The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-22

ly," said Henry T. DeBarde1eben of The DeBardeleben Coal company, be
 cause I am quite sure the people ap-
 preciate the information thus con- veyed to them.
 There is a remedy for our troubles and before pointing to this remedy, let me say that I am the holder of larger
 interests in mines east of Brminghani
 than I am in those in close proximity
 to the Warrior river; therefore, my
 contention that a further development
 or improvement of the Warrior is t1s only remedy for the depre ssed con dition of the coal industry of Alabama is not evolved from selfish motives al. together.
 The United States government has expended about $17.O00O0o for the iu- provement of the river and has made it navigable for about 445 miles. The main object in this impl ovement was
 to reach the immense coal deposits in proximity to the river. I presume. 50 far as the work has progressed, it is good, but it's incompletencss renders it practically useless for certain sec ton on the river Only two or three small mines are today beneficiaries of lHiS immense expenditure or puDl1C money and until extensions and fur
 iher development above and below are made there will not be tonnage suf- ficient to pay the salaries of the locn- keepers.
 The comparatively small outlay of $300,000 will build two additional dams that will reach the upper Warrior coal basin, where lie innumerable deposits Of coal that will afford tonnage to hI1o do, If
 Interested as are my associates ard I in these coal deposits, we have been asked why it is we do not utilize the proposition and make the necessary ex- penditures from our private eunas. Our answer is that it would be unjust to us to force us to use our personal funds for the use of the general pub lie and that Uncle sam would not per- init us to charge toll on waters that belong to him.
 What would be the outcome of tne real opening of this waterway to the sea? My answer is that it. would open to this district the markets of the gulf coast from Tampa to Galveston. thence to the east coast of Mexico. of Central and South America-a market whici!. belongs to Alabama by the rule of geographical lines and distances.
 At present coal is transported from mines in Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia by rail to Norfolk, Philadelphia and Baltimore at $1.25 per net ton. The rate from Birmingham to Mobile and Pensacola is s110 per net ton, and to New Orleans $140 per net ton.
 "The distance from Mobile to the ports of the Gulf of Mexico, beginning at Key West, Fla. to Panama canal, and back through the West Indes to the point of beginning is far less than it is from. Norfolk, Baltimore or Philadelphia. An all-water rate from mines on the Warrior river to Mobile will not exceed soc per ton, from which it is apparent that even with the same ocean rates en- joyed by Norfolk, the Alabama fields would be able to undersell the other fields in this market by 75c per ton, thus the coal fields in the western part of the district in proximity to the Warrior river waterway will find profitable market on the gulf coast above mentioned and with draw their product from the interior mar ket, making place and demand here for the coal produced remote from the river.
 Tt seems to me that the people of the Birmingham district should awaken to the opportunity of this new river develop ment and join in urging our senators and representatives in Congress to actively urge the necessary appropriation for complete development of the Warrior.
 "It is extremely gratifying to observe lIe loilOWlllS pldHh III tIe ItCenlly dQOpt- ed platform of the democratic party. It says
 |" We favor the adoption of a liberal and comprehensive plan for the develop ment and improvement of our harbors and inland waterways with economy and efficiency so as to permit their navigation by vessels of standard draft
 Now if this plank means anything" continued MT. DeBardeleben, Tt means that Alabama's S solid democratic delepa- tion in Congress is pledged to labor for the full development of the Warrior river not only to reach the upper coal fields, but to preserve and utilize the immense sums of money already expended on the lower river Will they do it?'