The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-06-16
PAYS TRIBUTE ID
 MICHAEL TUOMEY 
 Notable Prophecy Made to
 the Class of 1856 STERLING CHARACTER James J. Garrett Reviews Some Incidents in Life of Well Known Departed Educator at Uni
 versity of Alabama
STERLING CHARACTER

To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
 Kindly allow one of his pupils. who honored and loved him in life, and reveres his memory, to add few things to the well-deserved praises of Prof. Michael Tuomey, in your issue of the 11th inst.
 What may be aptly termed his proph- ecy of Birmingham and it's district, came in this way:
 He had been telling our class of 1856, of the almost inconceivable resources of Alabama, and especially of this portion of tho state, pointing out its fine timber, its water powers, its deposits of quanti- ties of limestones, sandstones, marble, varied soils, productions and favorable climate for industry. and finally came to its coal fields, and nearby iron ores. which together, he declared we're equal to the supply of the worlds then con sumption for a thousand years, if there were no others to rely upon. He fin- eshed his discussion of these with almost chemically the following words, uttered without the slightest indication of his Thinking them remarkable, or open to the least doubt: 'I am now talking to young gentlemen, some of whom will witness the most wonderful industrial development of modern times, and they will see it near Elyton, Ala
 At that time the nearest point of any railroad to Elyton was Montevallo, and that on a road headed away from and not toward it. What was then called the Northeast and Southwest Alabama sailroad-now the Alabama Great South ern-existed only In imagination, although B few shovels of earth had been thrown on it. There was only a prospect of the South and North Alabama railroad, and few, except Colonel Millner, thought 1t would ever be built, or that 1t was even possible. Yet four, at least of that class of the University of Alabama heard the prediction, namely. Rev. John J. Harris of Faunsdale Ala, Hon. Ed mund P. Morrisett of Monroe county, formerly of Montgomery, and Judge IL M. Somerville of New York, besides the writer, and possibly one or two more. are still living, and see in Birmingham and about it, the fulfiiiment on a mag nificent scale of the forecast of that wonderful scientific seer. For all things considered, thinking men can hardly avoid the conclusion that We have here, right before our eyes, a phenomenon of growth and upbuilding which though still hard ly out of it's cradle, Is unsurpassed, if not unequaled elsewhere in the world. in this home-bred giant of but il years.
 Professor Tuomey-wc called him for short and admringly. "Old Mike" al- though he was but young comparatively, was a fine specimen of manhood. in every way Of rather short stature, he was well-proportioned, broad-chested, easy and graceful in his movement, with a nobly-poised head, that old love might have coveted with finely chiseled mouth and lips. from which unaffected elo- quence flowed in -chaste and dignfied utterances, incapable of improvement, and an eye so brilliant and sparkling, that it would have been oppressive, but for the genial mildness which softened it. He was every inch a man. His learning, of which he never made a pa- rade, was accurate profound and exten- sive, and he was easily the peer therein of his great contemporaries. Murchison, Hugh Miller and Lyell. Had he turned to authorship. none who heard his lee lures can doubt, that he would have been successful and eminent. His wit and humor-he was an Irishman-were of the highest and best, and might have ex- cited the envy of his most brilliant coun- trymen-if. indeed, an Irishman eyer in- dulges in envy. Keen and scintillating, it was without bitterness or sting, and even when used in reproof it always bore the foil of manifest kindness and goodwill to It's object He was as modest as a maiden, vet absoiutely fearless of everything. but wrong doing. He was a little shy of approach, probably by req son of his intense application and ab- sorption in his work but when this re- serve was overcome, he was as compan- ionable and unassuming as a child. His faith and his life showed him a devout and humble Christian. and many of his lectures were most instructive and edi- flying to those who heard them, rising often to the heights of eloquence almost inspired, and altogether inspiring to lofty thought and noble conduct
 Professor Tuomey's work in and for Alabama was largely out of sight and unknown. at least in his own day. Ii was unselfish and entirely beneficent- The state is richer today, and thousands of its people are better and happier for 1t than they would have been without it, but while he might when the best coal and ore lands could be had for a few cents per acre. by his superior knowledge of facts and conditions. and his pro- vision of results have 1egitimately laid the foundations for enormous wealth for himself and for those coming after him. he seems never to have thought of doing so, and certainly did nothing of the kind He left, however. to his posterty and to his friends, what no riches can buy nor substitute; the priceless bequest of a blameless, busy life. strenuously spent in wei-doing, and flawless char acter and spotless name, synonymous with honor. rectitude and genuine piety.
 Professor Tuomey's adventures and ex-