davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-03-31
TIMBER SUPPLY IS
SOURCE OF WEALTH
numbering Will Continue to
Be One of City's Impor-
tant Industries

Sheffield. March 9O.-(Speeial)-No sec
tons of north Alabama contiguous to
sections of north Alabama contiguous to
Sheffield there are large forests of tim
ber thousands of acres of hard and soft
woods as yet untouched by the wood
mans AK and one-half of this terri
tory may be said to stnl be covered
with its native growth. This native ar
borescent growth comprises over 125
species, which includes almost every kind
of tree of any commercial value, though
the prevailing growth is pine the souths
unparalleled soft wood. which is at present
such a factor in the lumber market.
Yet oak hickory, gum, beech and
cedar abound. The SOIL of course, de-
termines the growth of the varieties of
the trees The sandy plateaus are COW
cred with pines but in the limestone val
leys oak, hickory and cedar abound.
There is believed to be enough timber
standing now in the Sheffield district to
last more than a century, not allowing
for natural growth.
LAUNDERING will be for many years to
come as it has been in the past, one of
the most important industries in Shelf
field The lumber mills, and hence
the lumber output is, is rapidly increas-
ing as the demand for it for building
purposes at present for home consump-
ton is enormous, while the call for it
away from home is insistent,
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-03-31
Something About the Big Plants
Which Are Now Attracting the
Interest of the Entire Nation

Mr.. Young is authority for the state
nient that the plant can be operated
entirely by water power when II De-
comes available by the construction OF
the big dam In fact. he states that
the proposed dam at Muscle Shoals,
which has been authorized by the
Presidents order. VIII become an M
portant part of the general plan
Chemical towers are to be construct
ed by the Chemical Construction COM
pany. One building under this con-
tract win cost sT.0eo.,O 900.
The J G. White Engineering COM
pany is building the 6o,o00-horse power
steam power plant at No. at cost
OF $4,000, 600. Stacks win be erected and
pining arranged by the w. w. Kellogg
company A contract involving $4,000
600 road work and grading is in charge
of the oliver Construction company
and a vast amount of road building is
under way.
In the beginning, or until the big
dam is finished at Muscle Shoals, this
plant will also be operated by steam,
as will be the case at plant No. / in
West Sheffield AS an emergency
measure the government is providing
a 60,000-horse power steam plant ana
the government has arrangements
whereby it will secure 10000 horse
power additional electric current from
the lines of the Alabama Power conf
pany. These lines are now being
strung from the new Warrior river
steam plant of the company to this
field. Electricity is essential at this
plant, since the electric furnace pro-
cess is to be utilized. When COM
pleted more than 5000 men are to be
employed in operation of the plant per-
manently.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-03-31

Sheffield, March So.-tspecial.)-Lo-
Gated in West Sheffield is the site CT
1900 acres where civilian army OF
thousands are working feverishly but
orderly to hasten construction of the
government synthetic ammonia plant
which will produce those nitrates VI
tally needed in the manufacture OF eN-
plosives to be hurled against the
Huns
This ammonium nitrate plant WEI
cost to complete s6,O00.oe0 and Is oe-
ing constructed by the j. G. White En-
gineering corporation of which MT. d
G. Munson is the resident engineer
This plant is to be operated by 5000
horse power steam plant now pelns
built. The second unit will require
similar amount of power. According to
Capt r. w. Hemphill, Jr., ordnance
officer, the plant will be manufac-
turing ammonium nitrate by June
of the present year.
over the hill from this plant 1t is
said that another large plant is TO
be erected. on these grounds is row
after row of hewly built bunk HOUSES.
cottages and other builindgs. Big Uni
ted States trucks are to be seen
whisking material here and there; ev
erywhere, in fact, in and out from
Sheffield There are locomotives busy
switching in cars of material that
came speeding from north and east
under government priority orders. 1t
is scene of intense activity.
East of Sheffield contiguous to
Muscle Shoals is the big show of
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-03-31

