assocatioti in connec
tion with the city beautiful movement.
The commissioners plan vo enlarge the
city beautiful movement to include men
as well as women and in this connec
tion the movement to still further
beautify Highland avenue was decided
upon.
Mr. Milner’s letter to the commis
sioners is as follows:
“The Honorable Board of Commission
ers, City.
“Gentlemen: Your letter of the 15th
instant requesting me to act as chair
man of the “Highland Avenue Improve
ment assoeaition,” reached me a day or
i two since.
“Highland avenue is quite a long
■treet and it will require a considera
ble amount of time and work to secure
the co-operation of the residents along
; this street and bring about the im
provement desired.
“At the same time it is known as
one of the moot beautiful avenues in
America, and it would be a matter of
considerable pride to me to have some
hand in the development and beautify
ing of such a magnificent boulevard as
this is.
“It appeals particularly to me as my
father, Maj. W. J. Milner, planned the
development of this street, and its con
| etruction was carried out under his
direction. It will therefore give me
pleasure to accept the responsible posi
tion in accordance with your request,
and I will endeavor to formulate some
? definite plan for the whole street as
early as practicable. Yours very truly,
j “H. K. MILNER.”
Real Estate Transfers
The following real •'Hate transfers were
H yesterday recorded In the office of the
probate Judge:
*1200—L. A. Redwine to A. L. Green:
Lots 8, 9, 10, 22. 23 , 24 and 25 In block 2;
also lots 8. 9, 10 and 11 in block 3; and
lot 1 in bjock 1; all in Keys Heights sub
division.
: *3100—William K. Cleveland to L. A.
Redwine: Lots 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 22,
23, 24 and 26 in block 2; lots 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,
7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 in block 3; and lots 1, 2, 3,
V*, 5, 6 and 7. In block 1; all in Keys
Heights subdivision.
*1200—S. C. Appleby to Mrs. Lute How
ard: Lot 21. In block 227, survey of Ely
ton Land company.
11900—L. A. Redwdne to John Berriman:
Lots 1, 2, 3, 4. 6, 6 and 1 In block 1; lots
2, 3, 4, 5. 6 and 7, in block 2; and lots 1,
*, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 in block 3; subdivision
of Keys Heights.
PEVEAR PRESIDENT;
DEWINDT BECOMES
Lee C. Bradley as Vice Pres
ident and Counsel Is Given
Additional Authority
BULLOCK ANNOUNCES
CHANGES FORMALLY
DeWindt Will Be in Entire Charge of
Local Operations, Though
Pevear Will Come '
Frequently
j. s. Pevear was elected president of the
Birmingham Railway, Bight and Power
company to succeed A. H. Ford at
the meeting of the directors yesterday, at
which George Bullock was present.
.T. P. H. DeWindt was elected general
manager of the 'properties, which in effect
means that he is the head man for the
company in this city. Mr. Peavear was
formerly vice president. He will continue
to reside In New Orleans, as he is head
of the New Orleans company, owned by
the same interests, and will only visit
Birmingham from time to time as the oc
casion may demand.
Bee C. Bradley did not resign, as had
been reported frqm either the office of
vice president or that of general counsel.
On the other hand, he was given addi
tional power such as the countersigning of
certain vouchers and the like. The action
of the company directors was in almost
direct line with what had been published
by The Age-Herald at the time of the
announcement of the resignation of Presi
dent Ford.
No other changes were made yesterday.
As stated yesterday morning, the com
pany provided substantially for the orphan
children of Moody Childress, who lost
his life in the recent Birmingham Rail
way, Bight and Power company fire. The
children will receive through their guard
ians 11200 from the company.
Interest in Formal Action
The meeting of the directors was held
yesterday afternoon. Although it was gen
erally known In well informed circles
whajl would be done, at the same time
there was decided interest in the1 formal
action. The meeting was preceded by that
of the executive committee at which the
official promotions were gone over. The
commmittee made the recommendations to
the directors and according to the an
nouncement they went through without
any trouble.
Mr. Bullock., after arriving in Birming
ham yesterday morning with Mr. Pevear,
called upon W. P. G. Harding at the First
National bank, who Is a director of the
United Gas and Electric company. Sub
sequently he received some reporters. He
conferred with President Ford of the com
pany for a long while preceding the meet
ing .and so far as known neglected to
have his lunch. The meeting was held
promptly.
