davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-03-31
NAVIGATION IMPROVEMENTS

Its construction will not only in
sure this large increase in hydro
electric power. but IL viii also canalize
! the Muscle Shoals stretch of the Ten
! nc ssee river it's total distance of 81 ~
miles and remove the one overwhelm-
stream through it's entire length Of
| $50 miles. IT will provide six-foot
upvjgation with a possible increase
| to nine feet If this becomes cestr-
able. 1T Will thus open for easy and
| rapid development the rich natural
! resources of the $4,000 square miles
comprised In the basin of this stream.
| The Muscle Shoals Hydroelectric
| Power company and the Alabama
Power company have donated to the
government all the riparian property
they had acquired on either side OF the
Tennessee river at Muscle Shoals and
arrangements have been made with
! practically all owners of lands which
| will be overlooked as a direct result OF
| the construction of dams No. 2 and
| No. 3 for compensation on a mutu-
! ally satisfactory basis The way Is.
| therefore. regarded as perfectly clear
| fer power and navigation Develop
ments on as large a scale as may be
deemed expedient. The foundations for
these dams and their power houses
have been thoroughly tested through
diamond drill borings made by United
States army engineers and have been
officially declared wholly satisfactory.
THE WARTIME BENEFITS
The principal immediate military benz
efits to be conferred by these nitrate
plants viii be to. render the United States
forever Independent of the natural beds
of nitrate of soda in Chile, the present
sole source of supply. These deposits are
$500 miles distant, they belong to . for
eign government. export rates thereon
CONTINUED On Paxe TAres)
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-03-31

in close touch with it ever since. 1t was
a tremendously busy place and seemed
to me to be about the biggest constguc-
ton work had ever seen. but confess
that I was more impressed with the grea!
building operations in and around Shelf
field than I was in those near Admission.
The thousands of busy workers of Shelf
field are among the highest priced ar
tisans in the south. Something more than
5000 are at present employed by the gov
eminent on work already laid out, and
now that Lieut.. Col. Hugh H. Cooper
has arrived on the scene, another 50os
will be needed when the great dam gets
under way,
Skilled men. particularly structural
steel workers. plumbers, steam filters,
carpenters, painters and even common
laborers are needy badly. Double time
is paid for Sunday and holiday work,
time and one-half for more than eight
hours per day. The health of the city
and the cantonments is excellent A
force of government sanitary experts are
in charge of the entire district
The influx of people from the four
quarters of the globe has been SO rapid
that there is tremendous demand for
houses Many are being built, but they
are leased as soon as material goes on
CONTINUED on Page Three)
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-03-31
NO CITY IN THE
SOUTH CAN BOAST
BETTER HEALTH

No city in the south can boast better
health conditions tain the city of Shelf
field Malaria and typhoid fever are prac-
tically unknown here There has never
been an epidemic of any kind. This may
be attributed in large measure to the
ample and well protected water supply.
The town proper occupies ground on a
high altitude. with just the proper drain
age. but with the large increase in pop
ulation that has come since the Muscle
Shoals development began. steps have
been taken by city, state and government
authorities to put into effect measures of
protection to safeguard and extend the
present satisfactory conditions. These
forces have already begun operations
The entire Muscle Shoals region, within
an area of 80 miles, including Sheffield,
Tuscumbia and Florence will be under
the direct supervision OF the United
States public health service In charge
of this work will be DIR. l.. L. Lumsden.
who will have associated with him DR..
j. A. a LePrince and DIR. r. S. Mus
tard. DIR. LePrince was for 10 years one
of the leading figures in the cleaning
up of the Panama strip, and now has
charge of the engineering problems OF
all the government cantonments and war
works in this country.
health service viii have command OF the
sanitary work in this locality. The work
will require some 200 men and these
forces are being gotten together at this
time preparatory to initiating the work
to be done
1t will be a part of the campaign here
to drain the marshy places. using oil
where drainage is impracticable, with
the view of DISCRIMINATING the malaria
mosquito Trained nurses will assist in
this campaign by taking care of COM
municable diseases which may require
attention, and wherever such disease may
be found scientific measures will be used
to prevent the spread of the disease.
The government health officers will
work in conjunction with the regular
health authorities and to the best inter-
ests of the people. In this work they will
have the full cooperation of all the
people of this section.
In this city there Is a rigid enforcement
of the sanitary laws and a general
clean-up campaign has been inaugurated.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-03-31

