The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-04
INFORMATION IS
 VALUABLE TO ALL
Aldrich and Moore Discuss Im- portance of "Story of Coal and
 Iron in Alabama"

q was interested in the remarks Of MT. Richard W. Massey, in last Sun days Age-Herald, relating to The Story of Coal and Iron in Alabama said T. H. Aldrich, former chairman of the preparation and publication committee of the history written by Miss Ethel Armes. "As matter of fact the title of the book is something of draw back, leading people to suppose, that, as Mir Massey says, the work is tech nical and commercial whereas it is history pure and simple.
 By rights that book should be called The Making of Modern Alabama But it's too late now. However, in spite of the name, the history is gradually winning it's way. And it is convincing most folk who think history Is dry that in Alabama at least, some of the records are pretty live wires.
 Take, for instance, the early rec ords of the Tennessee company up in Tennessee. Why, as one of the mem bers of the Stanley investigating com- mitte remarked to me, it all reads in coal and iron like a novel. A number of the important steel men in New York, Pittsburg and Cleveland are be- ginning to get very much interested in this work MT. William Palmer, presi- dent of the American Steel and Wire company, told MT. Mercer Barnett of this city that he got more actual in- formation about, not only coal and iron affairs but political and historical mat ters generally, relating to Alabama, out of this book than anything he had ever seen written about the state
 Now Coal and Iron represents the sum total of the work of hundreds of Alabamians The number of men writ ten to and interviewed by the author was simply legion. Their experiences, their information, their expressions. all duly quoted, with credit given, are woven together In this book with his- torical data of importance and interest to every citizen of Birmingham and indeed of Alabama.
 Were it not for that book there would be no record on hand for in stance, of the life and work of DeBar- deleben and many others, or of the late T. G. Bush, B. F. Roden, R. H. Pearson. David Roberts and other roneer workers of this district who have passed into their rest. Every one of these men mentioned were in- terested personally in the preparation of this history. and gave the author great deal of data concerning industrial development here which is embodied in Coal and Iron.
 AS I said in my last report to the Chamber of Commerce" said Jones G. Moore, present chairman of the finance committee of the history, Tit is one of the most important and significant works ever indorsed by the Chamber of Commerce, but the one least sup ported in a financial way. It is the only book available for magazine ana newspaper writers which gives reliable information about this district, and is being freely consulted as a basis by number of writers recently visiting the south.
 Our state mine inspector, Mir. C. H. Nesbitt, has lately become interested in this work. and I believe it will not be long before every mining man in the Birmingham district will wake up to the fact that he has right at hand book that is practically an auxiliary to his profession.
 And not only mln1ng men put men of every profession here and women also, become interested in this work when they see that 1t is by no means a technical treatise. The members of our present committee. among whom are Paschal Shook, Major E. M. Tut wiler, c. B. Mccormack, A. H, Ford, Walter Moore, Frank Nelson, J. D. Elliott and Culpepper Exum. are all interested in seeing the business end of the work wound up. It has been carried on from one administration to the other and the author has had to wait an interminable time for action to be taken.
 "A great many people of Birming ham are beginning to get tired of the frequent springing up of the debt ques- tion on Coal and Iron, but I should like to ask thdse people what they think can be done about it, if the debt remains as it is? If to hear about hope long deferred is worse than to experi- ence it--that is a question for each to decide for himself.
 AS to just what new plans we will now make will be determined on after my conference with MT. Massey; as the subject Is ono which has interested the people of this city from the begin ming, we willannounce further details during the next few weeks and give tn, ha nf yuI, I,ot