After the meeting Mr. Bullock said:
"There Is no story much. Mr. Ford's res
fgnation came as a great surprise, and as
he wanted to leave promptly we have not
had sufficient time to think over this mat
ter of a president. The board, however,
elected J. S. Pevear of New Orleans pres
ident of the Birmingham Hallway. Uight
and Power company for the unexpired
term.”
Mr. Bullock emphasized the statement
about an unexpired term, and left the in
timation that perhaps some other official—
perhaps the new general manager—would
at the close of the year, if he made good,
get the chief executive office.
Mr. DeWindt’s Ability
"In addition." Mr. Bullock continued.
"We named Mr, DeWlndt general man
ager of the Birmingham Railway, 1-Jght
and Power company properties. He will
naturally be a resident of the city and
will be constantly on the ground to take
care of his duties. Mr. Bradley did not
resign as was reported, nor did we expect
him to resign. On the contrary we have
given him additional powers here in con
nection with his work as vice president
and general counsel.
"We feel that this arrangement will
meet with the co-operation of the people
of the city. Mr. DeWlndt has been here
for some months. He is an official of
capacity and discretion. He has made
good with the company since being
brought here and we feel that his new
work will not only bring him into closer
contact with the people and the city
generally, but that it will develop him in
■uch a way a a to make or him a most
valuable asset not only for the com
pany, but for the city.
“Mr. Pevear will be in Birmingham
often. He will exercise the duties of the
president and will make every effort to
remain in constant touch with local situa
tions. He is a street railway official- of
wide training and experience. He has
made a complete success of the com
pany In New Orleans and will render ef
ficient service to the city of. Birming
ham.”
Regrets Ford's Leaving
Mr. Bullock seemed to regret very much
that President A. H. Ford was to leave
the company. It develops that he enter
tains the highest regard for Mr. FoiM,
both as to his ability and his close and
Intimate relations with the people of this
city.
Mr. Bullock declined to make any state
ment about the by-product gas proposal
of the city as announced yesterday aft
ernoon. He said during tbe afternoon
that he had not read the proposal, but
Immediately after saying that he hurried
to the city hall with Mr. Pevear and Mr.
Ford for a conference with President
George B. Ward, who la said to be han
dling the negotiations on the new proposi
tion. He Intimated rather strongly that
the contract would not be agreed to at
least In Its present modified form.
Mr. Bullock will be here today. He
will lunch at the press club today. Mr.
I Pevear and Mr. Bullock will be gueBts of
Clyde W. Ennis. *
Powder
Absolutely pure
Makes deficlous home-baked floods
of maximum quality at minimum
cost Makes home baking
pleasant and profitable
*,'! o' '• • , 1 ■*
V ''' '"n- ^.nfi v j-.. {.!- nJiuV *•-. ; ... ' .*•.?
B. R., L. & P. CO. DIRECTORS
GIVE $1200 TO CHILDRENj
1 * _ '_ !
The Birmingham Railway, Light and
Power company, through its difactor*,
yesterday contributed to the orphan chil
dren of the late Mr. and Mrs. Moody
Childress the sum of $1200. That is above
the maximum amount which was antici
pated yesterday morning by The Age
Herald.
The directors appropriated a sum equal
to a salary for one year of the employe
who dropped from the burning building
some days ago to his death. The money
will be paid. It is taken, to the grand
parents or guardians of the two little
chaps.
The Birmingham Railway, L*ight and
Pow4r company's attorneys, it is said,
are of the opinion that the company is
not liable for any damages as a result
of the fire, but moved by that compaJBsfcm
for the orphans, which had stirred the
entire community, made the above ap
propriation.
Mr. Pevear. tlie succeeding president of
the Birmingham Railway. Light and Pow
er company, in this connection, announced
yesterday:
___-....
'The officials of this company feel per
uaps more deeply than any persons m
Birmingham not related to the distress. .» j
family, the two deaths occurring at the ,
fire. And the directors have authorized :
the company officials to appropriate $120«* ;
to the relief of the two children whose
father died at the fire ami whose mother
later passed away. This money is avail
able at any time the guardians desire it.
I have all along anticipated that our
company directors would not be delinquent
in this matter as they all feel deeply
over the lamentable situation.”
The Age-Herald yesterday received, in
addition to the $154 that had already been
collected for the Childress children, tlu«
following donations:
Robert Jemison, Jr.$ 26.no
Emtnitte Trost . 5.00
George E. Jenkins . 100
E. C. l^ackey . 1*00
O. T. Wallace . 100
Previously reported . 154.00
Total .$187.00
With the $1200 appropriated by the Bir
mingham Railway, Eight and Power com
pany's directors this brings funds for the
Childress children to $1187.
