The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1911-02-02
S125,OOO WASHER TO
Be BUILT NEAR ACMAR
DeBardeleben States Plans OF
Alabama Fuel and Iron Co.
$4,000 WILL BE SPENT
In Addition to Washer, Complete Eiec-
trical Equipment VIII Be Installed
to Furnish Current For the
Entire Properties
$4,000 WILL BE SPENT

Minute details of an expenditure OIL
$500 for additional improvements to
be made on the Alabama Fuel and Iron
company properties were furnished yes
terday by Charles F. DeBardeleben, vice
president OF that company, who has re-
Gently concluded negotiations looking to
the erection of a giant coalwasher on
the properties between Acmar and Mar
guerite mines.
The money to be spent will include $125,-
900 for a washer to be the largest south
of the Ohio river, and $500 for electric
equipmen Mt to drive this washer and sup
ply current for the entire properties at
Acmar, Marguerite and Henry Ellen.
The contract for the electrical equip
ment was given yesterday to the Western
Electric company, and the ground for
the erection of the washer was broken
yesterday. All in all the washer will be
the most marvellous work of this nature
yet attempted in the Birmingham district.
The plant will be located near an i'm
pounding dam at the junction of railroad
tidthS ictuliiS " <Atiiidl oiid 4'i~i . oSA'SS
mines. The washer will be of reinforced
concrete and steel throughout and will
not have single piece of wood on any
part of its structure. The plan as now
laid calls for the hauling of the coal
from both mines to the central point or
junction, where it will be dumped into q
concrete bin on top of the washer.
of
tracks is to be constructed above the
giant plant, and full-sized railroad cars
carried upon the trestle to the receiving
bin. The coal from both mines is dumped
into that bin, holding a huge tonnage of
coal. By means of gravity the cars run
from the topmost point to the end, where
a self-switching track will be placed.
The cars from this point will switch them
selves to a point directly underneath the
washer, where the washed and ready-for-
hauling coal will come out.
The washer, trestle, railroad yards i'm
pounding water dam and electrical plants
will all be nestled together at the junction.
The plant calls for the employment of
washer of eight units. Two will be
medium size coal bins and six of smaller
size, which may be used or cut off in
units as the demand grows or decreases.
The plant will also be constructed so that
in the future only little work will be
necessary to add further units to the
central plant
The coal trouble washing is distribut-
ed through the machine by modern meth
nd nd finally r,Ip ad halt nd
carried to a distribution point. The grad
ed coal is dumped in the various coal
bins, by the operation of shaking
screen. The washed coal in this man
ner is distributed into the proper place
and renders the loading of the coal less
difficult. On account of the fact that
two brands of coal are to be washed at
the plant, Mr.. DeBardeleben has ar
ranged the washer so that in all of the
process of washing and distribution the
coal will not become mixed.
1t is stated that the work of improve
ment at the properties of the Alabama
Fuel and Iron company will be complete
by June 1 and thereafter operations will
be going on In full blast.
and spurs to the mine has progressed
remarkably during the past few weeks,
and this will be completed perhaps be-
fore the other work. The company is to
build its railroad yards adjacent to the
washing plant. so trains may pick up
loaded cars and carry them to their desti-
nation with scarcely any switching. A
crew of railroad men will be held at
the yards at all times and the loading and
movement of coal expedited on a fast
schedule.
The various improvements to be COM
pleted at the properties of the Alabama
Fuel and Iron company will be the marvel
of the Birmingham district If science
and modern methods can perform such
a feat
The fact is announced that the dwell
ings for the employees and officers, to-
eether with the other necessary buildings,
are being constructed along the most
modern methods and with view only
to the best to be had
The mine camp will be sanitary In
every possible particular and will be what
is generally known as model camp"
The officers of the company are very
optimistic over their work and the flu
ture and expect to set rapid pace in In
dustrial development by the quick COM
pletion of the work.
The heaviest stockholders of this COM
pany are among the best known COM
mercial men in New York and Birming-
ham.