The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-04-22
ST. CLAIR COUNTY
 ENJOYS SEABOARD
The New Road Gives Great
 Awakening Touch
C00SA RIVER DEFENDED
w. T. Brown, Representative In the Legislature and We'll Known Mine Operator, Presents
 Observations of Interest.

'"rhe seaboard Air Line has an excep- tionally fine road5ed, and it is a real pleasure to ride over it's smooth track, even while it is new" said w. T. Brown of Ragland, who came over tn.st road yes- terday for the first time
 We St. Clair county people gre highly elated over the completion of the Sea- board, for we feel sure 1t will prove a splendid developing agency for our coun- ty It puts us in close touch with the outer world. You now St. Clair is q strong county naturally, rich in climate. soil, timber and minerals, but we have not heretofore enjoyed transportation facilities. ern in the northern part of t--e county. the Southern and the Seaboard in the Ashvlle, is without railroad. Strong hopes are entertained that the Seaboard will run a branch from Odenville by way of Ashvllle to Gadsden. That would open up a splendid section which would furnish profitable haulage to the line.
 The Coosa.
 md speaking of transportation facili- ties, you know St. Clair has about thirty five miles of water front afforded Ey the great Coosa river, the value Of which will surely some day be recognized by the national government, and be treated ac- cordingly.
 "One thing I do not understand" con- tinued Mr Brown, q have noticed several times of late accounts in the papers of how we'll Alabama had fared on appro- priations by the river and harbor com- mittee in the last Congress. If l am not mistaken the most important stream flowing through tl-2 state, Coosa river only received s25,OOO for maintainanee, while the Warrior received S600,o00, and s4O0, 900 that had formerly been promised on continuous contract plan. which makes $1,O00,0O0 for the Warrior, against $25,000 for the Coosa. Just think of it. It seems to me to be not far from outrage.
 Let us look at the importance of the two streams. The Coosa with her navi- gable tributaries flows almost through the center of the state, and you might say through the heart of the mineral and ag- riculturing part of the state; also a con- siderable part of the river Is already navi- gable. Now let Us see from a flow of water standpoint. Last fall. 1904, about the dryest time we ever have, the War ror had a discharge of twenty-four cubic feet per second, while the Coosa river at Riverside had 2O0O cubic feet per sec ond Think of the difference, take up the map of the state and see how the two streams apply themselves to the state and then ask yourself the question if Alabama shared well in the appropriation.
 Not Jealous.
 'I am not jealous of the Warrior river. I am glad to see it get the money, but feel that when a certain amount of money is coming to the state it should be equally divided according to the importance of the streams.
 q notice it has been said open up the Warrior and then open up the Coosa. If the Coosa is so much more important, would it not be more on the line of right, to open up the Coosa and then the War rior, naturally the question arises what is the trouble in such discrimination?
 We all know that our member in Con- gress who represents Alabama on the river and harbor committee has more to do with the way the appropriation is di- vided than anyone else. Other congress- men whose district Coosa river runs through are being censured by their con- stituents for not getting more money for the opening up and the improvement of Coosa river. From what l have been able to see they have done all in their power. Now it seems to me that the friends of Coosa river instead of making their fight in Congress. and before the river and harbor committee. will have to make the fight on our members from Alabama on the river and harbor committee for a more equal divide. and from what l can see now it will be made hereafter"