The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1912-05-02

VI oepIcIDST 1870, out Has DeSh iC-
paired and is now again in commits
sion. There is a good hard country
road that leads to the bluffs, where
the she'll road in Its original beauty
may be entered. Four miles below, at
South End, it becomes wild. roman
tic forest road. leading down to Deg
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 vas
itor with the proper credentials VIII
find as good sport and as free-handS1
hospitality as can be desired.
1t is. however. or Mobiles comi"s
commercial greatness that we wisl
chiefly to speak I'm this article.
Just look at her position for a mt
ment," said one of her business men
to tie writer. I'VE arc here on Nc
bile river, which is formed 81 miles
above us by the junction of the AIN
bama and Tombigbee rivers. both no-
bic streams, navigable for steamboats,
for 40 miles, and piercing country
rich in all agricultural products, espe-
cially cotton. in lumber, naval stores,
coal, iron, cement and other mineral
wealth. We have four trunk lines
centerinS in the city, traverslng the
richest and most productive states OF
the Union and putting us in touch with
ever. section. We have four miles OF
water front. anc can enlarge it above
or below indefinitely whenever the
need arrives. We have a 20-foou chan,
mel t. the gulf, which we are about to
make 27 feet, and we are 100 miles
nearer Panama, the West Indian,
South American and European ports
than New Orleans or any other large
gull port.
In 1860 Mobile was the second cot
ton port OF the south. We expect tO
get back there in a few years more.
Further, a movement has been quietly
going on for the last two years tina
will make Mobile the greatest Goa!
shipping port OF the south inside OF
of the Tombigbee and Black Warrior
rivers by series of locks and dams
which will enable steamboats, and
barges drawing six feet OF water 10
run to Mobile from the Mulberry and
Locust forks Of the Warrior in the
richest coal and iron measures in thu
world--a distance of 400 miles. IL you
wish TO learn more OF this, call on MI.
William w. Thompson. who can tell
you all about this and of another arti.
Gle destined to add not little to Nc.
bile's cXports-cement."
We had very interesting interview
with Mr.. Thompson. a man OF con.
struCtive ability, with all tho 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 VIC 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 1t rises, solid cliff from
IS to 100 feet high, and extending
back from the river no one knows how
far. A company has been formed to
work this bed. It will build at St.
Stephens n colossal plant, ship its
nroduct nv bargpS 70 Mobile thepco
to the Panama canal and other mar
kets.
Beginning at Demopolis on the
Tombigbee Grom which town there is
now good water to Mobile), chain OF
seven locks has been constructed on
the lack Warrior, opening navigation
10 Tuscaloosa. Others have been let
and it is expected that within two
years there will be all the year round
navigation to the Mulberry and I.o-
Gust forks OF the Warrior, 400 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 or Mo
bile cheaper than In any other city OF
the south, II not of the Union"
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