The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-12-06

tons lie buried and untouched in that valley. of coal there are 600, ,ooo, 900 tons to be mined. cement in unlimited quantities Is present. marble In unlimi- ted quantities. brick ciays in unlimit- ed quantities. lime In unlimited quan- titles. manganese, bauxite, tiling clays and ochre.
 When 1t Is remembered that all of these are heavy freight that pay high tariffs to the railroads in pro- portion to their value per ton some idea of the saving to be made in their transportation can be gained. Con- sideration of them as available for manufacturing purposes together with production made possible only by the reason of the cheapness of freight and production made possible only be the opening of the Alabama river. gives an idea of the possibilities In store for Alabama people as manufacturers. In addition to the heavier freight as minerals must be considered the million bales of cotton each year gath cred from the fields of the Alabama farmer. the truck garden stuffs. the fruits, the lumber and the grain. The farmer of Alabama will be enabled to raise his stun cheaper because of the nearness of nitrogen factories, he can market products cheaper through the advantage of cheaper freight rates. and his position will be dominant in the agricultural markets of the world as a result
 Completion of Canal,
 within five or six years it is said that the Panama canal will be com pleted. If the work of opening the Alabama and Coosa rivers Is begun within one year 1t can be completed within the same period The Panama canal will open to the United States the unexploited markets of the Orient whose trade alone is sufficient to make America the richest in the fami- ly of worli nations. Given thorough navigation of the Alabama river from its head-waters to the Mobile bay and the inexhaustable fields of minerals and manufacturing plants for then, Alabama will be in position to ab- solutely dominate the Oriental trade as against the opportunities of any other portion of the United States.
 The cry of the Atlantic ports of the United States is for way to main- tain their prestige as ports of export Government statistics show that the commerce of the Atlantic seaports Is in the case of many cities at stand still and in others does not show ratio of increase in keeping with rec ords of former periods of the coun- try's history. The contrary Is true of all the gulf ports and the cry of the Atlantic ports Is to find e means to regain their lost or waning prestige. The most significant feature of the decline of the Atlantic ports as against a corresponding gain for the gulf ports is that the advantage of the gulf ports will be far greater when the Panama canal is completed than now and that port having great riy- or system open behind it will be the greatest gainer and that section hay ing such river as an outlet to the canal will be the greatest benefited
 Montgomery has entered actively into the spirit of the work necessary to be done to secure the necessary ap- propriation from the Federal govern ment for the opening of the Alabama and Coosa rivers. The new sl0.000 city wharf nearing completion here. Is just such an improvement of the riv- CT as Is desired by the rivers and harbors committee of Congress before 1t recommends an appropriation. The recently organized boat line compa- ny with a capital stock and purpose to enter into the business of navigating the river Is . cllncher of the fact that Montgomery wants the river. neds it. and that the city is willing to do its part towards availing It. self Of the opportunities offered.
 Other Cities.
 At a recent meeting of the city council of Gadsden, resolutions pledg- ing the faith and credit of that city to be used to build and equip a moo ern wharf for the convenience of riv- CT transportation was adopted. The resolution provides that the wharf shall be built and maintained when the Federal government shall have provided a depth of water of six feet through to the Gulf of Mexico.
 The Manufacturers and Merchants Association. of Floyd county Ga. pledges itself to avail itself of the river when opened from headwaters to the gulf and agrees to build two steamboats and five barges. Their agreement Is contingent upon the opening and maintainance of a chan ell of at least six feet from the hea d. waters of the Coosa to the gulf.
 Rome, Ga.. recently pledged itself through a resolution of the board of aldermen to build. operate asd main tain a wharf, modern in every rar- ticular. when the river shaIl have been opened to navigation from h.ad- waters to the gulf and chanel of six feet obtained