The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-15
Mr. .MoCormaclNs Comments.

put IL Will not pc TOT SDUle ifiailttis. Mir. sMcCormacl@s Comments. I Mir. George B. McCormaea said, ia l speaking of the matter:
 "A large amount Of information has resulted through the publication in The Age Herald of the purposes and designs of this work. I received not long since the following note from MT. Frank Fitca of Brierneld;
 As to the Story of Coal and Iron in Alabama l wish to suggest the facts as to location of two of the first built forges in the Little Cahaba valley, not distinctly set out in a recent issue of The ge-Herald, which mentions the one on Mahan creek
 " Locally, we consider Maiians creek becomes the Little Cahaba where shoal creek joins it. There was no forge on Mahan's creek
 There was a forge one-fourth of a mile below this junction, at a location long known as Georges Mill' on the plantation of Jonathan V. Smith.
 There was another on Shoal creek some two miles above its confluence with Mahans creek at place known as Thompsons Mill.
 " Both these forges were Of very early date. The testimony of Rufus Lenly. still living at past 80, and of Uncle Joe" an ex-slave of J. V. Smith, and an iron hammerer (Still living), is that the forge at Georges Mill was the first. See that my information gets to our es teemed Miss Ethel Armes. Very truly yours, FRANK FITCH
 "A descendant of the Tannehill family who gave a remarkably interesting story continued , MT Mccormack, was located 1 through The Age-Herald in Texas, and l these are but a few minor incidents of 1 much that has come to light that would otherwise be lost"
 The following letters of general in 1 terest have been recently received from ] Dr. Owen:
 l My dear Miss ArInes:-I have recent 1 ly come across in some old newspaper l files in the department the articles on l early iron-making and the development l of the iron industry in Jones valley, pre- l pared by Miss Mary Gordon Duffee. AL 1 though it will be some little trouble will be glad to have copies made of these for use in your work, if you have not al- ready located them. It would hardly be worth while to duplicate work, so 1 will not proceed until you let me Lear. On receipt of advice from you, l can have copies made without expense to you. Command me if you think l can serve you in any other direction, and with best wishes, very respectfully, 1 THOMAS M. OWEN. i Miss Ethel Armes, Birmingham, Ala.
 My Dear Miss Armes:-Herewith I am 1 handing you copies of Nos. 3S-44 of Miss l Mary Gordon Duffee's sketches of Jones valley, Alabama. One or two of the sketches only contain such parts as bear ! int his tory of iron-making in Alabama etc. ] am very glad to contribute these, and l trust they will be of some substantial service in your very interesting and val uable work It is not unlikely that I may | be able to send you some other news paper extracts, which will be of value in your researches.
 Next week I will send you the books and documents desired as far as we are able to supply them.
 We are very anxious to further your enterprise as far as in cur power lies.
 With best wishes for your health, and the work, I am yours truly,
 THOMAS NJ. OWEN.
 My Dear Miss Armes In response to your request for sundry biographical data for use in your Story of Coal and Iron in Alabama" I am enclosing here with brief sketches of Catesby R. Jones and Benjamin Hawkins.
 I am unable to supply sketch of Col onel White, who you say was in com mand of the Selma arsenal. It is sug- gested that you ask Hon. o. W Under wood, member of Congress from the Bir- mngham district to ask the United States war department to give you d memorandum of his military record, Very respectfully, THOMAS M. OWEN.
 My Dear Miss Armes:-In response to your request l am forwarding you, un- 1 6ar ta bN 70 pertinent copies of the following books:
 Fleming's "Cvil War and Reeonstruc- tion In Alabama; Wyeth's Life of For rest; Hardy's Selma; Her Institutions and Her Men; Hodgsons Alabama 1 Manual" 1869 and 1870; DeBow's Review January. 1855; and Berney's Handbook l of Alabama"
 Copies of the reports made by Col, John T. Milner prior to the war are not | available. At the time of the compilation of my Biblography of Alabama in 1897. ] l had never seen copies of the reports referred to. However, I later came into | possession of a copy of each in excellent condition, but they were destroyed in the burning of my home, March, 1906.
 Although not in accordance with our usual custom, I have pleasure in lend ing you these books. Very respectfully,
 THOMAS M OWEN.
 In responce to an inquiry concerning l the Selma arsenal, Charles C. Thach' | president of the Alabama Polytechnic in stitute at Auburn, has written: | Miss Ethel Armes, 1907 BrownMarx Building. Birmingham, Ala.
 My Dear Miss Armes:-I regret sincere 1y that there are no papers belonging to | pr. Broun concerning any general ord- l nance conditions in Alabama during the i war. I had a publication by him that , presents the question in general way for the south. I shall attempt to find this pamphlet and send it to you. l con | graduate you upon your work.
 With best wishes and high personal re- , gards, I am very sincerely yours.
 CHARLES c. TEACH.
 Meetings of the members of the va 1 rious committees interested continued | MT. Aldrich, are now held from time tc time at the residence of Miss Armes or St. Charles street.
 MT. James Bowron. who has a vas fund of interesting and thoroughly ac curate information to give, has been kind enough to assist in the matter, as alst MT John E. Ware, the son of Horace Ware, and Capt. Frank P. OBrien. Mrs Grace, the widow of Bayliss Earle Grace has also sent considerable inform ator ] to Miss Armes."