The Washington herald., 1909-08-08
WASHINGTON GIRLS WORK
Miss Ethel Armes, Formerly of This City, Prepares Valuable
Compilation.

THE story OF Coal and Iron In Ala
hama has attracted widespread interest,
not only in the State itself, but else
where The fact that the author is a
young Washington woman. formerly con-
nected with local newspaper work, gives
the work a peculiar interest here.
The compilation. which is the result OF
a comprehensive and exhaustive study Of
the whole subject, was made under the
auspices OF the Commercial Club. OF Bir-
mingham. Ala. and it VIII probably prove
one OF the most valuable and interesting
books OF it's kind that has made its ap-
poarance for some time.
The Story Of Coal and Iron IN Ala
bama" is comprised in a single volume.
This IS divided into four books. each deal
ing with a separate period OF history
The four periods are the autc-bellum pc
riod. the war period. the reconstruction
period, and the modern period. These in
turn are subdivided into various chapters
and sections, in which the evolution OF
coal and ore mining, OF blast furnace con-
siruction. OF iron and steel making. and
OF transportation In this section OF the
South are traced in clear and reasonable
detail throughout every stage from the
beginning 20 the present time.
The first period, 1SOO-1SG1, sketches the
background Of the history. gives the set
ting OF the picture OF the mineral region
OF Alabama, recounts the Indian legends
OF trails and rivers. OF Red Mountain, and
the coal fields OF tho Warrior. COosa. and
Cahaba.
The story travels by the old French and
Spanish forts and early American trading
posts: glances at the first blacksmith
shops and frontier smiths. and observes
tho discovery Of the coal and iron veips.
It camps for a little space at the various
depots OF iron supplies. beginning with
the Spanish blockhouse at Fort St Ste
phen. the territorial capital OF Alabama:
then the old United States arsenal at
Mount Vernon: traverses the various
counties where early forRes and furnaces
were located. and settles at length. in the
second period. at the town OF Selma, not
entering the precise region where Bir
mingham was founded until three geneT-
ations later. In this period OF beginnings
the biographies OF the pioneer coal miners
and iron makers are also given. Of the
first State geolosist, few railroad men,
and certain OF the civil and mining en-
gineers. The events OF this entire period
pass by with hobbled step, under shadow
OF every handicap devised by Providence
and man. led on by a few stubborn, sor-
tary toilors. Then. quite suddenly fetters
are cast of by the conditions brought
about by the civil war.
And the story OF the coal and iron bUsl-
ness breaks into the war period In q run.
Treading upon the discoveries and solid
labors OF the frontier smiths and early
ironmasters and upon the sound accuracy
OF Tuomey's geological survey, the enter
prlses are spurred on by Gen. Josiah Cor
gas, chief or ordinance Of the Confeder-
acy. and make a certain showing, attest
ed 70 in the records Of the military But
the business. driven TOO fast 20 flower.
and facing destructive weather, is cut 20
earth before full fruitage
The third period. following the war In
term, exhibits the new growth, that fos-
tered by some few dominating characters,
breeds out Of the ashes a winged activity.
This Is the period OF the founding OF the
city OF Birmingham. the outlining Of the
Birminghanf district and the Upbuildng
OF Annlston. Gadsden. Sheffield. and the
other towns and cities Of the mineral re-
glon In every instance the men. the per-
sonal forces back OF the enterprises, are
given IN as far as they can be given. 70
the life. In this period are also cOmpre-
hended the organization Of the big coal
and iron companies. the story OF the
Louisville and Nashville Railroad, and
the several hundred interviewer and close
ly related Developments incidents, eX-
periments. and events OF import 10 the
Industrial life OF the whole state. closing
at length with the chapter recounting the
first making the basic iron on CONNER
cial scale. which ushers In the fourth and
final period OF the book. that Of the pres
ent day
This period OF consolidation. reOrganiZa-
tion. concentration. and manufacturing
comprehends necessarily a moro diverse
and complex matter than its predeces-
sOTs. a general survey of conditions and
activities is presented. together with sum-
maries OF the representative companies
on the field to-day. The great modern
achievement of the making OF the Ensley
steel mill is one OF the main events re-
garded In some detail
The history closes with the entrance OF
the United States steel Corporation as a
factor In the development OF the Rirrninc-
ham district: the vast range Of possibiH-
ties. the infinite promise Of the country
seen IN long vista ahead as the modern
lights are turned on.
From every viewpoint literary. scien-
tihc, historic, the ground covered by this
book Is virgin soil. While the State OF
Alabama is traversed rs completely as is
~, L. . H.
volume. there IS intimately involved kin
dred association and connection with
other iron making centers OF the United
States and Of Great Britain. The re-
search work has been OF a peculiarly
thorough and extended character. and
every statement is authenticated DR..
Eugene A. Smith, State geologst: DR..
Thomas n. owen, director Of tho depart
ment OF archives and history OF Mort
gomery. Ala. and Or. William b. Phillips
arc among those cooperating in the work
IN the matter OF furnishing some informa-
ton and criticism Through the various
committees organized throughout the
birmingham district and extensive per-
sonal interviews and correspondence on
the part Of the writer OF the book a vast
array OF interesting and important facts
have been brought TO light. historic
events never before recorded. For the
ironmasters OF Alabama have been far
too busy making iron 10 stop for the
making Of books about IT,
To place the main facts clearly ana
accurately IN a simple. direct, matter OF
fact manner is the purpose Of the author
OF The Story Of Coal and Iron IN Ala
bama:" 20 give TO each fact life and
movement, and TO the leading person
Rlities true Interpretation; 10 present by
narrative OF incident and anecdote trans
crIbod from life the character and express
sion, In word, the breath OF this bis
business This work, begun by Ethel
Arrlna rrne rnr-rrfnhnl t.r- hn- L., 100