The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-25
CLARK OBTAINS INTERESTING MAP 1t Shows the Old Notifications
 Around Selma TRAIL OF THE DOCUMENT Story of Iron and Steel Progressing. The Development and Output In
 In Civil War Interest
 ing Chapter.

Gen. Louis V. Clark, commander of the Alabama National Guard, has just pro- cured map of the old fortifcatlons built around Selma during the civil war for use in ''The Story of Coal and Iron in Alabama" by Miss Ethel Armes. This is said to be an exceedingly rare docu- ment, and was obtained for General Clark by Senator Johnston from the war depart ment at Washington. special fac-simile of the map on file in the adjutant gen. erals office was made, and it will be one of the most interesting of the many illus trations gathered for the history by in- terested persons all over the state
 General Clark, as member of the com mittee on the publication of this work, is actively interested, particularly in the va- rious military points contained in it rel ative to Mt. Vernon arsenal and Selma. The general first wrote David M. Scott, postmaster at Selma, asking for diagram of the old earth works. The request was l published in various Dallas county papers. Major Scott wrote General Clark as follows:
 Selma, March 5, 1909. "Gen. Louis V. Clark, Birmingham: My Dear General-Col. w. R. Nelson of Selma saw inclosed notice and told ] me that the government published several | years ago Q2 or 15 years), in atlas form, | maps of all the battle fields during the l war of 1851-5, and he saw a copy, which | contained map of the fortlncatlon around Selma. If you are in close touch with either of our senators or represen- | tatives you could write them, and as | commander of the Alabama National | Guard this publication would be sent to you gratuitously. I would suggest either | MT. Underwood or Senator Johnston. | wrote Senator Johnston last summer and | he had sent to me complete and exhaus- | tive maps of Chickamouga battle fields and | know you can obtain a more compre- | hensive map than I would be able to | furnish from present conditions, as much | of the old work has been obliterated. | Should you not be able to procure the | publication of the government I will draw a rough diagram from memory and pre- | sent observation for Miss Armes' benefit. l I was camped here several months as a | Confederate. soldier during the war and | knew the fertilization then pretty well. Please let me know your wishes and will endeavor to comply with them. Faith l fully yours, D. M. SCOTT" | General Clark then write to Senator 
 1 Johnston the following note:
 My Dear Senator:
 | Enclosed is a copy of letter from Major 1 Scott, which is in answer to my inquiry of him in behalf of Miss Ethel Armes, an author of this city, who is as you doubtless know, writing a most interesting | and charming work of the iron and steel 1 industry of Alabama. If you can furnish me with maps of the Selma fortification I assure you 1t will be greatly appreci- | ated. Whatever expense should be at | tached I shall gladly bear, of course l With kind personal regards and best wishes, am, very truly yours,
 LOUIS V. CLARK" | Mir. Aldrich Talks. l Said Truman H. Aldrich, chairman of | the committee: "The portion of the book dealing with the coal and iron business during the war covers wide range. The facts about the history of l the arsenal, the foundry and the iron | works of Selma sent to Miss Armes by dozens of men and women through | out the state, prominent among them Mrs. Gorgas, widow of the chief of ord- nance of the Confectionery, are of the l greatest interest. We are also much | gratifed at General Clark's interest in the matter"
 Erskine Ramsay, one of the most &C., tive members of the committee. is at present reading the chapters of the | book pertaining to the war period. "The story of the founding of Oxmoor was new to me-" he remarked, "as near as that old furnace Is to Birmingham I don't suppose one man in the district knows it's true history. John T. Mil | ner was a great old man. The facts about his life and work are surpris- | ing"
 George B. Mccormack. president of the Pratt Consolidated, has assisted in compiling a list of the blast furnaces in operation during the war, and in getting the precise tonnage of each, so that the amount of charcoal and pig iron turned out in the early "six- ties" is no longer an unknown quanti- ty.
 MT. Owens Letter. Thomas M. owen, director of the de- partment of archives and history, re- gently sent the following letter:
 My dear Miss Armes.
 | am at N last returning the second .installment of your manuscript story of coal and iron in Alabama. In return ing it I must be again permitted to express my congratulations on the ad- mirable way in which you are doing | the work. In these last chapters you display the real instinct of the true antiquary and local historian. As to the historical statements, so far as I can ascertain, you have followed the written authorities now accessible. You have added so much that is new, and of which I am without information, that offer no comment in reference | thereto.
 All in all, my dear Miss Armes, I feel that I cannot too strongly com mend you zeal and enterprise in this work, in the final completion of which I look forward to with keenest inter- est. With high esteem. have the hon or to remain, very truly
 THOMAS M. OWEN. |
 New Trustees.