History of Alabama and dictionary of Alabama biography, Volume II, Part 52

Author: Owen, Thomas McAdory, 1866-1920; Owen, Marie (Bankhead) Mrs. 1869-
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Chicago, The S. J. Clarke publishing company
Number of Pages: 724

USA > Alabama > History of Alabama and dictionary of Alabama biography, Volume II > Part 52

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ship 6, range 11 west. They contain sulphur, chalybeate and limestone water.

Gary Springs, Bibb County .- Located near Centreville. Water is full of medicinal prop- erties.

Gate City Wells, Jefferson County .- Lo- cated near Gate City on the western slope of Red Mountain. They consist of four wells and two springs. The water contains lime- stone.

Glenwood Spring, Blount County .- Lo- cated in the northwest quarter, northeast quarter, section 6, township 13, range 2, west, near Blount Springs. It is on the property of Mr. G. D. Fitzhugh.

Hale Spring, Jefferson County .- Located on Shades Mountain, near Oxmoor. It is of the finest chalybeate water.

Hale's Well, York, Sumter County .- Lo- cated near York on the place of Dr. R. H. Hale. It is of strong saline water of acid reaction.

Harrell's Well, Blount County .- Located one mile north of Blount Springs, on the property of W. F. Harrell. It shows chaly- beate water.

Hawkins Well, Jefferson County .- Located a mile or two east of Leeds, near the South- ern Railway. It is near the boundary line of St. Clair County, and is a well about fifty feet deep. The water is sold for medi- cinal purposes in the state.

Healing Springs, Washington County .- These springs are located on a branch of Santa Bogue Creek, and are 17 in number. The water is pleasant to the taste and there are provisions for caring for those who are in search of health.

Herrington Well and Vicinity .- Escambia County. There are wells on the property of J. A. Jerrigan, at Herrington, and also at Keego, Escambia County, both of which were bored by negroes.

Herrington Mineral Springs, Escambia County .- Located at Herrington between Brewton and Pollard in Escambia County. The waters from these springs are highly charged with iron and chalybeate.

Hightower's Well, Curl's Station, Sumter County .- This well is similar to Altman's and C. B. Mill's. It is sunk in flatwood clay, and resembles the water from the above wells or springs.

Hosiery Mill Well, Tuscaloosa County .- This well is located at Tuscaloosa and is used extensively by Tuscaloosa people on account of its mineral qualities.

Ingram Well, Calhoun County .- Located one and one half miles east of Chatchee, this well is 28 feet deep and is sunk in Devonian black shale.

Jackson Sulphur Well, Clarke County .- Located south of Jackson, near Bassetts Creek. This well gives out a steady stream of sulphur water. There are several other wells in the vicinity. They give out sulphur water and some salt.

Johnson's Well, Madison County .- Lo- cated in section 26, township 1, range 1, west, near Meridianville. This well contains pos-

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HISTORY OF ALABAMA

sibly the best known mineral water of the county.

Jones' Spring, St. Clair County .- Located 7 miles southwest of Gadsden on the Ashville Road. This is a white sulphur spring.

Jones' Spring, near Epes, Sumter County. -Located about 7 miles northeast of Liv- ingston, three miles southeast of Epes, and about two miles from the Tombigbee River, on the plantation of H. L. Jones. This spring comes up through the chalk land and is thought to have medicinal qualities.

Landers Well, Calhoun County .- This well is the property of Mr. A. M. Landers, of Jacksonville, and affords saline sulphated water of medicinal quality.

Lansford's Spring, Lauderdale County .- Located on the road between Florence and Waterloo. According to Professor Toumey this spring contains chalybeate with consid- erable sodium chloride.

Lay Spring, Cherokee County .- Located in section 3, township 10, range 7, east. These springs flow underneath the coal meas- ures of Lookout Mountain.

Lee's Spring, Lauderdale County .- This spring is mentioned in one of Professor Toumey's reports.

Livingston Well, Sumter County .- "This well is bored through the selma chalk for- mation into the Eutaw sands, from which the waters are derived." This water con- tains much mineral matter. The well is lo- cated at Livingston.

