The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-03-05
For the Good of
 the Community

UH N clined to persist; having staying qualities; tenacious of position and pur- pose"
 Senator Bankhead, whose death at his post of duty in Washington few days ago is lamented by all Alabama, had this qual- ity to a marked degree. He knew what he wanted and set out to get. He never let up until he got it.
 Over a quarter of century ago, when representative in the lower house of con- gress, he determined to make the Warrior river navigable, to open it up to the com merce of Alabama and the nation and the whole world. He dreamed of a great in- dustrial empire centered about Birming- ham, with the Warrior river as one of the main transportation outlets to the markets of the world.
 Having decided that he wanted it and determined to getit, he went to work. For more than score of years he worked and he schemed and he talked, and maybe traded, for trading in the political game is not always reprehensible, and in the end the channel was deepened and he had the joy of seeing boats steam up and down the river laden with the wares made in his own state started to outside markets and the wares made elsewhere and needed by his people brought in.
 It was a great day for the distinguished and persistent statesman who lived and worked and dreamed for his people. It was great day for Birmingham and the people of Alabama, and greater days are to come as result of his work.
 Persistent That is the word It achieves it gets results. It will make of Birming- ham the great industrial center, the home of happy and prosperous people.
 Persistent is the word to be adopted in Birmingham. Let her people decide what they want and go after it. Never letsup, for only by persistence can the good things be obtained.
 The Warrior river opened to navigation, the businesss men of Birmingham decided they wanted to use it. Boats were neces- sary; terminals had to be built; transpor- tation ways connecting the city and the river must be secured. A few men went to work on the projects.
 Henry DeBardeleben, who, perhaps. is as persistent as any other man, got. busy on river development. He met discour- agements; overcame obstacles, and. boats began running.
 A few Birmingham men took up other propositions in connection with the river service. They were busy men, but they gave as much of their time as possible. But they didn't have the united support of all the people. They had to overcome ob- stacles. They progressed.
 Then Maj. Charles E. Wood, a dynamo of energy, came on the scene. Given the authority, he took matters in hand, and giving his whole time and attention to the work, things began to move. Freight rates had to be secured in order to make river transportation attractive. He and Secretary Bum of the Birmingham Traf- fic Bureau worked on these, and got them.
 Terminals had to be built. Major Wood put these through. They are now under construction. New equipment hadsto be provided. The uthorities at Washington. who had the final say on all such matters were slow, hesitsnt; there was opposition: it had to be ovelcone
 Persistent effost, judiciousy applied won. Ad- ditional equipment has been ordered.
 Birmingham needs many nthnr thi1,re o,,oorr