The Ordway new era., 1912-05-03
81" CNMES ST. NEW ORZkAMS

| OF September 1905. but has been re-
paired and Is now again in commls-
| sion. There Is q good hard country
| road that leads to the blufIs. where
the shell road in Its original beauty
may be entered. Four miles below. at
South End. 1t becomes a wild roman
tic forest road. leading down to Dos
river. where the French took posses
sion OF the country. and where MO-
bile's famous Fish and Hunt club has
an elegant clubhouse. where the vis'
itor with the proper credentials will
hnd as good sport and as free-handed
hospitality as can be desired.
1t Is. however. OF Mobiles coming
commercial greatness that We wish
chiefly to speak IN this article.
Just look at her position for a mo-
ment," said one OF her business men
to tile writer. We are here on Mo
bile river. which is formed ol miles
above us by the junction OF the Ala
bama and Tombigbee rivers. both no
BILE streams. navigable for steamboats,
for 40 miles. and piercing country
rich In all agricultural products. espe-
cially cotton. in lumber. naval stores.
co1l. iron, cement ant other mineral
wealth. We have four trunk lines
centerins in the city. travers,ng the
richest and most productive states or
the Union and putting us in touch with
ever section. We have four miles OF
.vater front. anc can enlarge 1t above
or below Indefinitely whenever the
need arrives. We have a 20.foot chan.
mel I, the gulf. which we are about to
make 27 feet, and we are 100 miles
| nearer Panama. the IVES: Indian.
South American and European ports
than New Orleans or any other large
gull port.
In 1850 Mobile was the second cot
ton port OF the south. We expect to
| get back there in few years more.
| Further. n movement has been quietly
| going on for the last two years that
| will make Mobile the greatest coal
| shipping port OF the south inside OF
two years. | mean the improvement
OF the Tombigbee and Black Warrior
rivers by series OF locks and dams
which will enable steamboats, and
barges drawing six feet OF water to
run to Mobile from the Mulberry and
Locust forks OF the Warrior in the
richest coal and iron measures in the
world-a distance OF 400 miles II you
wish to learn more OF this. call on MIR.
William W. Thompson. who can tell
you all about this and OF another arti-
Gle destined to add not a little to Mo
bile's cxports-cement"
We had very interesting interview
with MIR. Thompson. a man OF con.
strue.ive ability. with all the energy
and enthusiasm necessary to carry
out his plans.
Age Of cemen:.
I'VE have had the stone age," he be.
gan. the age OF gold. OF silver, OF
iron and steel. and now We are coming
to the age OF cement Wonderful
what Is being done just now with this
new building material.
Now. 20 miles up the Tombigbee
river from Mobile. is ST. Stephens,
site Of the first capital OF Alabama ter
ritory. now wholly deserted, and where
is perhaps the greatest deposit OF
cement rock in this country. For
three-quarters OF mile along the
river bank It rises. a solid cliff from
rs to 100 feet high. and extending
back from the river no one knows how
fnr. A company has been formed to
work this bed. 1t will build at st.
stephens colossal plant. ship its
product by barges to Mobile. thence
to the Panama canal and other mar
kets.
"Begtnning at Demopolis on the
Tombigbee from which town there ia
now good water to Mobile). a chain OF
seven locks has been constructed on
the I .ack Warrior. opening navigation
10 Tuscaloosa. Others have been let
md II is expected that within two
years there will be all the year round
navigation to the Mulberry and Lo.
Gust forks OF the Warrior. 4Oo miles
above Mobile.
when the improvements on the
lower river are completed they will
probably be continued up to Birming.
ham, and It is certain that coal, iron,
cement and perhaps oil and salt can
then be laid down on the docks OF Mo.
bile cheaper than In any other city of
the south, II not OF the Union"