Lock 10 Well, Warrior River, Tuscaloosa County .- "Located at Tuscaloosa, this well is a remarkably strong chalybeate water, the percentage of iron being greater than that of all the other basis combined."

Lookout Mountain Springs .- There are two springs on Lookout Mountain, one near the end of the mountain, close to Alabama City, on the Hollingsworth property, known as the "chalybeate spring." There is a sulphur spring at the lower end between Gadsden and Attalla, in the northeast quarter, south- east quarter, section 31, township 11, range 6, east. Several other springs are near this mountain, one east of Cordell Station. An- other is the Mentone Springs near Valley Head.

Luverne Spring, Crenshaw County .- Lo- cated a short distance south of Luverne. Car- bonate of lime is the chief ingredient.

MeGraw Well, Wilcox County .- Located at Caledonia on the property of W. H. McGraw. The water contains strong mineral properties.

McGregor Springs, Mobile County .- Lo- cated at Spring Hill, three in number. The water is sold in Mobile, and is used in mak- ing ginger ale.

Magnolia Springs, Baldwin County .- This place is coming into note as a place for winter tourists. The climate excellent and hotel ac- commodations excellent. The waters are ex- ceptionally pure, in both the Old Spring and the Allen Spring. The prevailing elements are sodium (Na) chlorines (CI) and bicar- bonic acid (HCO).

Matchless Mineral Water (Roper's Well)

Butler County .- Located three miles east of Greenville. The water is bottled and shipped to all parts of the country.

Mentone Spring, Dekalb County .- Located not far from Valley Head, on the summit of Lookout Mountain. The spring property is owned by the Loring Hotel Company.

Mill's Well, York, Sunter County .- Lo- cated at York and has the same composition as the Altman Well, near York, though not as "strongly saturated."

Mobile Bay, Springs and Shallow Wells on .- "Along the Mobile Terrace and in other low grounds about Mobile Bay a plentiful sup- ply of water can commonly be obtained by driving tubes down to depths of 75 feet or more, but the character of the water varies with the locality. On the river front, accord- ing to Mr. N. K. Ludlow, extreme salty water was obtained at a depth of 40 feet, while at 75 feet in the same locality the water was free from salt and good for all uses. At the light- house and also immediately opposite the city of Mobile a pipe driven to the depth of 150 feet yielded only clear salt water. At the lighthouse the water rose in the tube within 18 inches of the top."

Monroe County Springs .- A group of five springs are located in the north eastern part of this county, near Awin in Wilcox County. The water is good for medicinal purposes.

Moore's Spring, Hale County .- Located two miles from Greensboro in the southwest quar- ter, southwest quarter, section 7, township 20, range 5, east. It is the property of T. G. Moore, and "belongs to the class of alkaline bicarbonated waters which includes many potable waters as well as waters of reputed medicinal virtue."

Moore's Spring, Limestone County .- Lo- cated 12 miles north of Athens, on "Maple Creek." "This is by far the most strongly sulphurated spring in this part of the state. Free carbonic acid is also found in consider- able quantity." ( Professor Toumey.)

New Market Well, Madison County .- Lo- cated in section 33, township 1, range 2 east. First bored in search of oil, sulphur water was struck, at a depth of 118 and 700 feet. The citizens of the village use the well.

Ozment Spring, Tuscaloosa County .- This spring has valuable medicinal qualities. The water is derived from the LaFayette Sands.

Perry County Springs .- There are a large number of springs in Perry County. "The poplar spring, near the old town of Hamburg 5 miles south of Marion, is a cold spring boiling up through the sands. Half a mile southeast of this is a similar spring the 'Norman.' Eight miles southeast of Marion on the Fikes place, one mile from the bridge is a spring, small but constant in all seasons, temperature, 66 degrees. Twelve miles a little east of south of Marion is the Haynes- worth spring of chalybeate water. Thirteen miles west of Marion is the Dr. W. T. Dow- ney's sulphur spring. Eleven miles west of Marion on the R. M. Foster's place, are sev- eral springs, in the corporate limits of Marion is the magnesia spring on the Perkins place;

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HISTORY OF ALABAMA

three and one half miles east of Marion on the road to Sprott, are the Clinton Springs which comprise several springs of sulphur and iron waters, four and one half miles due east of Marion are the Burrough's Springs, of mineral quality, some of them chalybeate; half a mile due north of Burrough's are sev- eral chalybeate springs; 5 miles east of Marion in section 26, township 20, range 8, is C. W. Ford's spring, strong of iron and formerly much used by Marion people."

