The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-07-28
POSSIBILITIES IN
Ignite DEPOSITS
DR., Smith is Investigating &C.
ment Rocks
STATE RICH IN MINERALS
Geoloeist Believes Gas Engines viii
Some Day supplant Steam Engines
and Alabama Ignite viii
Bring the Change.

Montgomery, July 27.-tSpecial.)
Eugene A. Smith, state geologist, is max
ing now new investigation of the ee-
ment rocks of the state and the Ignite
deposits. all of which. in his opinion, are
going to show up later as great wealth
producers. This Is a thing patent to all so
far as the cement is concerned, but not
all the people have proper appreciation OF
the Ignite possibilities as fuel producers.
The whole costal plane lies full of the
highest grade cement rock, and the day
will come in the opinion of every man
who stops to think of it, when these will
give the state riches beyond measure,
provide treasure richer than ever discov-
cred by Monte Christie of fiction.
The lignites lie across the state, show
ing up down to the costal plane and In
many cases cropping out in the sides of
hills and in the streams. The seams range
from four to seven feet and some run
much higher than others in fuel proper
ties. The product is used for the making
of gas energy. 1t is treated by heat in
such way as to easily 1t, and in this state
il will produce two and half to three
times the force generated by boiling wa
ter. DIR. Smith believes that It will not
be many years before the gas engine VIII
displace the steam engine, as 1t Is cheaper
and easier to handle. The great quanti-
ties of this Ignite In the state make
the certainty of utility a very interesting
thing for the manufacturing interests OF
the south.
Cement Cast.
nh oa.+Ifoaea Of tho r11anufaptIIrp of
cement lies mostly In the erection of the
plant, a fact that will keep small capital
cut of it. For instance, it requires an out
lay of at least $50 900 for each furnace or
kiln, and 1t Is not economy to have less
than ten kilns in any one plant. The same
force of men will take care of ten kllns
that will be required for half so many,
and in many other ways the greater num-
Der costs hardly more than the lesser in
operation. It is also a fact that 1t re-
aulres a lot of fuel for the manufacture
of the product, hence 1t Is well to locate
either near coal deposits of large size or
on water courses over which coal may
be brought very cheap.
Illustrating this the case of the large
cement plant at Demopolls may be cited.
In the beginning there were only three
kilns erected 1t was found that the cost
of working them would be as large as
twice the number. hence 1t was decided
to increase to half a dozen, and the other
three now going up. Later on there Will
be a further increase to ten at least, as
this is about the right size for profitable
working.
IT has been advised by such men as DR..
Smith that cement establishments do we'll
in close proximity to coal, where there
is always plenty of shale which, when
properly ground makes an adequate mix
tilre with lime for good class of cement.
sT,t,I ha
placing of the big enterprises for this
purpose at Leeds in Jefferson county.
Hardly Is all the limestone that Is needed
and within a stones throw the shale.
Then there is ait the very doors 2f the
furnaces all the high class steam coal
that Will be needed at low cost. CIV
Ing to places like Leeds the advantage
of any other section in the manufacture
of this great product which has not the
supplies so well put down. In addition
Leeds has the large market afforded by
Birmingham at Its threshold.
Gold Workings.
DR. Smith Is just now very much in
terested in the gold workings of Tai
ladega and adjoining counties, which are
turning out well. The Hood Brothers OF
Birmingham, have their plant at the old
Ely pit near the Hogg mountain crop
pings, in Talladega county. in good shape
ings worked by T. H. Aldrich not far
away also promise well. 1t is now thought
that from these two openings there will
be taken gold ore In such richness as
to turn the eyes of the whole Industrial
section that way.
For many years these gold workings
have been looked to by the people OF the
south as promising good fortune. They
are not rich enough to make the mining
profitable save with improved machinery
but when modern appliances are used the
results are worth while in Aigh de-
gree. The success of the mines now being
worked will 1t is thought, send many
Others into the business. DR.. Smith does
not think much of the silver talk for
that part of the state. He says he mas
not found any of that metal in workable
quantities so far and does not place much
confidence in the tales of rich silver mines
of the days of long ago.
DR.. Smith Is an optmist on the ques-
ton of Alabama riches. In earth, field
and forest he has found that the state
is back of none, yielding marble the finest
of the fine, every other mineral that other
states have practically, and timbers SO
valuable that the men of the state know
not of their worth.