The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-11-23
ting this appropriation get away from us. It would probably take years to get another one.v
 RAISING MONEY

l\ from us. It would probably take ! years to get another one"
 RAISING MONEY
 | When the situation became kn,wn
 here yesterday, one Birmingham man
 who has always taken a keen interest in the development of Alabama's in- land waterways system, promptly sub
 scribed for his company s2,O00, and sev- eral others made contributions. It was
 declared last night that number of the coal operators had subscribed and
 that $10,000 was considered as as- sured in Birmingham already. It is
 reported that half the needed $37, ,50e would doubtless be secured in Sir.
 mingham. Mobile, it is hoped, will [ TO- vide the other half of the money with. out delay.
 Without the coal facilities it is de- clared by those familiar with the sit nation, that there can never be any export business in Alabama coal Proper terminals are necessary, rot only to keep down the cost of .oad- ing the ships. but also to keep from tying up the ships in the port for a week or more.
 !. It is pointed out by coal men that Norfolk has facilities which enable a
 large ship to coal in one day. Mobile cannot compete for this coal trade, it is declared unless proper terminals gre built.
 LOWER RATES The freight rate on coal from the mines to Norfolk is declared to te $2.S0. against the freight rate from the Alabama mines to Mobile of $2. Since the water rate to Mobile IS 20 per cent lower than the rail rate. Ala
 bama coal can be placed at Mobile for $1.60 per ton, or a saving of $1.20, as compared with the cost of transport ing coal to Norfolk.
 With this advantage in price, it is contended that Mobile can become a great port for the export of Alabama coal. But under the present condi sions, the crude facilities for loading run up the cost until this advanage largely disappears and when the delay of sev- eral days caused ship by loading coal at Mobile is considered, it will be seen why ships still go to Norfolk for coal, despite Alabama's apparently low CT price. But with the construction of these government coal terminals, the advantage of $120 per ton on coal shipped by the Warrior river will be realized and there will be no trouble in securing an export market for all the surplus coal mined in this state.s
 NEW TERMINALS
 With these new terminals, it is point ed out. all the different seams and grades of coal will be Kept in separate containers. thus avoiding mixing which has been the cause of all the trouble in the past It Is declared by coal men that when several grades and seams are mixed, one seam combusts at a lower temperature than the ,ther, causing poor combustion by the other and resulting in a large amount of clinkers. The new terminals will have a capacity of 10000 tons, which ships to coal at once. The proposed terminals are to be used exclusively f. r coal shipped by the river.
 Probably the greatest Advantage to the people of Alabama from the c, n- struction of these terminals will como in the steady operation of all the coal mines. With regular export market at Mobile. there will be an ut let at all times for the surplus of coal produced ip the mineral district, coal men claim This will allow the mines to run every day, even when the de- mand for domestic coal is weak, and Will thereby greatly reduce the ovor> head expense. It is pointed out that at certain seasons the mines can only run two or three days a week and the heavy overhead from such operation causes big increase Tn the price which must be charged for domestic coal. Cheaper coal for domestic consumers is declared to be assured when an export market for the surplus enables tie mines to run steadily.