Pettusville Spring, Limestone County .- Located in section 10, township 1, range 4, west. "The waters come from the Devonian black shale."

Pickens County Springs. - Chalybeate springs are located on Coal Fire and Lubbub Creek.

Raccoon and Sand Mountain Springs .- A large number of springs are located on Rac- coon Mountain, many of these "come from the measures just below the conglomerate." Very few of the springs however, have been im- proved.

Rutledge Springs, Choctaw County .- Lo- cated in section 15, township 15, range 3, west, on the property of J. A. Watters, about one half mile from Gay's Landing. The water from this stream pours into the river and on account of its color can be traced for some distance.

St. Clair Springs, St. Clair County .- Lo- cated in section 3, township 15, range 2, east, are the St. Clair sulphur springs. They are six in number known as: 1. Black Sulphur; 2. Sulphur; 3. Sulphur; 4. White Sulphur; 5. Red Sulphur; and 6. Lithia. The place has ample provision for the accommodation of visitors.

Salt Wells, Clarke County .- Wells have been sunk in this county for the purpose of securing briny water for the making of salt. Wells are located in township 7, range 1 east, township 6, range 2 east, township 5, range east. These lands have been patented to the state under the name "salt reserve lands."

Salt Wells, Washington County .- There are a large number of salt wells located in Washington County.

Salt Works (lower), Sulphur Springs, Clarke County .- This is a spring which is- sues from the base of Buhrstone rocks, simi- lar to the Tallahatta.

Sanaqna Mineral Well, Madison County .- There are several located in Madison County in close proximity to Huntsville. The water from one of these which is four miles south- west of Huntsville, on account of its mineral qualities, has been put on the market as "Sanaqua mineral water."

Shades Mountain Springs .- See DeSoto Spring; Hale's Spring; and Towne's Spring.

Shelby Springs, Shelby County .- Located in section 14, township 21, range 1 west. These springs consist of "two sulphur with white deposits, a chalybeate spring, and a magnesium spring."

Soda Spring, Choctaw County .- Located three or four miles south of Bladon Springs (q. v.).

Spring Hill, Mobile County .- Located at the Jesuit College, Spring Hill, fine pure water.

Stuart's Spring, Wilcox County .- Located at Schuster on the property of G. W. Stuart. The spring is said to have fine medicinal qualities.

Sulphur and Chalybeate Springs of the Tennessee Valley. See Chalybeate Springs of the Tennessee Valley.

Sulphur Springs and others in Wilcox County .- Boiling Springs are located on the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, between Consul and Gastonburg. Other sulphur springs occur at: Annemanie; Pine Hill, on Southern Railway; Tait's Spring at Black's Bluff, and one near Camden.

Tar Springs .- Located in: section 27, town- ship 5, range 15 west, near the state line of Mississippi; Capps Creek in the lower part of Lawrence County; Town Creek, in north- east quarter, section 16, township 5, range 9 west, and also in northwest quarter town- ship 6, range 9 west. Most of the tar springs borings have been sunk for oil, and some overflow, yielding sulphur, chalybeate and saline waters.

Talladega Springs, Talladega County .- Lo- cated near Talladega in Talladega County, these springs contain "both sulphur and chalybeate water." This place is famous as a resort.

Talladega Springs, Talladega County .- Lo- cated in section 26, township 11, range 2 east, in the lowlands of Tallahatta Creek. Few visitors come to these springs on account of their unimproved condition.

Tennessee River Valley Springs. See Chalybeate and Sulphur Springs of Tennessee Valley.

Thorington Springs, Choctaw County .- Lo- cated in southeast quarter, northeast quarter, section 24, township 11, range 3 west, on Surveyor's Creek. These springs, two or three in number, are thought to be equal to Bladon Springs (q. v.).

Todd's Spring, Landerdale County .- Lo- cated near Bailey's. "This spring described by Professor Toumey, is chalybeate in char- acter and is said to have effected remarkable cures."