Merchants’ Association Will
Meet Here August 26-27.
Murray Brown to Ar
range for Meetings
The Alabama Merchants’ association
convention—the event which made not
only Birmingham, but people in all parts
of the south "sit up and take notice"
last summer—will be held this summer in
Birmingham, August 26 and 27. Arrange
r
MURRAY BROWN
The man whose work and enthusi
asm did so much for the success of
the Alabama merchants’ convention in
Birmingham last year and who is in
charge of the coming convention plans.
meats are not yet complete, but It is
stated that the success of the convention
last year will be nothing to what is go
ing to happen tills summer.
Murray Brown, the same man “who
did it' last summer, is at the head of
the work this summer, being chairman
of the Chamber of Commerce wholesale
trade committee. Mr. Brown, Secretary
Radcltffe, Assistant Secretary Everitt,
and other officials of the chamber, have
been in consultation recently and within
the next week or two the real preliminary
work of the big convention will begin In
earnest. Fully H00 or 1600 Alabama mer
chants are expected to attend and the en
tertainment features of the convention
will by no means be neglected.
Although the Alabama Merchants' as
sociation convention was started by the
wholesale merchants of Birmingham and
the organization formed here last summer
through their aid, it is indicated that
the retail merchants of the city will take
part in the affair this summer, although
the entire expense of tho convention will
be borne by the wholesalers. Chairman
Brown met yesterday with the trade-ln
Blrmlngham publicity committee of the
Board of Trade, which is composed of
retailers, and outlined to thenf his pre
liminary plans for the convention. The
committee enthusiastically indorsed them,
subject to the approval of the governing
board of the Board of Trade.
The convention last summer was one
of the most enthusiastic and well at
tended of any meeting of Its kind ever
held in the state, and probably In the
southern states. It Is not only resulted
In great benefits to the out-of-town mer
chants and the local wholesalers, but It
brought much business and advertising
to local retailers and for this reason It
is probable that the retailers wHl add
their co-operation and enthusiasm to the
preparations this summer and Insure that
much more success for the event.
Plans for the convention have not yet
assumed definite shape and some an
nouncements in this regard of extreme
Interest will be made within the next
several weeks as the convention dates
grow nearer. The following letter has
Just been placed In the malls by Secre
tary W. C. Radcltffe of the Chamber of
Commerce, under whose auspices the con
vention Is held:
“Plans are being developed for the sec
ond annual convention of the Alabama
Merchants’ association to be held In Bir
mingham In August, and your co-opera
tlon Is needed.
“Kindly sand to this office at your
earliest convenience a list of the mer
chants whom you would like to have In
vited to tbla gathering. This will help
us greatly in preparing our mailing llat.
“We are starting' early because our
experlenoe of last year showed us the
wisdom of doing so. It will enable us
to obtain better results, and we shall
avoid the possibility of falling to send
Invitations to men who should be here.
"Thanking you in advance for your
prompt co-operation, I am, sincerely
yours, W. C. RADCLIFFE,
“General Secretary.”
Incorporation
The following certificate of Incorpora
tion was yesterday recorded In Jhe office
of the probate Judge:
110(10-M. M. Johnson Grocery company.
Officers, M. M. Johnson, president and
treasurer; A. R. Manning, vice president,
and N. B. Johnson, secretary; all being
residents ot1 Birmingham. ,
OFFICIALS DECLINE
TO COMMENT ON GAS
PROPOSAL OF CITY
Another Conference Will Be
Held This Morning in Com
mission Offices — Fea
tures of Proposition
Following a conference yesterday after
noon at 5:30 at the city hall between Blr
mingham Hallway, Light and Power com
pany officials and city officials over a.
r.ew by-product gas proposition as worked
out by C. C. Browui, an Indianapolis con
sulting engineer, it was stated there was
nothing to he made public as to what
the parties to the consultation thought of
the n alter.
The newr proposition calls for a reduc- '
tion in gas rates of 20 cents the first, 30 :
cents the second year and 40 cents the'
third year. A corresponding reduction !
in the quality of the gas of 25 heat units ,
would counterbalance this reduction in I
price to a very slight extent. The gas
now being used by the consumers Is a i
575 heat unit product; the by-product gas
proposed would be about 660 unit gas, !
which latter, how'ever, is 15 or 20 units
better gas than that proposed by thp I
Birmingham Railway, Light and Power
company in their original by-product gas \
proposition made to the commission some
time ago and rejected.
