The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-05-10
This District in DAYS to Come.


Senator Morgans presence in this
city recalls the changes that will take
place when the isthmian canal is COM
pleted--that will be prepared for
while it is in course of construction.
The commercial changes based upon
thai canal relate to the trade of the
whole world, and no man has over
estimated the degree and extent OF
prosperity these changes in the cur
rents and developments of trade will
bring to the gulf states, not even Sen
ator Morgan himself, who has always
looked on the bright side Of affairs,
and whose Americanism is proverbial.
The isthmian canal will make Mo-
bile and Pensacola great ports, and
from these ports prosperity will radiate
to all parts of Alabama, and particular
ly to this district The demands that
the world will make upon this district
can scarcely be measured, but it is
plain that we have coal enough and
iron ore enough to meet all demands.
That is to say. nature has done well.
What shall be said as to mans part
in the fast coming developments, when
we will have the world as a market?
There's the rub, and Senator Nor
gan does not hesitate to say it is the
first and most important duty of Jones
valley to secure an abundant supply
of water, both for the industries and
for navigation. 1t is well known that
the Schulers went to Gadsden because
Gadsden has an abundant water sup
ply and Jones Valley has not. Large
iron-making and stee-maling plants
need each small river, and Jones Val
ley can no longer guarantee a suffi-
cheney of the all-needful fluid.
Looking % the future when this val
ley will be full Of plants and people
full and abundant addition of water
should be brought in-one larger than
any pipes can conduct, and Locust
Fork, or the Upper Warrior, as it is
sometimes called, and Turkey Creek,
seem to be the streams that should be
turned into Village Creek. The first
step in this great business should be
taken by this district An authentic
and carefully made survey should be
made, and upon this survey our repre-
sentatives in congress can base their
request when they ask that body to
supplement it's dams and locks with
the abundant waite. of Locust Fork.
1t should be remembered that a good
part of the bold waters of Locust
Fork are dissipated IN the limestone
formation through which it now flows
before it reaches Tuscaloosa. By turn
ing the stream into Village Creek
much valuable water would be pre-
served, and that water would be
placed WI ere it is most needed in the
iron industry. and in the transporta-
ton of the products of the mills to the
sea.
Senator Morgan's active mind has
turned from his great work in turning
an isthmian canal from a dream into
fact, or at least into an Immediate
possibility, to the development of Ala
bama to her utmost possibilities
Probably no one appreciates more fully
than he ooes the destiny Of this dis
trict under the conditions created by
an isthmian canal, and certainly no
one stands more ready and better
equipped to aid us in Washington In
turning additional water into this dis
trct for manufacturing and transpor-
tation purposes. The hour for action
is close at hand.
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