Towne's Spring, Jefferson County .- Lo- cated on the summit of Shades Mountain, near Oxmoor.

Tunnell Springs, Monroe County .- Located near the site of old Kempsville at Tunnell Springs Station, on Louisville and Nashville Railroad. The springs are two in number and "issue from a high hill of the Buhrstone rock."

Tuscaloosa City Well, Tuscaloosa County. -Bored in 1905, near the courthouse in Tus- caloosa. The water is thought by many citi- zens to have curative powers.

Tuscaloosa Strata, Waters from .- Wells derived from Tuscaloosa strata are: W. J. Mc- Lendon's; Oswichee, Russell County; City Water Works, Union Springs, Bullock County; Academy Well, Prattville, Autauga County; Exchange Hotel Well, Montgomery; C. C. Ferrill's well, Selma, Dallas County;

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HISTORY OF ALABAMA

City Water Works, Well, Demopolis; Waller Land Company Well, Nos. 1 and 2, Akron, Hale County; Williford's Landing Well, Tus- caloosa County; J. A. Elliott's Well, Mound- ville, Hale County; Y. T. Auxford's Well, Hulls, Tuscaloosa County; T. B. Allen's Well, near Moundville, Hale County.

Valhermosa Springs, Morgan County .- These springs consist of three mineral and one freestone.

University Springs, Tuscaloosa County .- Located on grounds of University of Alabama. This spring is used by students.

Washington County Springs .- The springs in this county are of the Hatchitigbee for- mation.

Witherspoon Spring, Landerdale County .- Located on the road between Florence and Waterloo.

Wooley Springs, Limestone County .- Lo- cated in section 36, township 1, range 3 west, these springs are well known and patronized.

Wyndham Springs, Tuscaloosa County .- Located in northeast quarter of section 8, township 18, range 9 west. Several sulphur and freestone wells are located here. There are excellent hotel and cottage accommoda- tions.

York Mineral Wells, Sumter County .- Lo- cated on plantation of Mr. W. A. Altman near York. Water from this well is shipped to all parts of the state.

REFERENCES .- Bulletins of

the Alabama Geological Survey and manuscript records in the Alabama State Department of Archives and History.

MINERAL STATISTICS. The gathering of statistics of the mineral resources of the State was begun in 1847, with the appointment of Prof. Michael Tuomey, as professor of geology in the University of Alabama. Shortly after his appointment he began explorations of various sections of the mineral district and made reports thereon. Since that time sta- tistics of mineral resources, and of mineral production, have been regularly assembled and published by the Geological Survey of Alabama (q. v.), the United States Bureau of the Census, and the United States Geologi- cal Survey. In addition to these periodical publications, many valuable statistics on the mineral industry in the State are to be found in Armes, Story of coal and iron in Alabama (1910); Berney, Handbook (1892); DeBow, Resources of the Southern States; Manufac- turers' Record; and in the Statistical Ab- stracts, now issued by the United States De- partment of Commerce and Labor.

See for discussions of mineral resources and statistics, Coal; Geological Survey; Geol- ogy; Iron and Steel; and articles under titles of the various mineral substances.

MINES, BUREAU OF. Projected and op- erated through the United States Department of the Interior, Washington, D. C. Its object is to promote safety and health among the workers in the mineral industries, and greater efficiency and the prevention of waste in the utilization of mineral resources in the min-

ing industry of the United States as a whole. However, results of research work in the lab- oratories in one place, or investigative work in another that may prove mutually helpful are disseminated for the benefit of all.

Early in the year of 1911 a temporary mine safety station was located at Birming- ham, and during the same year a permanent building was erected, being occupied during the latter part of September. The plot of ground on which this building stands was given to the Government by J. H. Woodward of Birmingham.

