THE ALABAMA OPPORTUNITY. 183 



and at Furman, and at Entaw, but notliing adequate. A test 

 with these marls to be worth much should be made on a large 

 scale, and the lands should receive a heavy dressing as they 

 do in New Jersey. With such a dressing once applied the 

 fields will certainly show the effects for years to come. 



There are many other parts of South Alabama where good 

 calcareous marls "occur in great quantity and are easy of ac- 

 cess, especially along the rivers, at Prairie Bluff, Claiborne, 

 on the Alabama, and at Nanafalia and Ward's Bluff on the 

 Tombigbee, but it is very doubtful if our farmers will ever be 

 brought to see the value of these marls, or induced to give them 

 a fa ir^ trial. 



Chimney Rock. — In many places in Choctaw, Clarke, Wash- 

 ington and other lower counties of the State, there is a bed 

 of soft white limestone which is used wherever it occurs as 

 material for chimneys, pillars, and similar rough work. This 

 rock when somewhat protected from the weather is fairly 

 durable, but exposure to frost causes it to crumble. The same 

 rock underlies a large proportion of the peninsular of Florida 

 and finds similar application there. 



Materials for Portland Cement Manufacture. — The Trenton 

 limestone and caboniferous shales of the Mineral District have 

 already been mentioned in connection with the Portland ce- 

 ment industry. 



In the Agricultural District of South Alabama there are 

 two limestone formations which furnish most excellent ma- 

 terial for cement, viz : the Selma Chalk or Rotten Limestone 

 of the Cretaceous and the St. Stephens limestone of the Ter- 

 tiary. In close proxomity to each of these limestones are 

 clays of suitable composition and in sufficient quantity. 



A six-kiln plant for the manufacture of this cement has 

 been in successful operation in Demopolis for a number of 

 years ; all the materials being obtained on the spot. Arrange- 

 ments are now in progress for the erection of a similar plant 

 at Epes on the Tombigbee river where the same rock occurs. 

 Much of the limestone of the Selma chalk belt has very nearly 

 the cement composition naturally, and requires very little ad- 

 dition of clay. It is present in practically unlimited ^quantity 

 over a very great extent of coimtry from the Mississippi line 

 eastward. 



