The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-07-25
EXHAUSTIVE STORY OF COAL AND IRON Miss Armes Prepares Synopsis
 of Work EACH CHAPTER IS GIVEN Effort Has Been Made To Cover Every Important Feature of the Coal and Iron Development of
 the State.
EACH CHAPTER IS GIVEN

Tn view of the wide interest in 'The Story of Coal and Iron in Alabama" the author. Miss Ethel Armes, has prepared a more complete and exhaustive synop- his of the work than has heretofore been made public. A glance at the various chapters will show the detail informa- tion which has been worked into the book. The synopsis by chapters is as follows:
 Chapter 1.-The Planting of the Seed Beginning of coal and iron business of Alabama Origin of first iron workers. Organic relation to state. Diversified character of activities. First iron used imported blooms. Tradition of initial service of native iron ore. Indians in possession of country. Highly organized temperament of ancient tribes. Adverse circumstances of later day confronting frontier settlers. Pushmataha quotes General Washington on need for me- chanics and tools of industry among In- dians. Tombigby district root ground of institutions of state. Fort St Stephen first depot of iron supplies and head quarters of artisans. Biography of Ben jamin Hawkins. His progressive atti- tude towards Indians. Early Smiths at Fort Toulouse. Incidents of Bienville's old trading post Feeble hold of French and Spanish. The great myth of Ala bama. Picturesque facts and traditions of Indian origin. Naming of coal fields. Iron ore of Red mountain as war paint. Ancient festivals of valley region, Sig nifcant background of Birmingham dis trict.
 Chapter II.-Records of Early Growth Trading post established at St. Stephen. Resume of history of romantic fort. Old Spanish blockhouse serves as depot of iron supplies. Sketches of St. stephen blacl-smiths. Tandy Walker, John s. Glidden. Wide importance of work. First shops at Mobile Colored blacksmith scholar of Tuskaloosa Abandonment Of Fort St. Stephen. Mount Vernon arsenal becomes second depot of iron supplies. Founding and growth of Selma. Present day appearance of forsaken capitals of Alabama. Site of Fort Toulouse becomes headquarters of Andrew Jackson. Folk lore tale of surrender of Weatherford. "O1d Hickory's" commander of scouts settles in brown ore region of Franklin county. Group of men of the war of 1872 and their descendants associated with coal and iron records of south. Discov- cry of Coosa and Cahaba coal fields. Orig inal ownership and interesting anecdote of certain properties owned by present day corporations of Birmingham district. List of smiths of early Alabama. Theo- dore Roosevelt's word for the laboring man.
 Chapter III.-First Furnace and First Railroad.-The story of old Cedar Creek furnace. Russells valley settled by An drew Jackson's commander of scouts. Description of old ways and means of iron making. Method of getting ore. Dis position of product. Pioneer furnacemen and settlers of Franklin county. Folk lore of the region. Records of state ge- ologists. Present day appearance of fur mace site Operations of Sloss-Sheffield Tteel and Iron company and Sheffield Goal and Iron company. Industrial en- terprises contemporary with Cedar Creek furnace Progressive spirit of first gov ernor of Alabama Survey of early times and conditions. Construction of old De- catur and Tuscumbia railroad. Sketch of David Hubbard. Early means of trans portation Pioneer railroads of state.
 Chapter IV-Eary Records of Jeffer son and Walker Countes.-First settle ment in Jones valley. Origins of mining towns in Birmingham district. Old flaw kins plantation site of Thomas. Folklore of Shades valley. Early use of iron ore by Indians and first settlers. Founding of Elyton. The pioneer prospeetor of Red mountain. old log cabin school house first building on property of Woodward Iron company Making of first iron out of Red mountain ore. Last glimpse of Indians of Alabama. First coal opera tions. Story of the Hanby family. Tuomeys description of diving for coal How coal was boated down to Mobile.