The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-09-21
For the Good
of the Community

OI the community
@ ELMA and Montgomery business men have petit
~ toned the United States railroad administration
to take the operation Of boats on the Alabama
river and from present indications it looks like their
request will be granted
While Director of Inland Waterways G. A. Tomlin-
in the south week two ago he stopped over
in Montgomery for conference with the business inter-
ests of these two cities and he left them feeling very
much encouraged.
Now the report that the city of Selma has Of
fered to build adequate wharfs and terminals if the
Alabama river service naugurated by the railroad
administration. Selma is the banks of the river.
Selma is one of the oldest cities in the state having
been founded than 100 years ago. It is Of the
best commercial towns in the state located it is in
the center of of the greatest cottOnproducng
tiOnS of the south.
It's growth has been slow, but steady, claiming only
about 20 900 population at the present time but the vol
of it's annual business compares favorably with
cities of much greater population.
Selma business realize the Importance of water
transportation, and having abiding faith in their
town. they willing to back this faith with their
money.
The Alabama river has been navigable from Mobile
to Montgomery great many years, but it has never
been utilized any considerable extent by the shippers
to whom it was available Vessels having a fourfoot
draft can ply it's waters the year round
There coal or iron deposits and no impor-
tant manufacturing enterprises it. The vol
of business possible for it, therefore, is limited to
the volume of originating in destined for
points along the stream
Contrast this with the Warrior river, at one end of
which lies the great mineral development of Alabama
and at~the other the potentially great Mobile harbor
The products of the mines and factories of the Bmng
ham district alone are capable Of supplying tonnage
the capacity of the Warrior river The Brming dis
rict consumes the products of other sections of the
United States and of the countries Of the south of
that would fill every inch of cargo space in Warrior
river craft service to be put in service in the
next few months and yet interfere but little if at ALL
with railroad transportation
The Warrior river now has an eightfoot stage of
water almost to the head Of navigation the year round
Judging from the apparent lack Of interest Bilm1g-
ham people do not realize the Importance of the War
rior river.
has been almost two years since the movement to
install terminal facilities at point nearby and Access
slbe to Birmingham was begun, and only few days
ago the subscription books to the capital stock of
the port corporation opened to the public. Whether
the Birmingham public has subscribed for this has not
been made known.
All details for the port facilities and equipment have
been worked out and contracts for their construction
and placement can be let just as the money to
pay for them is available.
In less than two weeks after they had filed their petit
ton for government operated service the Alabama
the citizens of Selma announced their readiness to put
in wharf and terminal facilities Selma's example is
worthy of emulation.
Birmingham is bigger richer and needs Warrior river
transportation more than Selma needs the Alabama
1t means great deal to the future development
of the district than does the Alabama river Selma