The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-03-19
BUSINESS MEN ARE
MUCH WROUGHT UP
feels That Captain Hobson's
Assertions Are Harmful
WILL KEEP AWAY CAPITAL
Since Work of Building Warrior Locks
Began More Than Two Mil
lion Dollars Has Been
Invested.
WILL KEEP AWAY CAPITAL

Tuscaloosa, March 1S.-(Special)-The
business men of Tuscaloosa are very
much wrought up over the stand Capt.
Richmond Pearson Hobson is taking
through the Sixth district and which is
being advertised and published through
out the entire country, with regard to
the locks and their incapacity to handle
business along the banks of the Warrior
river They have been working and hop
ing for years for the maturity OF this
work, feeling that when these locks were
completed that the goal would have been
reached and that they at last would be
at the end of their rainbow, where they
were to find great pots of gold and silver,
but now, just when the end is in sight
when they have succeeded in inducing
the wealthy syndicates to understand the
wealth that lies in the bowels of this
district, that an open water way was
nearing completion, making the warrior
river navigable the year round that rail-
roads were being completed at the very
doors of this wealthy section. Captain
Hobson insists that the 100000 expend-
I'd by the government is worthless, that
The even locks should be blown up and
a new beginning made, and that Tusca-
soosa should wait long years for new ap-
propriations and reconstructions.
These men claim that aside from their
political views, they believe that these
statements from. Captain Hobson will ma
terially injure the business of Tusca-
loosa and the surrounding counties Just
at this time the board of trade is in cor
respondence with several men who wish
to invest their money in plants along the
Warrior river and these men are being
assured by the board, which is diligently
working for the development of Tusca-
loosa, that within only a short period the
work on the Warrior river will be COM
pleted, giving them cheap water freight
rates. to the open sea.
They have already, by their untiring
efforts, induced many large sums to be
invested along the banks of the Warrior,
which has very materially aided Tusca-
loosa, the following being the direct re-
suits since the $2.000,000 has been expend-
ed by the government for the locks:
Big Sums Expended.
Central Iron and Coal companies, $780,
0OO Semet-Solvay bi-product plan. $780,
900; Warrior Southern railway. $75O00O
Tuscaloosa railway extension, $25, 600;
Blair mines, $4,000; Warrior mines, $780,
NO; Miller mines, $4,000; steamer Alert
and barges $4,000; steamer Shuh and
barges, $4,000 making a total of 1885,
600 not including the 100000 expended
by the government. These business men
have now In press at Nashville a very
handsome booklet, printed at a very great
cost, which is being published solely to
further the interests Of tuscaloosa and
surrounding counties, to induce capital
lists to Tuscaloosa.
- These booklets are ID be distributed OF
the Worlds fair at st. Louis and this
body of men feel that such erroneous
statements as have been made, will have
very damaging effect toward the flu
ture development of this section. Pure
iy from a business standpoint they be-
lieve Mr.. Bankhead to be In position to
develop this district more than any other
AVAILABLE candidate. being as he is at the
read of the rivers and harbors and pub
&c buildings committees A meeting Of
he business men Is being arranged for,
Ind every possible means will be exert
I'd by which this wrong impression may
De corrected II. N. EDDINS