who wish to make it their permanent
residence.
Sheffield is Wonderfully situated for
landscaping on grand scale. From a
precipitous bluff of limestone that
rises abruptly from the swift flowing
river below to a height of several hun
dred feet, and whose rounded shape
conforms to the slight bend in the Ten
nessee, rolling place which might
almost be called plateau. extends to
Tuscumbia, about two miles away, ami
on several miles further to range Of
hills which divide that portion of the
great river valley from east to west,
and which is locally known as Little
mountain. =
Coming from Florence towards Shelf
field. one cannot help catching his
breath at the sheer beauty and pictur-
esQueness of the location of the latter.
The trip across the famous bridge with
the CLINT of the mighty stream benea th
and the gem-like island of emerald
which seems to float in rhythmic time
10 the music of the dancing waters, but
gets one in tune for the gray walls
which lift their heads high towards the
blue of heaven crowned with massive
oaks and studded with bushes in every
available crack where nature had care
lessly left bit Of soil. The view brings
to mind the Palisades on the Hudson.
NATURAL LONELINESS
There is a natural loveliness about the
picture for which far surpasses the work
OF a landscape artist. for nature mas
a splendid way of creating beauty spots
which mans art cannot successfully copy
without leaving traces of artificia!lty.
She, with lavish hand. sets a gushing
spring OF clear crystal water flowing
cut OF the mouth of moss-covered
Lodges, draped with native vines. or hid
by bushes of laurel Here at Sheffield
as II to show the power she has law
ished. the best treasures in the store
houses OF mother earth.
The crest Is reserved az park for
all time. place where busy men and
weary women. and tired children can
come and sit and enjoy the peace-glv-
ing panorama which unfolds as q mighty
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-03-31
Far Reaching Importance of
Muscle Shoals Improvement

Developments of far-reaching import
ance to the welfare of the United States
in time of both war and peace are taxi
ing place at Muscle Shoals. Ala, de-
veoPments that must necessarily have
tremendous bearing on the vital question
of successful military offense and defense
and that will confer such economic
benefits in times of peace that these
cannot nov be gagged with any degree of
accuracy.
hTe government is already constructing
two emergency nitrate plants there that
viii extract nitrogen from the air for
use in the preparation of ammonium nj
trate (the form In lich nitrate acid is
shipped. so essential in the manufac-
turc of guncotton, smokeless powder
and high explosives during actual war.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-03-31
Limestone Plateau Overlook
ing Majestic Tennessee
Picture of Surprising
Natural LONELINESS
CITY WAS PLANNED
WISELY FOR FUTURE
BIG DEVELOPMENT
Homes for Workers Are to
Be Built According to the
Most Modern Land
scape Ideals

Sheffield, March 3o-(Special.) -Peo-
pie who have never visited Sheffield
are apt to make the same mistake
about it that strangers have made
about ngham--looking upon both
as great INDUSTRIAL centers-filled with
smoke and CRIME and dirt, good places
in which to make pile and then a
quick getaway to enjoy ones wealth
in more beautiful surroundings. rs
There is nothing which surprises Wis
itors to Birmingham more than its
beautiful residential sections. The
South tiigalarits aeess, ne Mountain
Terrace district. Glen iris park, and
placid Norwood. all have special claims
appealing to home lovers and home
builders. The same thing happens
when one is shown the part of Shelf
field set apart and dedicated to those
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-03-31

over the hub around which all the de-
velopments are taking place and then
to sit up half the night to have him
try and explain it to me was lib
eral education in itself. If this story
is coherent I owe it to him and to
the help of Fontaine Little, our Shelf
field correspondent. who was kindness
itself in aiding me in every way pos
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-03-31
Sheffield Business Men

