The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-01
.CORDOVA MAKING : ELABORATE PLANS FQPloeK OPENING Cod 2 of Real Steamboats fl Mark Greatest Day
 in Towns History HUNDREDS COMING
 FROM 3 COUNTIES Excursion Boats Will Start From Cordova on May 13 and Make
 the Round Trip to
 Tuscaloosa
By A. G. SULLIVAN

Cordova, April S0.--(Special. )--Judging from the activity of the citizens commit tee on the Warrior river celebration Thursday, May 1s. is going to be the greatest day in the history of Walker county up to this moment.
 The committee of nine appointed in mass meeting Monday night has been organized into subcommittees which are actively at work on the various lines of preparation. A force of men has been at work for two days clearing the west bank of the river for several hundred yards preparatory to building a suitable land ing platform or wharf and making con- venient landing places alone the river,
 The committee fin connection with the Cordova Land company is planning sub stantial wharf. Hundreds of flags have been ordered for decorative purposes and 500 small flags will be distributed among the school children. The children will sing America and .'Dixie" and two bands will take part in the programme
 Every precaution has been taken in preparing the programme--in order that every one of the 60 minutes that the dis tinguished party will be here will be util- ized to the utmost advantage The party of state officials, the Birmingham party including nearly all of the heads of in- dustrial plants. and others. will arrive from Birmingham at 8 80 a. m.
 Dr. Gorgas and Senator Underwood. possibly Vice President Marshall, and the congressional delegation will also arrive from Birmingham at this time while Secretary Garrison. who is expected to spend the night at Jasper with Senator Bankhead, will arrive here in company with the senior senator and a large party of Jasper people at s:20 a. m. The cere- monies. including the speaking, will necessarily be brief as it will be neces- sary to leave here within one hour in order to make the trip to the locks, in- spect and approve them and proceed to Tuscaloosa
 Eager to See Prominent Men
 Great numbers of people from the sur- rounding rural districts also will be in town Everyone Is anxious to see TO large party of government officials, sailors from the government boats. cruis- ing yachts. cabin launches and two real steamboats. Possibly never SO large an aggregation of distinguished men, states men, soldiers and captains of industry ever gathered in .a town of 800 people befcre. and the coming event is looked upon az marking the opening of an en- urely new era in the development of Wal ker, JeRereon and TuscaloOBa counties equalling if not exceeding any dreams of our predecogeors and spreading a broad smile of natipfactton over the face of Senator Hohkhead. who has looked for- ward for yeers to the completion of this project.
 He has worked hard and faithfully, and against great odds. and now after years of toll is to realize the one treat ambition of his life. and the great lake created by the last of the locks has been named in his honor. Bankhead lake Throo more locks were originally planned In order to make the stream navigable to Curdova, 17, IS and 19, but through change in tho plans. the dam at 17 vas r1ised from d feet to e fest. with look Of two hfts. creating great lako over milo wide h. places. booking up the. river nearly c miles. The dam is 60 feet across the top and 30 feet thick at the base. As the base of the dam 10 soree 90 feet below the bed of the river. the dam and tho top. most part of tho lock are really % feet. high.
 Stoamboat Excursion
 A splendid hshway has been placed in the dam, allowing fish to 70 up and down the river past the dam. Owing to the im- mense size of the dam, the great body of water created by 1t and the general scope of the project people fAr and wide arc availing themselves of the first oppor- tunity to visit 1t. A Steamboat excursion has been arranged as a.fSettlre1 of the pro- gramme and boat has beop chartered with 2 capacity of 2oe. The excursion will % clear through to Tuscaloosa. Another steafnboat of about the same eipe is en- pected up tho rlysr with an 4xcuraIon from It,scaloooA, and whom tho sovaen- usent yacht oIearn. it win bo followed by the 1arge eruis1ng yaeht Of A. n. Wood Wnxd. tho onnln 1aunch ok II, D. Mc0br- mick, fho tNo GteamboAta and numerous Uoeog1oa1D a14d Grno1ler craft
 1he l5omnittoe Of which Fl. w. Long i9 tGair(kuG 2 poco1ving number of re- Questh zrot9 14eper and Bismlngham for 11cGH61 co the excuruldn; and about = 1s1ssys4 fos geegF peo-.