The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-04-20
HON. CHARLES w. THOMPSON
 ABLY ARGUES FOR THE COOSA
Congressman from the Fifth District Shows the Justice Of the Claim for Large Appropriation
 For Improving the Waterway.

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 The House being in Committee of the Whole on the State of the Union. and having under consideration the ball tH. R. 1zsls), making appropriations for the construction, repair and preservation or certain public works on rivers and har- bnrs and for other purposes. MT. Thomp- MT. Chairman-I believe the Rivers and Harbors Committee is composed of hon orable men. mtn of ability and good Judg- ment, and that they have labored earn estly and faithfully to reach the result which they have submitted to this House for consideration. do not care to gam say the proposition that the bill which they have presented Is an ably prepared document, the intention of which, as they claim, is to increase the transportation facilities of this great country, ana to cheapen the transportation of its producrs. I am in favor of liberal appropriations by this Government for the improvement of our rivers and harbors, because Oe- leve that system furnishes the only check we have against the great raliroan mo nopolies and combines which are making unjust discrimination in freight charges, thereby encouraging elaborate trusts ana combinations of all kinds. Therefore heartily flavor the bill these gentlemen have presented for our conaderation. m the main. But as the distinguished gen tleman from Texas (Mr. BalD, has said, the men composing this committee are human: they are not infallible. they are liable to err, and claim that m tne consideration of some of tho cialms pre- scented to them they have erred, and that the section of country l have the honor to represent has been unfairly and un- justly treated by this committee.
 The distinguished Chairman of the Com rnittee (Mr. Burton) said yesterday th<t the Coosa River, flowing through the dis trfct which I represent, was the least meritorious of all the projects presented to his committee, and he undertook 10 forfifu that ernAnf Inv fcDOrt recent- iy submitted to that committee from an engineer who has been stationed in our section of the State for the past two years. This report MT. Chairman. is not made upon this stream for the past twen- ty-f1ve years, and is not consistent with the report made by this same engineer two years. l can not imagine what has change of heart in this engineer. No change has been made in the conditions In that section of Alabama, except in the way of progress, advancement and devel- opTnent along all lines.
 As shown by the report of Gen. Thomas L.. Casey, Chief of Engineers. United States Army, In ls90:f
 Nine Alabama counties lie immediately upon the Coosa River and are cut off from water communication with the Alabama River. These are Cherokee: Etowah, Calhoun, St. Clair. Tal' ladega. Shelby, Coosa- Chiffon and Elmore st . ssSss s a Sr 2sa sss of of wh s
 
 1, yation. There are great opportunities for stock raising and for dairy and poultry farmine about 200 900. the assessed value s45, ooo. 900 with 7oo 900 acres in cultivation. p@ro @ SsnS ssles oo of cotton million bushels of wheat and other farm products, as we'll as stock in proportion. The total annual tonnage of agricultural products grown in the portions of Alabama and Geor gia lying immediately upon the Coosa Rivc eaA oats. e7, 500 wheat and 10000 cattle. sheeI and hogs
 mediately upon the Coosa are 2,935 900 acre If unimproved land. This is clothed with vir sin forests of the long leaf yellow pine. in termingled with white. red and chestnut oak hickory. and other valuable timber. These for es's average not less than 5000 feet of tin feet of timber in these counties. or about 20. >ooo tons worth. perhaps. sss. 900. GOO
 The mineral resources Of this section ar enormous. There masses of rich red ant brown iron ores and many other minerals There is gold in- Coosa County. fine grade o abundant marble In Talladega County. plum bago In Chiffon and some tin has been foun in Clay and coosa Counties. put or9wn ,'d ,lIa am dominating minerals.
 Tnexhaustibls deposits of iron ore are foun. on the banks of the Coosa, with an abund ance of coal and lime The present iron out put of the coosa Valley mines resehes req l'60o. 900 tons annually . worth ho. s2;4oo: Go oooi "ha
 The limo interests in the Coosa Valley ar remarkable and the deposits perhaps in richest and most extensive in the Unite. Rtates The lime assays 9S to 100 per cent p,lre in the cliffs along the river. The coa fields of the Coosa Valley are estimated t contain $50 square miles There are grea factories in the valley. including some !2 fur fur naces with an output annually of 67ooo tons. as well cotton factories making 2l. 900 tons of cotton goods each year Manu factories of car wheels, bar iron, and othe products at Gadsden and Arniston aggregat I7o 900 tons. worth S5 800 900. and at th same places loo, 900 tons of iron pipe wort