Both the city commissioners and offi
cials of the gas company refuse to state
their position on the new proposition, but
the majority of those who have kept in
more or less close touch with gas rate
developments of the past several months
I are inclined to believe the gas company
will not accept it.
In the new contract proposed there are
also provisions by whloh the rate can be
changed by the consent of both parties
at intervals of five years, either up or
down, and also that after the expiration
of 16 years the city shall have the right
1 to acquire by purchase all of the property
of the gas company useful to its needs.
1 In his reports to the commission Engi
neer Brown, who Is one of the recognized
authorities of the country, states that tlie
proper regulation of public service cor
poration rates is through a state com
i mission, but in the absence of such a
. body in Alabama that under the contract
he proposes the city commission could
practically answer the same purpose.
Those In the conference yesterday were
* the commissioners and city attorney for
' the city, and George Bullock. J. 8. Pevear
and A. H. Ford for the gas company.
‘ Thev stated after the conference that
I nothing could be given out for publica
tion now, but that another conference
. jon the same subject would be held this
» morning at the commlseion offices.
• The new' gas rates and a synopsis of two
1 important sections of the proposed con
tract are as follows:
i Gross. Net.
- First 25,00 cubic feet, monthly
consumption of any part
. thereof .■••• •*
Second 26,000 cubic feet, month
tv consumption, of any part
thereof .,76 '™
3 Thf**d and fourth 25.000 cubic
I feet monthly consumption or
. 'anv part thereof .70 .65
For all monthly consumption
1 In excess of 100.000 cubic feet .65 .60
i SECOND YEAR,
l First 15.000 cubic feet, monthly
i consumption, or any part
thereof . ™
Second 26,000 cubic feet, month
' ly consumption, or any part
9 thereof . •*
t Third and fourth 26,000 month
ly consumption, or any part
. thereof .•■••• •• M
* For all monthly consumption
> In excess of 100.000 cubic feet .55 .50
l THIRD YEAR.
First 25.000 cubic feet, monthly
, consumption, or any part
thereof .M 65
Second 25.000 cubic feet, month
r Iv consumption, or any part
9 thereof .M
I Third and fourth 25.000 cubic
. feet, monthly consumption,
t or any part thereof .■•••• 50 40
- For all monthly consumption
[ In excess of 100.000 runic feet .48
I Section 17 provides that either party
, shall have the right to nave the rates
t revised and determined after 60 days no
tice to the other, not oftener than once
t every five years during the existence of
. the contract, hut that there shall be no
, change In the maximum rates hereto
t fore established without the consent of
> the city commissioners.
■ Section 19 provides that the city shall
. have the right to acquire by purchase All
e the property of the grantee actually used
. and useful for the convenience of the
public, at any time after the expiration
. of 15 years from the passage of ordinance,
, upon giving one year's notice to the
. grantee.
The old gas rates or rather the ones
now In force are as follows:
r First 10,000 cubic feet monthly consump
. tlon, (1 gross per 1000.
Second 10.000 cubic feet monthly eon
- sumption, 90c gross per 1000.
Third 10,000 cubic feel, monthly con
r sumption, 80c gross per 1000.
, All over 30,000 cubic feet, monthly con
, sumption, 70c per 1000._
’ at the press club
1 ----
Among the out-of-town gueets registered
at the Newspaper club were: Billot
Knight, Gallatin; F. G- TVhtte. Newark;
H. G. Flemming. Chattanooga: E. C. Mc
Mlllan, Detroit: E. H. Cape, Union
e Springs: J. T. Dun, Sullgent; A. E. Dow,
Nlw York; J. J. Orchard. Deon Kahn,
. Dallas; Dean McCormick, Boston; Charles
, Homer, New Fork: I-ee Betty, Montgom
° ery G. W. Hardy. Shreveport; H. M.
Daiigly, Atlanta: W. A. Gayle. Moihgom
g »ry; <j. Fletcher, Nashville; J. A. Hyatt,
Boston.
