The Globe-republican., 1895-09-12
The GLOBE-REPUBLICAN.
WISSPECK'S LETTER.


Miss Peck's letter published last week
was read by more than the number OF her
friends in Dodge City. The brief history
of Selma, Ala. is furnished by her for
publication in the GLOBE REPUBLICAN:
Situated Oh the north bank of the Ala
bama river. 100 miles north of Mobile
and 400 miles east of Montgomery,is the
historic city-central city: of the initial
State of the Union-Selma. The place
is located on an exceeding high bluff and
presents a very commanding view Of the
surrounding vicinity.
The ground in and about the city im-
bracing four or six square miles Is ex-
ceptionabIy level beneath which aDounds
AN abundance Of sparkling health giving
and life sustaining water. than which
there is no better on earth for ordinary
use.
TO that ancient southern Statesman
Ex-vice President of the United States.
VIVA. X. King. Selma owes its name since
it was he, who Christened it December.
1, 1920.
From John Hardy's history of Selma
published about 1880, | attach the follow
ing abstract, at pages 1911:
.sIn the surging of the pillows. the ad-
vantages given by nature to the location
of Selma. soon became apparent. The
confederate government had to have
cartridges, saltpetre, powder, shot. and
shells. rifles, cannon and steam rams. as
well as men. For the production of all
these articles, were the facilities greater
at Selma than any other place in the
Confederacy. Col. Hunt, who had charge
of the Mira and Mining Bureau. was sent
to Selma, who at once took steps with the
Megler Alabama Manufacturing Com
panv. with the grand and powerful
Naval Iron Foundry, which, in few
months. turned out the largest and best
cannon, and from Alabama Iron, that
had ever been manufactured in America.
and before the end of the war, there was
scarcely an army corps of the COnfeder-
ate Army, whose cannons were not man
ufactured at the Selma Naval Foundry.
The ineXhaustible coal fields, the i'm.
mense iron beds, the great abundance Of
lime rock, as well as the lead indications
along the line of the Alabama and Ten
nessee Railroad, pointed to Selma as the
place to manufacture the substantial and
durable materials of war; and by 1868,
about every war material was manu-
featured within the limits of Selma. We
had first in magnitude and importance,
the powerful Naval Foundry, under
command of Capt. Jones, employing at
least three thousand men in all its
branches. An arsenal, within the walls
of which hundreds of people were en-
ployed in the manufacture of cartridges,
knapsacks and clothing. The Central
City Iron Works, making every conceiv-
able material for war purposes, from
horseshoe nail to cannon carriages.
The Central City Iron Foundry, an
immense establishment for the making of
crude iron pigs into any conceivable
shape to destroy life and property,
Dallas Iron Works. The Alabama
Factory, ut which, everything in the way
of steam machinery was manufactured.
Brooks and Gainner, directed large
mandatory of harness. trace chains,
canteens and wagon gear. A large Iron
works, oyer which, Phelan & Mcbride
presided where shell and shot were
wrought. Campbell's Foundry put to
work in making steam boilers and en-
gines.
Works for the mandatory of salt
petre were i'm full blast, building cover
ing over acres of land. at which tons
upon tons of powder of all variety was
made. SARAH II. PECK.