The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-05
DRENNEN ENDORSES DEEP WATER PLANS 35-Foot Channel at Mobile
 Means Big Things WOULD HELP THE STATE Dauphin Island Would Become Great Naval Base-Would Be New
 port, Hampton Roads and
 Palm Beach Combined.
WOULD HELP THE STATE

Deep water in Mobile Bay, with a 35- foot channel at Dauphin island, is a pro- ject that is looming larger and larger in the public eye with every passing hour.
 M. Melville Drennen, the Mayor of iBr- mingham, who is alert to discern the value of movements intended to enlarge the industrial and commercial develop ment of the state. is enthusiastically sup porting the proposed improvement.
 Of Great Advantage.
 MT. Drennen says that in his judgment, the projected improvements in Mobile Bay and at Dauphi Island are destined to be of greater advantage in the industrial and commercial development of Alabama than any other effort that has been made since the civil war. If carried to suc- cessfu completion, the improvements, says the mayor. will mean that there will be established near Mobile port, a navy yard. ship-building plant a naval base and charming social center that will be to the Gulf of Mexico what New port News, Old Point Comfort and Hampton Roads are to the South Atlantic seaboard.
 Mayor Drennen's Views.
 'Yes, sir" said the Mayor yesterday. in commenting on the subject; that's what I call big thing-that deep water propo- sition down there at Mobile, with the Dauphin Island project thrown in. That's a proposition that ought to warm the hearts of the people rot only of Birmlng h. b,,t ,Ie states of the lower south.
 When we get the Warrior and the Coosa rivers improved as they should be, and get deep water in Mobile Bay, we'll have direct -7ater transportation from Birmingham to the sea. At one stroke we will annihil; te the distance interven- ing between the two points, and open up the world markets to the inexhaustible products of Alabama.
 An Interesting Prediction.
 T predict that if these improvements go forward, we shall see in five years the cereal and cotton trade of the eastern Mississippi valley and western water shed of the Blue Ride range of mountains pointing toward Mobile, as surely as the north star points toward the pole. m
 And that isn't all. The Panama canal, while in the process of construction and forever after 1t is built, will advance tre- mendously the importance of this pert in Mobile Bay. Dauphin Island will become the Hampton Roads of the Gulf of Mex ico. Ships of navy will put in there just as they do now at Newport News and Norfollx An in1menea navy x-orS xptII be built Shipbuilding plants will be es- tabshed. Beautiful hotels will be erect ed, and tourists from all over the world will look to Darphin Island very much as the Mussulman looks to Mecca It will be Newport, Old Point Comfort and Palm Beach all in one-the most delight ful spot on the southern coast.
 What's the Matter With Mobile?
 q am exceedingly glad that Birming- ham is supporting this proposition. ard equally sorry that our friends in Mobile have not yet walked up to realizing sense of the magnitude of this proposition. I am informed that the representative iTI Congress from the Mobile district has not been actively in favor of these pro- posed Improvements, and I'm informed that his passivity on this proposition re- fleets public opinion in his section of the state. I cannot believe that public senti- ment there. when properly instructed, will oppose what is elsewhere unanimous ly favored by the people of Alabama. In these days of close communication between various sections of the state. our people should recognize that what Is best for the whole state, for the whole south and for the whole country is best for every constituent part of 1t. Moblians should endorse this movement as heartily as Birmingham does and, I believe, will do so when they understand It's impor- tance to the state"