Many of the business and profession
al men of Sheffield are natives. but a
great many more were attracted from
other sections by the city's superior
advantages. All of them are of the
booster type and believe in the great
future of Sheffield. One has only to
note the size and variety of the Shelf
field stores and the character Of pro-
fessional lines represented to judge
that where there is smoke there is
bound to be fire. and to conclude that
Sheffield is mighty good place to
make Start at fortune building
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-03-31

on the Tennessee, buttressed by the great
government enterprises which hens her
in and augmented by private Industrial
plants will be creating the things needed
in peace times.
If the horrible conflict should end to-
morrow, not wheel in Sheffield would
stop. The thing which made the biggest
impression on me as l wandered through
the great government projects was that
Uncle Sam was mighty busy on a war
job, but that when peace came he would
be busiser still. Get the idea that as long
as the Tennessee continues to leap over
Muscle Shoals. generating power under
mans control, so long will Sheffield con-
tinue to be growing city with untold
possibilities.
WORKERS HIGHLY PAID
have been over to Camp Mcclellan a
number of times. 1 was there shortly
after work was begun. and / have kept
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-03-31
Sheffield GreW Because Men
Had Vision and Confidence

expecting to be bored stiff with Boom"
stories of fictitious sales of lots.
homes, stores, plants and industries to
be built. The whole rigamarole that
| know by heart better than any real
estate shark who is Just whetting his
teeth for a commission
If l were to set down here in cold
type what 1 visioned as / crossed the
tennessee and rode through the great
government developments you would
Immediately think that the fascinat-
ing colonel had hypnotized me and
wove spell about me that made me
believe that l was in the promised
LAND. I'll say this much. when l thought
of all that the development meant IN
the way of war material l was UNI
consciously humming, 1--WE are going
to lick the Kaiser. you just wait and
see" and I felt it was true as 1 had
never felt 1T before
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-03-31
GREW OUT OF CONFIDENCE


Sure, great cities are built that
money may be made but great cities,
when built. are the nurses of art and
letters. the centers of enlightment,
the circles from which radiate scores
of uplifting activities. There is no
gainsaying the fact that Sheffield came
into existence because certain capital
lists thought that through the estap-
lishment of certain industries on It's
favorable site their wealth might be
increased. 1t was a reasonable and
worthy ambition.
II will be well for us to get 1T out
of our heads that industrialism is al
ways unlovely, and that those VINO
take risks to start great enterprises
are mere commercial pirates chasing
the dollar. They who take business
risks are entitled to reasonable prof
its. l am only sorry that captain
Noses the general manager of the
oil iginal Sheffield venture. and his as
sociatcs, failed to fully cash in on their
dreams.
l take off my hat to them, for the
city they had in mind is coming true.
They may have lost their money, but
they did not fail. for Sheffield has at
last hit her stride, the lovely city on
tie Tennessee will yet give wealth to
hundreds and bread and homes to
thousands. In it's borders and on the
banks of the stream which hugs her
side. the power of intellect, through
machinery and mans invention, Will
harness the rivers and help America
not merely to win the war against
Germany. but later to make fertile the
fields of the south.
In Sheffield men of though. enter
piise and daring will work out new
lessons in civilization and thereby
make contribution to the better
riches that are the property of all.
Institutions of learning will be built
and endowed; art will be cherished;
philanthropy will be exercised; APP
piled Christianity will show it's ines
Unable value and receive its fitting
honor. All these and other blessings
/ foresaw in the years to come as |
studied the situation end. peered into
the future.
SHEFFIELD AN ABIDING CITY
Sheffield is no longer "a city on paper. :
Having outlived its boom days. it is
going to be an abiding city. Now, this is
my real belief and not put doown in the
interest of any real estate promoters. 10
be perfectly truthful, the last thing | am
thinking about in writing this article is
to get anybody to buy anything. Shelf
field interests me solely as a wonderful
city development that is going on in .
sister town which is bound to mean much
to Alabama and to the south and to the
nation.
Why am l so confident? It's easy
enough to explain. The end of the great
war Will not mean stagnation for Shelf
field, her toilers will not be demobilized
when the allies win, for while the rest
of the world marks time in the reeoy cry
"A ON the shock OF battle and the dislo-
cation Of trade. the city OF cheap power
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-03-31

