The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-12-08
Omen The Warrior River.

tlnies OF the great republic to a glorious flu
ture. wave of prosperity is advancing
whose width and depth will soon drown the
murmurings of discomfort. This is the time
to strike hard and keenly for the welfare
and prosperity of Alabama This Is the time
to get on the crest of the wave that is COM
ing This can best be done in the direction
OF an opening of the waterway to the sea.
In less than four hundred miles by river
from the Gulf of Mexico lie large and rich
iron and coal fields There are scarcely
any in the world that are larger and richer.
Splitting this great mineral field in twain
and flowing into the Gulf of Mexico is a
river which needs only a system of locks
and dams to make it navigable in all sea-
sons for barges of six feet draught
When this becomes an accomplished fact
Alabama coal, which is now taxed by the
railroads from s11O to s15O a ton. could be
barged to Mobile at twenty cents a ton.
This means that Alabama coal, which can
not now be exported at a profit. would be
sent out at prices that would drive British
coal from the Western hemisphere. 1t
means that Alabama iron and steel, now
charged with costly rail haul to. the sea-
board, could be delivered in the markets of
the world at prices that would defy COM
petition. 1t means cheaper fuel for our
/ greater navy. 1t means much additional
tonnage for the Nicaragua canal. 1t means
a rapid expansion of our foreign trade, es
pecially with the West Indies. 1t means
abundant prosperity for Alabama, and it
also promises relief for Pittsburg by turn
ing Birmingham's output into foreign chan
nels, thus taking it out of the home mar
kets.
The opening of the Warrior is not WIS.,
ioLary scheme. 1t is simply a matter OF
dollars and cents. Three isolated dams and
locks have been built at Tuscaloosa, and
even they have demonstrated beyond doubt
the practcability of a sackwater system
from Mobile to the bridge of the Kansas
City, Memphis and Birmingham Railroad
Company, within switching distance of this
city. Through the aid of these three locks
and dams a considerable quantity of coal
is barged to Mobile on the winter rises OF
the river, but these rises are too brief and
uncertain to justify capitalists in preparing
towing facilities on a large scale. More
locks and dams are sadly needed.
If similar conditions had existed in Penn
sylvania, Ohio or Illinois, the legislatures
and the people and their delegations in con-
HOY,
that would have been quickly needed at
Washington, and they would long ago have
been enjoying the fruits of cheap trans
portation. Instead, our representatives in |
congress look on while Secretary Alger
recommends a paltry $4,000 for the Black |
Warrior Improvement, and the people con-
tinue to talk about it as they do about the |
weather.
The entire state is deeply interested in
this subject. Cheap transportation of Ala
bama mineral products to the sea means in
creased prosperity for every county in the
state-every one. The mineral district Is
centrally located in the State, and 1t cam
not be built up without adding to the
WSdith anu NoidOS diu PiOSpSiity u every
county. Alabama should act unitedly. The
legislature should express the will of the
state in the matter, and then if the states
representatives at Washington cannot pro-
cure a larger appropriation than $4,000 for
locks and dams in the Black Warrior, we
must find some men who can do it.
The war is ended, the treasury is full to
overfiowing-no is the time to act. The |
country is wide awake to the need of a for |
eign trade. Pittsburg will help US, because |
it wants the home market Conditions are |
very favorable, but unless we act with |
promptness and vigor the subject will go |
over to the long session of the next con-
gress, which means delay of at least two |
years. Action at once is needed-action tnat
will wake up our two influential senators,
and particularly our nine representatives.
The Age-Herald appeals to the press of
the state for help in this important matter
this matter that makes for the material
good of every man, woman and child in the
state. 1t asks for help in inducing the leg
islature to prod our senators and represent
atives Into activity in behalf of the state
1t asks for help in the direction of agita-
ton, and possibly of another convention.
1t asks for help-incessant hammering
help. until the state secures what 1t is en-.
titled to in all fairness and justice-what It
wants-what it must have Brethren of the
press. lend hand. Strike good hard blows
for Aiabama's coal and iron and steel, for
Ala bama as a whole, in a word.
The PopuIists at the Capitol.