The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-08-21
USED HIS BRAINS
TO ENRICH OTHERS
Joseph SquireS Lives Quietly
At Helena
GREAT AS MINERAL0GIST
Did Probably More Than Any other
One Man in FerretIng Out the
Wealthy Spots In Ala
bama's Hills.
GREAT AS MINERALoGIS I
BY WALTER HARPER,

retirement one of the greatest men In
! the history of the development of the
Alabama mineral district.
But this man is not an exile like the
warrior Napoleon. He Is here from
choice Amid the scenes of his early adj
ventures In the district and close to the
heart of the great nature that he loves
this man makes his home and continues
his researches into the mysteries of the
wonderful earth. He is one of the most
| expert mineralosists In the state. Prof.
Eugene A Smith says he Is the greatest.
Joseph 6quires is now about so years
of age, but almost as active as In his
early days. He has certainly lost none
of his eagerness for the study of minerals
and the science of geology.
By some he is given credit for the OPEN
! Ing of the first coal mine In the state
at Montevallo. Later he was associated
| with Henry r. DeBardeleben and other of
the early developers of the district as ex-
! pert mineralogist and engineer. He To-
! Gated and purchased thousands of acres
of valuable mineral lands for several of
| the early developers and 1t Is said of him
that though he knew more of the value
of the lands In the district than the peo-
pie for whom he acted he never at any
| time took advantage of his superior
knowledge to enrich himself. He bought
no land for himself. though he had nu-
| merous offers of financial backing in do
ing SO. He was and is still very consct-
| entious. He chose to give all his time to
the man he represented and who had en-
ployed him. 1t is said that he located
and bought practically all the fine min
eral lands in the vicinity of Pratt City,
| now owned by the Tennessee company,
but did not reserve so much as town
lot for himself
There was plenty of adjacent property
to that purchased for the people he rep
resented that he could have secured and
that would have made him independent,
but he turned down all offers of money,
declaring that all his time, labor and
| skill were the property of his employers
Today he is living in comfortable
| home at Helena-a modest home-with
| all the luxuries perhaps that he desires
| but he Is not a rich man by any means.
| While he had every opportunity to become
one of the wealthiest men in the Biz
mingham district he followed the bent of
his conscience and labored for others He
| was satisfied with the handsome salary
| that was always paid for his services
and today seems to be proud of the COM
| mendation of his conscience.
| Joseph Squires has seen much of the
world and has been closely identified with
| the development of some of the most i'm
portant mineral and manufacturing sec
lions Of this country, east, west and
south, but declares that all things being
considered Alabama holds out opportuni-
ties for great Industrial development that
is paralleled in no other section of the
United States.
He was one of the first men to recog-
nize the great wealth of the mineral de-
posits here and has done more, per-
haps, than any other man in pointing out
and leading to the development of the
mineral district.
He presents a most unique example of
humanity. Endowed with more than or
binary intelligence, education and prac-
tical training he has spent his life in en-
riching other men, content himself to see
the full realization of his estimates and
recommendations. He has rejoiced in tho
prosperity of others who coined wealth
by his direction. He has stood by and
the district, has pointed out the hidden
reservoirs of gold to other men, and has
craved none of the fruits for himself.
He is thoroughly familiar With every
square mile of the mineral district of
Alabama. He has drawn maps that are
now in use by the leading developers of
the district. He knows the course of every
river and stream, and the inclination of
every seam Of coal and iron.
Joseph Squires is an Englishman by
birth, but a full-grown American by
adoption. He is more than that. He is
every inch a southerner At the out
break of the war between the states he
wanted to go to the front but the Con-
federacy needed coal, and he was per-
suaded to remain and operate the mines
at Montevallo.
Helena is a quiet uncertain little village
of few hundred people. It has no or
ganization or town officers. 1t is impor-
tant as a railroad transfer point on the
Louisville and Nashville All the coal
from the Blocton division and intermedi-
ate points Is brought into the yards here
and distributed to the world from here
over the main lines. The Acton branch
comes in here and also brings large guam
titles Of coal for distribution. More than
100 cars of coal come here every day for
reshipment.
The Alabama plant of the Conners-
Weyman Steel company is located here.
but 1t is not in operation now. 1t Is I'M
derstood that 1t will operate again soon,
but no definite announcement has been
made Cotton ties and barrel hoops are
manufactured. About $50 men are given
employment.
Three coal companies operate mines in
the immediate vicinity--the Buck Coal
company, the Cahaba Coal company and
the Alabama Fuel and Iron company
There are half dozen or more stores IN
the place that enjoy good business from
the mines and railroad operations
Just now large forces of men are at
work on the grade of the Atlanta, Bir-
mingham and Atlantic railroad, which
crosses the Louisville and Nashville in
the edge of the town.
But with all these activities Helena at
tempts to make no loud noise in the
world. 1t Is content to prosper in a quiet
way. Perhaps 1t is the unassuming con-
tented spirit of the people that induced
Joseph squires to select Helena for the
home Of his retirement. Helena should
feel honored, and indeed It is proud, of
this man who has done so much for
others and so little for himself In the
development of the most marvellous in
dustrial community In the south.
Every bottle warranted. but not one re-
turned. is the report regarding DR.. Seth