Now. confess that went to the
Tri-Cities with no real love for tho
Job of writing a mere boost" story.
but before 1 had left Colonel Worth
fnEton l knew that so far as being
able to tell it could only touch upoI.
its outermost fringe, for it's too big
with possibilities for any one man IL
sss lot alone put it on paper. went
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-03-31

and for combination with limestone, coke
and phosphoric acid into a high grade
fertilizer so necessary to restoration of
soil fertilizer in times of both war and
peace. They are being rushed TO COM
pletion with all possible rapidity.
President Wilson has already author
lied construction of power and naviga-
ton dam No. on the Tennessee river
at Muscle Shoals, at which United States
army engineers have recommended ulti-
mate installation of hydroelectric ma
chinery for generating 100000 horse
power.
THE NITRATE PLANTS
Nitrate plant No is located on gov
erHment-owned reservation of 100 acres.
1t will use the synthetic ammonia
process of air nitrogen fxation, which
has never been employed on a large
scale. Only one unit is now being con-
structed 1t win cost between s5,eo00oo
and 100000 and, II it proves successful,
four additional units will be installed.
A 5000 horse power steam plant is being
built in connection with No l and the
entire contract is in the hands of the
J. c. White Engineering corporation Of
New York, which is doing the work on
the cost-plus plan. Plant No. l will be-
gin producing ammonium nitrate this
summer.
Nitrate plant No. is being built on
tract of 200 acres the government has
acquired on the south side of the Ten
nessee river at Muscle Shoals. II will
use the cyanamid process, which has
proven so successful in Germany, Eng
land, France, Italy. Austria Hungary,
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-03-31
WORLDS GREAT WORK

Now, this is not going to be the con-
ventional write-up of city, for my
ennui soon left me when 1 sat by the
side of the expert on the whole Muscle
Shoals proposition. who prepared the
marvelod@ly beautiful book which was
part of the evidence submitted to Sec
retaries Baker. Lane and Houston at
the showing made before them at the
Tutwiler just a little over year ago;
for he was to be my guide over the
district
l had sat at the hearing in Bir-
mingham in open mouth wonder at his
clear presentation of the possibilities
bound up in the Tennessee river i'm
prov ements, but to put in day going
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-03-31
Natural Beauty
Makes Its Home Sites Ideal

pictiIre in the distance, showing wooden
hills. fertile valleys, happy homes, ana
always the silver thread unwinding IT.
self in its race to the sea as 1t laps
the banks lined with lovely foliage.
| It's a good thing for man to find
spot away from the noise OF the city.
for TOO often immersed in business anu
with the signs of his own mighty IN
dustriaI works and slSyscrapers. he is apt
10 think that after all he is the creator
then comes the need for cleansing Wien
he must turn his back on the man made
town and get close to nature and looking
around and above realize that God cree
ate9 the heavens and the earth, and
holds His creatures in the hollow OF Lis
hand.
SHEFFIELD WISELY PLANNED
Sheffield was wisely planned There
Is ample space for stores, and factories,
and furnaces-and then there was set
apart a park of unsurpassed natural
beauty, and around it nestles the dove
cotes or homes of the men and women
VII, live within its borders. And now.
that great numbers are moving in, wise
provision has been made to bring in
some new territory for home builders
which will be plotted and planted ac-
cording to the very latest in town pian-
ming.
Now, a word about the homes of the
workers. 1t is going to be the aim Of
those who are pledged to put Sheffield on
the map as great Industrial center, not
merely to provide attractive surround
ings for the wel-to-do. but as far as
possible to arrange home sites for the
workers that will be rest spots of beauty
when they come home from their days
labor.
Let us keep ever before us that while
Iindustrtalism is the bedrock upon which
Sheffield is built. that those leading In
its development. while conscious that
business cannot always he made attract
i've, repellent as are rranv of its char
acteristics. selfish as are its aims. doJbt-
full as are some OF the means frequently
used they vet purpose to make the work
ing and the living conditions responsive
TO the higher ideals which are being
adopted by progressive communities.
Der taÌˆgliche Demokrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 186?-1918, 1918-04-14

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11Dglid IN Mptpruugcn luto NIT Ocr
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hem.
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Soduhc.
3piIdti1 Sen bon slrmcntlercS nud)
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lpeitlin pcn @etbune, nudlNent nc Spz
con eeItiirn1t hattelt.
Sln scr Sthladltfrpnt 81 betbcn Set
ten Ser Spnuntc huucrll au Oielen Stcl@
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on ser Shlochtfront ldllgS Der Yrs
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gteues.
Der taÌˆgliche Demokrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 186?-1918, 1918-04-14
Ser arifQ.
{ Associated Press J

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