the government development here, the
construction of the cyanamid plant,
which has become known as nitrate
plant No. 2. This site is on a tract of
200 acres and is situated on the south
bank of the Tennessee river. opposite
the city of Florence. 1t is here that
the Air Nitrates corporation is build
ing for Uncle Sam the greatest nitrate
manufacturing Plant in the world to-
day. More than 1000 men are employed
in the work of construction at this
time. Fully $4,000 will be employed
on the big plant at the peak Of con-
struction.
An array of cantonment style build
lngs haze been completed, which shell
ter vast number of those now on
Gagged at the works. Besides these VIII
lagos have been built for both white
ard colored. The Muscle Shoals post
offiqe has been established Recrea-
ton halls. mess halls moving picture
houses and a hospital building have
beet provided.
Near where the main plant will be
established a distribution yard is be-
ing built with 10 miles of railroad
traeNage, which connects with the
two branches of the Southern ana
Louisville and Nashville. running TO
Sheffield
The main contract for the construc-
ton of plant No. 2 involving s22 ,O00,-
600. is held by the Westinghouse
Church-Kerr company of New York
city. The total expenditure will prob
ably exceed $4,000 600.
AS the governments operating COM
panE. the Air Nitrates corporation IS
in control of the entire undertaking.
j. w. Young is the resident manager.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-03-31
Far Reaching Importance Of
Muscle Shoals Improvement
Continued from Page one)

are high and steadily increasing, ocean
shipping space is practically unobtan-
able and exorbitantly high and there
is the ever-present danger that these
beds may pass under the control of an
enemy power These plants will furnish
a thoroughly dependable supply of ann
monium nitrate and they will do this
under the most favorable conditions be-
cause: a They are situated we'll within
the safety zone established by the war
college; (2) they are located in the heart
of a section of country which Is diff.
ficult Of enemy attack and which lends
itself readily to successful military de-
Tense; and go they are within compare
lively easy reach of the majority Of
powder and munitions plants and govern
ment arsenals which require large guam
titles of ammonium nitrate. the most inn
portant single element entering into the
products of the latter.
And, in the event the government con-
tinsles its clearly defined policy of con-
centratng its powder and munitions
planth within this safety zone as in
tanced by the s12O0o0,o0o powder plant at
Nashville. Tenn, and the big munitions
establishments at Charleston, w. Va, 1t
is regarded as wholly within the range
of probability that some of the present
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-03-31

New York harbor at Warmers, N. j., for
the manufacture of ammonium phos-
plate This plant obtains its fixed nj
trogen in the form of cyanamid from the
company's cyanamid factory located on
the Canadian side at Niagara Falls. and
its phosphoric acid from phosphate rock
shipped by water from it's own mines IN
Florida.
This company located in Canada be-
cause no cheap hydroelectric power was
available in the United States for oper-
ating electric furnaces, which are essen
tial in the cyanamid process. The power
development at Muscle Shoals, however
makes successful operation of this proc
ess possible at this point, and since there
are plentiful supplies of nitrogen, line
stone, coke and phosphate rock immedi-
ately at hand. il will be possible to pro-
duce a complete fertilizer. containing
from 60 to 20 per cent plant food at one
half the price which American farmers
are paving for the inferior fertilizer con-
tanning Y to IA per cent plant food,
which they are now using in such limited
quantities.
! Just what this vastly increased supply
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-03-31

acres in cultivation that year, there
was an absolute loss to the farmers
of s102, 600,
The per-acre yield of cotton and food
stun crops is not keeping pace with
growth in population and the cost or
living Is rapidly mounting, though
prices were not advancing so tast. Inc
same condition prevailed before the
war. as indicated by the fact that pop
ulation in this country increased Il per
cent from 1900 to 1910. as against IN
increase in food production of only ~
per cent The cost of living in the
United States increased 50 per cent
from 1896 to 1912, and large pro-
portion of this increase was attributa-
BILE to food alone.
Thus the economic benefit which ex-
perience has proved will follow this
Increased supply of high grade fer
tilizer produced at Muscle Shoals VIII
follow wherever bread is eaten ana
wherever clothes are worn.
The hydroelectric power to be pro-
CONTINUED on Page Four)
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-03-31
Reasons Why Sheffield
: Will Be an Important
and P0pulous Center
tcontinaed from Page Two)

