The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-05-06

of sacks of coffee, sugar or barrels of flour could be moved from the water front to the warehouse or cars. The sys- tenn is simply an elevated movement without interference with street traffic.
 OIL EXCITEMENT
 While there has been more or less ex- citement here through oil prospects, Mo bile recently has taken on new life. Pros poets of additional ship building facli- ties because of the unlimited amount of private and federal work offered, has stimulated development. The Alabama Dry Dock and Shipbuilding company, a $500,000 concern, is soon to enlarge its solidation of the Ollinger & Bruce and other shipbuilding and ship repair con- cerns It's plants are going at full ca- pacity.
 The Barret shipbuilding company. re- gently incorporated. 1t Is learned on un- impeachable authority, will soon con struct a docking and shipbuilding plant at Pinto Pass to cost $S00,000. This com pany has acquired control of the Hen derson plant, of which Dr. W. L. and Frank M. Henderson are interested. The Barret company was recently awarded a contract to build four submarine chasers for the United States. The Ala bama company has been offered two of the government cargo vessels, which are being built at all principal shipbuilding plants of the country. The contract has been accepted subject to a visit by 8 naval architect who Is soon to be here.
 WANT SHEPARD
 Mobile wants a ship yard To en- courage outside capital to build one Capt. A. c. Danner, president of the Mobile Coal company, a very large concern, has offered free to "any responsible party coo or 800 feet of Its river front property 4rlr I1<r otr rr1ft "a river from Mobile. Experts declare the site would make an ideal place for a ship yard and fully protected in case of storm. Similar land has been offered for s100 per front foot and over.
 John T. Cochrane, president of the Ala bama, Tennessee and Northern railroad, has announced that he will sell his land at a reasonable price. Persons known to have investigated certain land here for ship yard purposes have abandoned their prospective investments in the past because of the prices offered being con sidered too high. Because of that fact Captain Danner made his free tender. of the late P. F. Alba. has made an offer similar to Mir. Cochranes. The Alba property Is situated on Dog river, to the south of Mobile.
 OTHER PROJECTS
 There are other prospective port devel- opment projects here. But those which are assured has had wonderful effect in Mobile. The city appears to be awak- .ening from 8 state of depression which existed for many months. All that re- mains to assure the putting of Mobile in the forefront as gulf port, authorities claim. is the favorable action by the people on the approaching port facilities as started through the action of the city commissioners In its decision to submit the projects to the electorate. The cleo ton will be held within 60 days after approval of the war department and state harbor board Is ob tained.
 
 The earliest mention of a device in any way resembling the modern elevator or rift may be read in Vitruvious, who describes hoisting machine which was invented by Archimedes This elevator of the second century before Christ was worked by ropes which were coiled upon a winding drum by capstan and levers. The same writer refers to another sini- lar machine which was made to rotate by a man who walked inside the cap- stan. Such a. primitive elevator is still in use to lift passengers and freight from the first to the second story of a con- vent on Mount Sinai