The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-01-24
RAUL DISCUSSES PROJECT

WHICH fidS itltuS S&ttiiSlNt uSC Ol ttS iiNSl even under present conditions. RAUL DISCUSSES PROJECT 'The time for actually using the War rior river seems to be at hand" said Mir. Kaul The news from Washington is very interesting and it is to be hoped that the investigations which are to be made will prove the project to be feasible and clear the way for commence ing real work at once.
 There is a very considerable volume of heavy freight such as coal, cotton, heavy timbers, naval stores. and sur plus farm products which could be trans ported down the Warrior river for distri- button to other parts of the country, abroad, and especially to South America, and at lower carriage cost than is now possible by rail.
 There Is a large business in lumber products. turpentine and rosin, which could be handled through Mobile to ad- vantage, and at the same time help to build up q substantial and permanent
 shipping business at that port. which has
 suffered decline during the past 20 years There can be no doubt of the
 desrability of doing anything which will tend to increase the importance of Ala banla's single port, and in consequence increase it's value to the state.
 BENEFIT TO TUSCALOOSA 'The cities located on the Warrior, and notably Tuscaloosa. which lies well within the coal and timber fields. would benefit greatly; Tuscaloosa has excellent natural facilities for wharves. and Is we'll served by railway lines, making possible the convenient concentration of commodities for shipment by river at low cost. At one time this river afforded | s... able to this section of the state, and
 of this facility now and improve lit? I am advised that the im- provement of the river through reduction of objectionable bends, and deepening of the channel, can be brought about without serious difficulty and the river put in such condition that ocean going barges can be taken from the upper part o. the river to destinations without transfer of lading.
 "The manufactured products of Bir- min gham and of the Birmingham district az well as of Tuscaloosa, are of that heavy and bulky nature which makes transportation cost a big item. and this section can therefore contribute in my opinion a much larger volume of traf- fife for the river than appears to be tho case at first blush.
 REACHING THE WARRIOR "As to Birmingham districts reaching 1.-the Warrior, this can be done by utiliz-
 ing the present trunk lines which reach and cross the river, with a comparative
 ly short haul. such as is performed by the Birmingham Mineral and other short lines, for instance in concentrating traf- fic for through movement.
 "So far as the building of barges tt
 r, te, .nI
 ready been proven feasible and carried out successfully. and there is prob ably no point in the state where this could be done to better advantage
 Personally. I feel that we are nearer
 the realization of real water transporta-
 tion in Alabama than We might have
 hoped to be had it not been for the se-
 rious freight congestion confronting the country today. and which will continue to burden the trunk lines for long time
 to come.
 "The state. and especially this section.
 is greatly indebted to Senator Bankhead
 for his vision and the vigor with which he has followed the matter up. until 1t has come to the stage of serious consid- eration and investigation. If this project Is brought to fruition the state will be under everlasting obligations to Senator
 Bankhead and Secretary McAdoo. Now
 let us get behind them and do our part las citizens and benefciaries.''
 DEBARDELEBEN COMMENTS
 "The news from Washington sent in by
 The Age-IIerald's correspondent opens
 up many new questions" said Henry T. De eRardeleben. president of the DeBard- eleben Coal company 0nc).
 "All that I know about the matter Is contained in the news story. As a
 pioneer in using the Warrior for com
 mercia purposes itsis of extreme interest. I am hardly in position to speak in telligently about it until I get further information.
 T can only say that my company is