y, 4. ~ u truly than those men who are
lairsafiy IN the trenches in Europe and
their health is of as much concern TO
TIE government as that of any body
of men whose efforts are supplements
ing those of the American soldisrs
over there
In d word, the man who contemplates
making his home in sheffield comes
TO a city whose industrial future Is
assured. where the healthfulness of
the city has been remarkably good in
the past and bids fair to be maintained
under the expert supervision OF The
government and where the attractive
sites for residences are to be had in
abundance.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-03-31
Visitor Impressed BY
Type of Citizenship
: ER.Nk WILLIS BARNETT

and shared what they had with those
struggling to hold on to their homes ana
businesses. l know the sacrifices that
some of them have made in standing by
their home town, and l rejoice that their
courageous attitude towards life and
their helpfulness to their fellow man is
finding reward in material prosperity.
Let no one get the idea that because
Sheffield is a new town that 1t is lack
ing in culture. Its schools and churches
are standing witnesses that the city
fathers are desirious that their children
shall have all the refining influences of
an education ana the solace of rellgion.
Small wonder that the rising manhood Is
sober, lawabiding, industrious and order
ly, and keenly alive to everything which
affects the business, social and moral
conditions of their place of residence.
The stranger who comes into Shenield
is trea ed with kindness, consideration
and respect as long as he deserves It,
Every man stands on his worth. Shelf
field is made up of manly men. lovely
women and be- utiful children.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-03-31
Industrial Opportunities
in Sheffield

Among the many enter
prises for which Sheffield
offers an excellent loca-
ton may be mentioned:
A modern brick plant. Excel
lent clay is available,)
A large planning mill.
A sash and door factory.
A well equipped machine shop.
A modern creamery.
A cotton factory.
Additional truck gardeners.
Al wholesale hardware store.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-03-31

Sheffield, March so,-tspecial)-A city
may be favorably located, it may have
great Industrial concern in its midst, 1t
may boast of great trade area-but
cities like men have an individuality, yes.
even think we may speak of the soul of
a city as seen in the public spirit, or
lack of it. 1 was sure that Sheffield
was backed by the things which make
for commercial success, but what l want
ed to know more about was the character
of its citizenship.
| have learned by visiting among them
that the people of Sheffield are hospit-
able, enterprising and progressive and
that while keenly alive to the great busi-
ness prosperity which is enveloping them
are not unmindful that no city can be
built on greed and selfishness and there
fore, are responsible to the demands
made upon them to shape it along lines OF
service and civic righteousness
I have warm personal friends who have
lived in Sheffield through the lean days
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-03-31

Sheffield. March so.-tspeciall-The
voters of sheffield have recently author
lied the issue of bonds to the amount oil
1900. which will be used to build mu-
nicipal wharves and docking facilities
on the river front. A like amount was
voted to provide for an additional high
school building The plans for this build
ing are now being drawn by Il. II. JOY.
wen known architect of Birmingham, and
ii is planned to have the new building In
readiness by fall.
The city commissioners have engaged
tho services of Robert Chapman of Biz
mingham. who will become city engineer,
and supervise the building OF aoultlo ma
sa,,,arasrs improvements here. He will
also direct the work of paving the down
town streets, which is planned for the
business section.
The southern, Northern Alabama. and
the louisville and Nashville railroads,
are making extensive improvements ana
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-03-31
Sheffield Is Alert To
Future Improvement

enlarging present facilities to meet the
demands here
Contract has been let for improvements
to be made to the local union station
involving an outlay of $4,000. II -
planned, however TO build larger ana
more adequate union station when VIII
likely be located so as to serve poth
Sheffield and Tuscumbia-
The Southern is making additions 70
its local shops and the old Northern
Alabama shops in South sheffield VIII
be rebuilt In the local yards OF the
Southern and Northern Alabama more
than 20 miles of new trackase mas oeen
completed recently. The Louisville ana
Nashville is making improvements TO ITS
local freight house, at cost OF spo.
The Southern system has awarded cor
tract for the rebuilding of the southern
bridge across the Tennessee river here.
THE structure viii be generally over
hauled and the 10 piers will oe reoulls'
If il is found that their conditions war.
rant II From $4,000 to 100000 VIII
be expended in this work alone
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-03-31
HOW is THE WEATHER?