POWER C ACT
IS FINAL SNED
BY LOCI MY
The Newman Interests An
nounce Withdrawal of
Opposition to Deal
DETAILS, HOWEVER,
ARE NOT GIVEN OUT
Nothing Has Been Said by Officials
as to Possibility of Granting
Cheaper Rates to the
Consumers
The Birmingham Railway, Light and
Power company has contracted to use
electric power from the Alabama Power
company.
Announcement to thin effect was
made yesterday by J. S. Pevear. the
new president of the former company.
The contract was announced as Blgned
after J. K. Newman of New Orleans
had withdrawn his strenuous objec
tions. His position whs that the con
tract would Injure the bonds which the
Newman estate owns.
Mr. Pevear In announcing the sign
ing of the contract Issued to The Age
Herald this telegram:
"Lee C. Bradley and A. If. Ford, care
Tillman, Bradley A Morrow, Bir
mingham, Ala.:
"After carefully analyzing contract
between Birmingham company and the
power company, 1 have reached con
clusion that with arbitration agree
ment covering section 2, which la
agreed to. the contraot fully protects
the Birmingham company. I have seen
plans of power company and believe
their plant is one of best In the coun
try. Tn addition to this the power com
pany has good steam station at Gads
den which can supplement water plant.
Power company also has two independ
ent transmission lines. Therefore, Bir
mingham company can depend upon
splendid service from the power com
pany. The contract provides that the
Birmingham company keeps full and
complete control of the power station
and can operate same in Its discretion
at any time. Therefore I will withdraw'
opposition to contract.
“Ji K. NEWMAN."
The safeguards that are referred to
by Mr. Newman are that the local plant
can control the local power situation
at any time and further that as to
the contract the different Interests are
permitted to appoint arbitrators to look
over and thresh out the details. Ah
to the points to be submitted for arbi
tration, Mr. Bullock and Mr. Pevear
were yesterday unwilling to go into the
details.
The officials did not say yesterday
that the city would get cheaper elec
tric energy by reason of this contract.
Inasmuch as there is a difference of I
opinion about the economy of this con
tract as it affects the Birmingham
Railway, Light and Power company,
the proposed or expected reduction here
may be postponed until thorough trial
of the service is made.
Mr. Bullock was seemingly optimistic
yesterday about the contract. He
gracefully allowed to pass with a smile
some banter about the contract, and
it Is the conviction of those in touch
with the situation that Mr. Bullock and
his associates believe that the contract
is si good one. In the meantime the
withdrawal of opposition to the con
tract by Jake Newman does not neces
sarily mean that the trouble w’hlch has
been brewing has entirely subsided.
If the city insists on buying electric
energy from the Alabama Power com
panq, constructs a line to Spaulding
and brings power to this city for sale,
the Birmingham Railway, Light ami
Power company will have an entirely
new problem to handle. And It is stated
that the commissioners are Inclined to
utilize this plan as a basis of getting
some concessions In the matter of elec
tric prices.
Sentenced to Fifteen Years
in Penitentiary by Jury
in Criminal Court
Thompson Ware, a young white man,
was found guilty of robbery yesterday
In the first division of the criminal
court and his punishment fixed at 15
years In the penltentlsry. The case
went to trial Thursday afternoon.
Judge W. E. Fort holding a night ses
sion, and was concluded yesterday. The
Jury was out several hours and re
turned a verdict of guilty as charged
In the Indictment and fixed the pen
alty as above. He will be sentenced
this morning by Judge Fort.
Ware and Arthur Martin, another
young white man, were Jointly indict
ed for robbing J. T. Ryan, an engineer
on the Frisco, sometime last Decem
ber. A severance was asked by the at
torneys for Wrare and he was tried
first. Attorneys for Martin asked for
a continuance ofc the case on the
grounds that members of the jury had
been sitting In the court room while the
testimony In the Ware case was being
given and contended that that fact
would prejudice hki case. Judge Fort
was reluctant to continue the case, but
not wishing to do any injustice aet
the case specially for June 24, at which
time Martin will be tried.
THREATENING FIRE
IS SPEEDILY PUT OUT
Blaze in Warehouse of Meharg Liquor
Company Does Damage Esti
mated at $2000
Fire of unknown origin In the upper
floors of the warehouse of the L. S.
Meharg Uquor company at 1822 First ave
; nue. threatened to attain serious propor
tions yesterday afternoon about 2 o’clock.
It was extinguished after about an hour’s
| work by the firemen. The loss was eatl
' mated at between $1500 and 22(100, all cov
i ered by insurance.
