The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-12-16


 sam calls for bids. ana still make a good profit.
 But the manufacture of Portland Cement in this State would be a pay ing and profitable investment inside from the glittering market offered by the Governments ditch digging pro- ject It Is entering 90 largely Into all kinds of construction where formerly brick and stone were used. that an ever increasing demand must necessarily follow.
 Some time ago the papers contain ed an account of a plan of Edison's to construct cement houses by means of moulds. just as a foundrymal casts a pot or skille. out of melted iron by means of impressions made in sand. except that the moulds for the houses were to be of wood. fastened together by bolts. and susceptible of repeated use; where the moulds for iron cast ings, are of sand and can only be used once. While Edison's plan may only be valuable element of construction. and indicates the untried fields into which 1t may enter.
 Already the cement block is super ceding brick and stone in house con- struction because 1t Is found more durable. economical and ornamental Tn constructing piers for bridges and In DldEGc WheIG nBdtX lNdHUnTt IS AECt8N sary; in building viaducts. subways arches. foundations. and. in fact all places where formerly stone and brick were employed. cement Is now taking their place. sft Is therefore safe to say that cement plants are good in- vestments. and considering the -im- mensity- of raw material available in the State. together with the fact that there are only two plants. one at De- mopolis, owned and operated by Eng lishmen. and the other at Leeds. there appears to be excellent reasons for others, and ample room fer all that may come. 4G Forests of Alasana.
 Much has been said ot the forests of Alabama, but the. Information chiefly relates to the lumber interests and the magnificent tracts of long leaf Sel- low pine. Many fortunes have been made and many are still being piled up today, within the boundaries of this prolific State. out of saw mills, blaming mills. shingle and lath mills: but little or no attention has been paid to the utilization of the bound less tracts of hardwood, bordering the rivers and adornfng the hills and mountains.
 Nearly every variety of wood used in the manufacture of agricultural implements. furniture, boxes, wagons and handles. may be found accessible to river or rail transportation, and yet but few small wood working factories are located in the State Whether this condition Is due to lack of capital among those having knowledge of these facts, or want sf experience in the conduct of such a business, is difficult to determfne; but certain 1t Is that this undeveloped wood working industry, is not due to a dearth of raw material. nor un- favorable conditions surrounding 1t.
 Some day there will be an awaken ing along these lines. and the unbusi- nesslihe anl expensive custom of im- porting, from the North and East our wagons, buggies, furniture. handles. and the thousand and one other wood- en things i4 daily use, will dawn upon us in all its absurdity and improvi- dence; then development will begin in this. as truly and certainly as it has in iron and coal. and the wonder of 1t all will be that we delayed so long.
 . State is AwnkenfnR.
 Industrial Alabama Is waking up in many important lines of manufacture as has been demonstrated by the fore going brief references to what has already been accomplished; and will ultimately wake up to the opportuni- ties offered in this inviting field; but what Is most to be feared, is that she will not completely wake up until 1t is too late. Many good things, which should belong to her own people, and, which, by reason of her delay, are now owned and operated by others, is ample proof of the danger of procrast- ination and should serve as a warning against repeating the mistake It is not our purpose to foster narrowness, greed and clannish tendencies with a view of shutting out from our States development, all save those native born; but 1t seems only fair and right that men who have borne the burden and heat of the days of the States recovery from wreck and ruin. should be first among those benefited by her riches.
 Thirty years ago many young men left the State to seek better oppor- tunities in other sections; but con- ditions have changed now.and nowhere in this broad land. from the thrifty cities of the east. to the golden shores of the west, from the spruce-fringed rims of the great lakes to the mag nolia-scented beach on the Gulf, can better opportunities for young men, properly equipped, be found than right here in Alabama. People, from other parts of the Union are apprecia ting this fact and as an earnest of their faith, are putting their capital, either of cash, brains of brawn, into the good things offered and practically reaping where we have sown. While we welcome their advent, as benefactors, even though this is not their object, we must deplore the tendency of our people to overlook the opportunities under their very nose, in their eager quest for better things in other parts of the country of which they know but little.
 The Hindu Son.
 This condition of affairs reminds one of the Hindu son who inherited from a long line of ancestors. a home with small lot of land. It was the birthplace of many generations of his people before his advent into this world, hence his attachment for such revered environments was strong. But stronger stfll was his love of diamonds, and his ambition to own a diamond mine. So he sold his homestead and went forth in quest of a spot where he might dig the brilliant stones from their hidden depths in the earth; and after vainly securing all parts of the world, till his money was exhausted, and his health gone, he returned, after many years, an old and broken man, to his native heath. Great chnges had been wrought during his absence. The roof which had sheltered him from infancy was gone; the garden, where N-au.