Make as much fun as you please about
the weather, but you can't get rid of 1t
by laughing 1t out of court, for, IL 1t Is
outlawed one day. it will bob up tho
next and elamor to be topic of con-
versation Climate has very much TO
do with the making or the marrng OF
city Now, Sheffield. as | said, is a city
made to order. and II the weather had
been ordered cut to measure, II could
not fit people more comfortably The
climate Is salubrious, uniform and OF
delightful temperature.
In Sheffield one seldom experiences ex-
tremes of heat or cold. Sunstrokes are
unknown and no one has ever frozen
to death The climate is of the variety
found In the Piedmont region, and for
the south there is no better variety. Inc
springs are early and wonderfully balmy
the summers, while long, are free from
feverish and scorching heat; the autumns
are late and dry, and the winters are so
slow Of approach and so mild that the
crops are frequently left out in the tields
until Christmas time, and roses bloom
in December
All of which. taken in conjunction
with the fact that Sheffield is perched
on a towering bluff, far away and above
any marshes that might cause malaria.
and in direct line with the breeze from
the mountains, which, as a matter or
fact do blow almost continuously, in
sure the healthfulness of its location,
while the rolling nature of the land,
a thorough system of drainage, give
liz almost the aspect of health resort,
For the benefit of those who prefer
statistics to descriptive writing. here
are the facts: The mean temperature tor
the seasons are about as follows;
spring Go degrees; summer, 19.5 de-
gfees: autumn 64.5 degrees, and winter,
504 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-03-31
WHAT 1T MEANS TO FARMERS

In times of war nearly all the nitrogen
fixed from the atmosphere by these
plants will be required in the production
of ammonium nitrate for purely military
purposes. But in times of peace only
small percentage of their output viii pc
so needed. The remainder will be avail
able for use in combination with other
elements in the production of high
grade fertilizer that can be had by the
farmers throughout the country at about
so per cent of the cost of the low grade
product now being used.
The American Cyanamid company has
recently completed a s4,000,e01 plant in
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-03-31

arsenals in exposed territory may be con-
contracted on property adjoining these
nitrate plants. In this connection 1t may
be noted that in addition to the am
monium nitrate supply available at Mus
Gle Shoals, there are vast quantities OIL
other essential munitions materials with
in a radius of 100 to 400 miles, including
cotton and linters, coke. iron and steel,
aluminium, copper, pyrites, lead, zinc
manganese and sulphuric acid.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-03-31
TRANSPORTATION SAVING

In addition to cutting fifst cost 70 UT
farmers 50 per cent this process at this
plant by virtue of central location ana
navigation facilities at hand. VIII greatly
cheaper transportation. and other hand
ling EXPENSES. Muscle eShoals is at the
head of all-the-year navigation on the
Tennessee river. which flows into the
Ohio at Paducah, KY. This fertilizer can
therefore be handled on 1900 miles OF
inland waters at approximately one-natt
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-03-31
Two of sheffield's iron industries

ton are very intimately related. Frank
S. Washburn made the statement in 1919
that IL the United States had an ade-
quate supply of cheap fertilizer ana USED
this at the German rate per cultivatea
acre and secured thereby the same m
crease in production obtained by the use
of fertilizer in that country, there woula
be a net gain in crop yield in the United
states, over and above the cost OF the
fertilizer Of 81 ,oOo, 100000 year" On the
basis of present prices. the result would
be a net gain Of approximately S2'ooooV'
000
| heterogeneous fertilizer is not being
| used now not because it's efficacy is not
fully proved, but because il cannot DC
secured except in most limited way ana
because. when it Is available, the price
/ therefor is practically prohibitive. The
cynamid process plant at Muscle Shoals
lvill not only produce a dependable sup
ply. but it will also so greatly reduce the
cost as to make its use protitapie an"
,,apr flutNarSal
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-03-31

