The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-02
Expert Submits Conclusions Reached After Exhaustive Examination-Speaks of Known Seams Only.
REPORT MADE AT REQUEST OF BIG
 INTERESTS HERE
People of Birmingham Asleep to Op- portunities Offered By Water Trans p0rtation, Says MT. Leake-Dau- phin Island Will Be Biggest Coal ing Station.

That 67o,00o. 900 tons of coal is within an economical transportation area of the Warrior river and consequently available for barging to the gulf is a report made by ". F. Leake at the re- quest of local interests. This gigantic tonnage, according to MT. eLeake, is only of the coal that he knows after minute investigation is available or within range, and does not include problematical seams.
 The report of MT. Leake, which is brief, was prepared after a most pains taking investigation and after securing all available data. The report when there are two barge lines in prospect, will be of wide interest
 MT. Leake said yesterday that the people of Birmingham did not have the remotest idea of the immensity of the Warrior field. He gave it as his opinion that within a few years there would be such an awakening to the opportunity offered by river transportation as to almost stampede this district
 MT. Leake is regarded by industrial men as one of the best informed and Oafo oA thS iioSl pdliiSl ldklng experts this district, and his opinion as to mat ters industrial are held in the highest regard.
 In speaking of the developments of J. M. Dewberry near Mobile on Dauphin Island, MT. Leake said that the people of Mobile should help Mir Dewberry build up the island if he needed help, for within short time it will be the greatest coaling place on the gulf coast or any other coast.
 "The time is not far distant when there will be a perfect flood of ship ments down the Warrior river" said Mr Leake. We cannot realize here how close we are to water transportation. and we will not awaken to our vast opportunities until we see the actual wonders the river will perform for this district. The people of Mobile and Bir- mingham are asleep. I believe when Lock 17 is completed we will see the practical and overwhelming proof of what river transportation means for a city"
 Report of MT. Leake
 The report MT. Leake has compiled with the exception of an analysis of the coal of the seams mentioned is as fol- lows:
 Tn discussing coal available to the river only such coal as can be economi- cally reached within three miles of the river is considered
 "On our map is shown the Warrior coal field, and it's relative location to the Birmingham district Warrior river and its principal tributaries; location or the locks on the river; operating mines in the field and the present rail- road facilities.
 The Warrior river is colored on the map to the present limits of navigation. that IS, to the limits of the six-foor stage of water the year around.
 Going up the river from Tuscaloosa the hrst coal of workable thickness and commercial value is found at Blair's nine, on the west side of the river. near Lock 13, Tidewater station. on the Mobile and Ohio about eight miles above Tuscaloosa This is a hard. cubical coal, and Is known as the Blair seam. It Is 46 inches to 54 4nches thick, and an excellent domestic and steam fuel.
 30 Tar as is known, probably 20.- oVo.o00 tons are available from this sean, Tor development and shipment by river The seam goes under cover above lock Is and does not show an outcron be- yond that point.
 At T1dewater, on the east side of tbe river. the Brookwood seam outcrops. ana mas been worked in a small way The Gilmore mine. about one mile aoove Tidewater. is working this sean, ana this mine supplies the coal now being transported in the bargss of the Alabama and New Orleans Trans portation company to New Orleans
 The Brookwood is a dirty seam ofl coal, but can be made an excellent grade Of steam coal by screening and running the lump over a picking belt and washing the screenings. thus eIim- mating the rash and slate.
 Brookwo0d and Milldale Seams
 Going up the river from Tidawatar the Brookwood seam outcrops high in | the hills and is available to the river In number of places on both sides as far up as Davis creek on the east side, and Blue creek on the west aide, It Is not found beyond these crechs.
 Underlying the Brookwood seam at | depths of about 30 feet and 60 feet.