The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-01
IN VALE OF RAVENS CRAIG
BY MARY GORDON DUFFEE.

son of the south and the broken heart of her who loved him.
 Times have changed; the railroad train sends it's smoke like incense to the noun tain peak; it's notes seem salute to the memory of the man who surveyed its pathway through the wilderness, who toiled beyond human endurance to build 1t, who saw as if in prophetic vision the mighty metropolis of Jones valley, the leader of them all, John T. Milner.
 The rush and the roar cannot dispel the charm that fingers around each rock, tree and flower; and in the gloaming one fancies that adown the trail comes the long train of the trading caravans 10 camp amid the cool shadows.
 Many of those who admired the water fall will soon be able to see it on larger scale, as MT. w. Melville Drennen Of Blr- mingham is having constructed a massive stone dam acrossthe creek right at the site of the falls. This dam will store the water for an immense swimming pool covering several acres, and for huge turbine to generate electricity for light ing purposes, and electric power for pipe lines The lake thus formed Will add 10 the pleasure of the public and very great ly to the scenic beauty of the surround ings The, dam is being built along the most modern lines, the ~contractoH MT; MI, McNabb, being well known for his sklil and workmanship This lake Of puress water will, indeed, be gem upon the bosom of the highlands; and one can imagine the Cherokee maiden In her park canoe floating upon its placid waves untii the hour when the stars fade In the twilight of dawn, and the vale or Raven Graz wears mantle of purple ana goia.
 Three miles south of this vale the raii- road winds around the base of the lofty Bryan mountain, which stands like sentinel above the level plains below thai are the termination of the Sequatchie valley, which begins in east tennessee. From this lake in the vale Is only two miles to the Mulberry river, reached by good, level road About 20 miles farther down Is the forks of the Warrior and Sipsey rivers, near which are the ruins of Black Warrior town, the scene or battle between. the Indians and the whites in the early days.
 The landscape as viewed from either the Graz or the summit or Dolly Mount, covers all the section mentioned, and far to the southwest. includes High Ridge on the Southern Railway. formerly known as the Georgia Pacific railroad. In the south can be seen Red mountain. The panorama of these Alabama hills is not on such a stupendous scale as to be overlapping and oppressive; upon the contrary they are full of reposeful beauty, and softly blue in color. such as we imagine when we dream of Greece, on the Alastian mountains. To my mind the charm of Jones valley is enhanced by its encircling hills, terrace here and there and a loftier range in the back ground.
 From the vale to the park where, amid the cool shadows of imn1emorial beeches, flow the sparkling sulphur water of Blount springs, Is but a short distance through a narrow valley along whose sides are the summer homes of many families conspicuous among them being the beautiful residence of Mir H. L. Bad- ham, and MT. Richard Randolph of Br- mingham The hotel is well patronized by those seeking health and pleasure. numbering many prominent people from