The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-04-19
WOULD USE CANAL
 FUR HAULING COAL Underwood Submits CorreSpen- dence on Important Subject OPEN WARRIOR BY 1912 Lake Borgne Canal Can Be Made AvaiIabe-PIannine Big Confer
 ence With New Orleans
 Board of Trade.
OPEN WARRIOR BY 1912

That which Congressman Oscar ". Un- derwood considers the most important question now being considered by our dis trict' is very slightly understood by Bir- mingham people. but means probably more than anything else the districts rep resentative in Congress could do.
 In short, it means the opening of the Warrior river to the forks by 1912, and free inland waterway through the bayous on the gulf coast, through Lake Borgne and the Lake Borgne canal to the end of affording a direct inland water course to New Orleans for Alabama coal in the Bir- mingham district. MT. Underwood, who Is laboring to this end, declares that it would give us a better and cheaper water route to New Orleans than is enjoyed by Pittsburg and our Pennsylvania competi- tors" It would mean that barges could travel direct to New Orleans from with ing 2S miles of Birmingham.
 Recent correspondence between the Commercial club and interested parties is full of information, and shows how energetic MT. Underwood has been in working for this important proposition. Here is letter from Mir Underwood: My Dear Babb:
 "A short time ago the engineers in- formed me that it we could get the neces- sary appropriation next winter, which feel confident we will get, we should have the Warrior river opened from the forks to Mobile for annual navigation by 1912 at the outside. With the Warrior opened IT we could secure free transportation through Lake Borgne canal we would have better water route to New Or leans than our Pennsylvania competitors.
 T have taken the matter up with the New Orleans people. and inclose you here- with letter from Mr R. F. Clerc chair man of the New Orleans Board of Trade and one from w. J. Kelly of New Or leans, who now controls Lake Borgne canal. I also inclose maps in reference to the whole matter.
 You will note that the chairman of the New Orleans Board of Trade sug- gests that it would be wise to have a meeting of our entire delegation at some designated place next summer and try to push project to increase the water route facilities between Birmingham and New Orleans
 ''I think it is one of the most important matters that is now being considered by the people of our community and write b ask if you will not call to the attention of the Birmingham Commercial club and of ficially take the matter up with MT. Clerc and see if a meeting can be arranged. It goes without saying tfat l will be glad to render all assistance that lies in my power toward successful conclusion of the matter, Yours truly,
 70. w. UNDERWOOD"
 A letter from ". J. Kelly to MT. Under wood includes this information: New Or leans is now receiving by river from Pitts burg 1,5OO0O0 tons of coal annually. The distance is 2200 miles against 300 miles from the Alabama fields It is a positive fact that the cost of water haul on coal from Pittsburg to New Orleans is less than the price of rail haul from Bir- mingham to New Orleans. The Lake Borgne canal as it now is can handle all the coal that can be brought from Alabama. I own a coal mine on the War rior river eight miles from Tuscaloosa. made the trip from Mobile to Tuscaloosa by river a few weeks ago with party. There is no doubt but what we have now
 
 river than the Pittsburg people, and when the locks are finished in two years we will have P months of navigation" The rest of the letter is to the effect that he will sell his lease of the Lake Borgne canal to the government for a considera- ton.
 The proposed route will follow the bayous along the coast and pass through to the Mississippi river close to New Or leans, instead of going way out to sea to enter by the outlet of the Mississippi.
 The conference date will soon be decided and it is expected that business men of the Birmingham district will take the matter up in earnest. President Wood of the Commercial club has written the Washington delegation anent the confer- ence.