~ tha nll-rail rate now III tilSNt y 1890
taking into consideration the dlHersHee
=, niant food content. The ratio OF piahs
GOOD In the fertilizer to be produced d.
Muscle Shoals is five TO one compare
with that now being used. 1t may DC
conservatively stated that the comoina
zion rail-and-water rate on the output
~ this plant will be only one-ffth per
ton Of plant food for the entire Mlssls-
sinpi basin compared with the per ton
rata ON the product now being USED.
This will mean q vast saving 10 the
farmers in that area as well as III Au
parts of the country.
Fifty per cent of the fertilizer useo III
the United States under normal cohur
tons is applied within 500 miles OF the
location of this cyanamid process plant,
and so per cent within 500 miles. AS
result. there will be further large saw
| ing in transportation cost aside from
| that involved In difference in plant fooc
content.
THE SAVING OF LABOR
| This heterogeneous fertilizer is the most
effective agency known for increaslhS
the per-acre yield of cotton, wheat ana
other farm products without requiring
Increased labor, and 1t therefore closely
| touches the cost of food which can De
reduced only through increasing the per-
acre yield. Tests made at the ONO eS-
pertinent station have demonstrated
that such fertilizer, in the case of corn
and oats. will effect a labor saving OF
so per cent, and in the case of wheat, OF
l1O0 per cent. Tests made at the Missis-
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-03-31
Sheffield Grew Because
Men Had Vision
and Confidence
Continued frorn Page onc)

tSnhtthueu iioiA "eN Ve>f
the ground. A thousand more houses
could be leased at excellent prices today.
Local capital cannot build them as fast
as they are needed. Build house in
Sheffield, reap splendid profit, not only
from rental, but from the steady advance
in the value.
La prensa. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1913-1962, 1918-11-11
REANUDARON SUS IRA
5AJOS LAS MINAS
De CARBON

CIUDAD De MEXICO. Hoviembre
9.-La Direction General de los
F~'errocarrilcs recibio informcs de que
los mineralcs de carbon del Estado
de Coahuila acaban dc reanudar los
~traba.ios que habian ~suspendido a eau
sd de II cpidem!a que ALA fuG de
graves c0nsecuncieaS.
Para hoy los mineralcs de Agujita
Y los alredcdores han cxtraido mas
de mil tcneladas de combustible. eli a
va Sc emnez6 Il distribuir de manera
c~onvenicnte para cvitar que los ira
bajos de la industrial sc paralicen CO.
mo Sc temia, aSi como el trafico fe-
r~rocarrilero en- una gran iona de la
frontera.
Con este motive ha renacido va IL
actividad de la region de La Laguna.
Ia que estaba resultaTdo mas PERU
dicada que nadie d causa de la falta
de carbon.
La prensa. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1913-1962, 1918-11-11
sc "enVenenarOn con una
boteIIa de vino
de anIZ

CIUDAD DE MEXICO. Nov. O.
Los diarios de csta ciudad dan la no.
ia de que varias personas fueron
intoyicadas con un brevaje llamado
ANS dc Estrella, y que ~estuvieron a
punto de MORN, presas dc horribles
convulsioneS.
La nota tiene algo de chusco, i
pesar de que su aspecto general es
verdaderamente lamentablc, toda veZ
cue iban a ser victimaS algunas per-
sonaS.
Por ell barrie de la Libcrtad vivc
ell senior Carlos Villar, hombre eX-
pansivo Y ~jovial, que cuenta con muy
buenas relaciones V simpatlas en- TODD
su barrio.
4 este senior sc lie lego cl dia de
su santo". Y. como era natural. SUI;
amistadeS Sc presentaron en- su doml-
clio a fclicitarlo Y 4 "darle los dias'.
FL senior Villar. agradecido, sac0
una botella de vino que contenia q
famoso .Anis de Estrella, de la cua!
invite algunos tragoS Z suS amigos,
Estos. contentos, ingirieron mas de la
cantidad acostumbrada, Y a Dos 20
cos momentos sc comenzaron a sentlr
malos. haSta ell extreme de que fue
necesario lamar 4 un medlco para
que los atendiera.
FL medico comprendio 10 QUE te-
MAN. V, despues de suministrarles los
primeros auxilios con buenos resulta-
dos. do parte a la tercera comisarla,
presentandoSe despues el personal
uuien orden0 que los enfermos pasa-
ran al hospital para un cXamen, Y ell
senior Villar quedara detenido para
| hacer las averiguaciones del case.