The fil e attracted a large crowd as
1 dense c rbuds of smoke poured from the
upper windows, and it was thought that
the wholesale district was In for an
/
pi] flfff A man whose place 'X^
bad been burglariz- vp|i
BfH// ed three times then u H
mm rented a safe deposit UW
■ T» box. Another who had never // jT?
I I \\y*Y\ had a burglar to ca** rented a Jray
IJL I 'A\Y\ safe deposit box. Which was // Ui
Iy I* TO, \\ the wise man? When do you //
( % t*1*nk of having a box? //&///
i§ KmlRUST^AVINGSKANK
“Uncle Harry” Jones of the Press
Club As Seen By Blackman
f U/VCUE
f Y/MKY T*=AOim
| THE yOUWG tee
I A.B CIS OE
E&OJU EJL^/A/G
e
INQUEST INTO FIRE
OVER TQNEXT WEEK
Eight Witnesses Examined
Yesterday—To Resume
Next Wednesday
After hearing eight witnesses, mostly
employes of the Birmingham Railway,
Light and Power company, yesterday
afternoon Coroner Charles L. Spain ad
journed the Inquest lrtto the death of
Moody Childress and Henry H. Kyser
to next Wednesday afternoon at 2
o'clock. The testimony heard yester
day was of the same character as heard
the first day of the hearing and prac
tically threw no new light on the dis
astrous (Ire of May 8.
According to Coroner Charles L.
Bpaln there are several more witnesses
to be heard by the coroner's Jury, but
that In ail probability a verdict will be
forthcoming next Wednesday afternoon.
It Is the concensus of opinion of those
who have heard the testimony so far
that the verdict of the Jury will exon
erate from all blame the fire depart
ment and the officials of the Birming
ham Railway, Light and Power com
pany.
"There was nothing new brought at
this afternoon’s session,” said Coroner
Spain last night, "and the inquest has
been adjourned until next Wednesday
at 2 o'clock when I hope It will be
finished. Of course I will examine wit
nesses as long as there are witnesses
to be examined, but I am of the opin
ion that all will be heard Wednesday
afternoon and that the Jury will return
a verdict. I can make no prediction as
to what the verdict will be."
other serious conflagration. The firemen,
however, dispelled this fear by direct
ing several streams of water In the places
where it would do the most good and
quickly put out the blase.
An odd incident of tne Are was the
rescue by one of the Bremen of a cat
, that had been overcome hy smoke The
Areman brought the feline down a lad
1 der and after working a few minutes
over it the cat revived and went on his
' way somewhat bedraggled but happy.
HOME TRADE CLUB
WILL TRYNEW PLAN
Prizes to Be Offered for
Best Articles on the
Subject
A scheme by which It is believed
will greatly stimulate interest in the
“trade-in-Birmingham" campaign was
enthusiastically adopted yesterday by
the trade-ln-Blrmlngliam publcity com
mittee of the Board of Trade, which
organization is putting on the cam
paign.
It is a plan by which a number of
caBh prixes will be offered ranging
from fit) to $25 to persons writing tin
best 800-word article on why anyone
should trade in Birmingham. The prizes
will be offered to different classes; for
instance there may be several $2'»
prizes, one to the women who write the
beat article, one to the man, <»n« to the
hoy, girl, newsboy, store clerk and so
on through different classifications. The
merchants of the city will offer the
different prises and some of them no
doubt will be in the form of merchan
dise of various kinds.
There were present at the committee
meeting yesterday J. H. Tinder, chair
man; R. W. Ewing, J. F. Hush ton, Os
car Turner, George McOleery, <\ S.
Simmons, Joe Saks and P. H. Linne
han. Oscar Turner suggested the
scheme of the prizes for the best story.
A committee an prizes was appointed
with Oscar Turner chairman, Robert
Ewing and Joe Saks. This committee
will meet at 2 o'clock this afternoon
and Secretary Radeliffe stated yester
day that all merchants who are willing
to offer prizes in this contest should
communicate with him by telephone or
in person this morning..
Ti»e contest itself and the publication
of the winning stories it‘is believd will
arouse great interest in the trade-ln
Birmlngham movement. Some interest
ing announcements in this matter are
to be expected, it is said, within the
next few days.
While the committee was in session
yesterday a resolution was passed ex
tending the thanks of the Board df
Trade to the Southern Ad company
which voluntarily has painted several
large signboards in different parts of
the town with large ads in the Intercut
of the trade-in-Birmingham campaign.