Polytechnic Association: 743 



It is contended by many that Birmingham offers many advantages 

 for the erection of iron furnaces ; that a furnace erected here could 

 draw its ore, coal and limestone by contract, if it chose, from at least 

 four different directions ; that thus a furnace might be run without 

 the trouble of mining, and on less original capital ; or, if deemed 

 best, mines of all might be owned, and this place still have an advan- 

 tage in point of facility and variety of transportation. A gentleman, 

 who owns a mile and a half of the great ore vein, told me he would 

 put it into any such company, rating it at $25,000, and other par- 

 ties to put in $75,000 — certainly not a bad proposition. 



The vein of fossiliferous ore is underlaid by limestone, and still 

 lower is found a fair vein of white and some very handsome red and 

 variegated marble. Lead and zinc are also found, but in what quan- 

 tities they may exist has not been determined. A cherty limestone 

 decomposes into Tripoli, used for polishing, and other minor minerals 

 are known. 



The Irondale Furnace, six miles from Birmingham, has been leased 

 by some northern men, and is now in blast. They will use the fossil- 

 iferous ore, with charcoal for fuel. It was built since the war at 

 unnecessarily great cost, and has been out of blast near two years. 

 They work with cold blast, and expect to average twelve tons 

 per day. 



The country around Birmingham is not a strict cotton-producing 

 region, though the staple is grown in the valley to considerable 

 extent. Farther down it is the special crop. A cotton factory here 

 would pay well, using the coal of either field as a fuel for generating 

 steam. A mine owner could deliver it at $1.50 to $2 per ton. As 

 is seen, I have covered only the outer and southern edge of the great 

 Warrior coal field. As is stated, the inclination of the veins of this 

 coal strata is so slight that the depth of only a few feet will at any 

 point in its area bring the miner to workable veins of coal. At the 

 same time this vast field is cut through by the Warrior river and its 

 numerous forks, which afford ample water facilities. As to lands : on 

 the great vein it is doubtful if any lands are not taken up, except 

 such sections as the railroad may own or may be reserved for school 

 purposes, but on the smaller veins and in the coal fields there are 

 thousands of acres yet belonging to the State and the United States. 

 The last can only be obtained under the homestead act, whereby 

 one hundred and sixty acres may be entered npon " actual settle- 

 ment ;" said actual settlement is, however, frequently a mere farce. 

 Much valuable farming land can yet be obtained by the genuine 