The station is in charge of a district engi- neer, who is assisted by a foreman miner, both of whom are trained in first aid and rescue methods. The station is equipped with a rescue motor truck and a supply of mine rescue and first aid appliances. The chief duties of the mining engineer are to go to mine disasters, to make investigations into their causes and to devise methods of pre- vention; to assist in any possible way in mine rescue and recovery work; to conduct investigations into the general safety ( ondi- tions in mines as regards the use of explo- sives, methods of ventilation, the presence of gas, the use of mining machinery, the con- ditions surrounding mechanical haulage, hoisting, and loading; the methods of mining with a view to greater safety; methods of timbering; the investigation of spontaneous and other mine fires; and of any mining con- ditions that may effect safety and efficiency. The foreman miner assists at mine disasters under the direction of the district engineer, and also travels from mine to mine teaching first aid and mine rescue methods. In the fiscal years 1911-16 training was given to 1,400 men through the Birmingham station.

In addition to the above, the bureau pub- lishes a monthly statement of coal mine fatalities, the data relative to Alabama being received from the Chief Mine Inspector of that State. This information shows detailed causes of all fatalities, which are carefully studied and analyzed with a view to devising methods of prevention. In the fiscal years 1913-16, in cooperation with mine and State officials, the Bureau investigated carefully ten coal mine accidents, which, because of the number of men imperiled or the nature of the accident, were deemed worthy of spe- cial investigation.

Besides the coal mining work mentioned above, the Bureau of Mines has studied the possibility of concentrating the low grade siliceous iron ores of the Birmingham dis- trict. A report dealing with this work is in course of publication.

The Bureau of Mines has also given at- tention to the quarrying industry of the State. It has published some results of its investigations of marble quarries and is pre- paring to publish information relating to methods used at cement rock quarries.

REFERENCES .- Reports of the Bureau of Mines; letter from Van H. Manning, Director, Bureau of Mines, Washington, D. C., in the Alabama State department of archives and history.

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HISTORY OF ALABAMA

MISSISSIPPI AND ATLANTIC RAIL ROAD COMPANY. See Memphis and Charleston Railroad Company.

MISSISSIPPI, GAINESVILLE AND TUS- CALOOSA RAIL ROAD COMPANY. See Mo- bile and Ohio Railroad Company.

MISSISSIPPI TERRITORY. By the treaty of 1795 between the United States and Spain, the latter ceded her claim to that territory known as the province of West Florida, and embracing that part of the country lying south of a line drawn through the mouth of Yazoo River, east to the Chattahoochee River. This territory had been ceded by France in 1763 to Great Britain, and conquered by Spain in 1781. The Paris treaty of 1782 fixed the 31st parallel of latitude as the southern boundary of the United States, therefore, included this Spanish territory.

That part of the territory between the Chattahoochee and Mississippi Rivers became involved in the Yazoo speculation sale, or what was popularly known as the "Yazoo Fraud," and on account of so much dissen- tion between the general government, the State of Georgia, and the indignant protests of the opponents, all papers in connection with the sale and transfer of this territory were burned, in the streets of Louisville, Georgia, "by fire from Heaven," on Feb- ruary 15, 1796. Governor Jared Irwin of Georgia holding a sun glass ignited the pile and the entire lot was consumed. On May 10, 1798, Congress with the consent of the State of Georgia organized the southern por- tion of all that section lying between 31º and 32° and 28 minutes, into a territory. In 1804 the territory was extended north to the State of Tennessee.

President John Adams, in April, 1799, designated Winthrop Sargent, of Massa- chusetts, "Governor of the Mississippi Terri- tory." John Steele was appointed Secretary, and Thomas Rodney of Delaware and John Tilton of New Hampshire were named judges of the Superior Courts. Four months later Governor Sargent organized his government at Natchez, decreeing by proclamation the formation of the counties of Adams, and Pickering in the Natchez District.

Six thousand people including slaves re- sided in that section, at the present time in Mississippi, with a small population in the Tensas country, in the present Alabama.

In view of the exposed portion of the ter- ritory in the east, it being surrounded by Indian Nations on all sides, as well as the Spanish on the south, the Federal govern- ment established a post, called Fort Stod- dert, on the site of the present Mount Ver- non Hospital, and Captain Shaumberg of the second U. S. Infantry, with two companies, was garrisoned here.

A legislature was provided by Congress in 1800, with nine representatives. In 1801 the counties of Adams and Pickering was sub-divided, and became Adams, Jefferson, Wilkerson, and Claiborne, and the seat of Government was removed to Washington. In

1802 "the Natchez Gazett" was established by Colonel Andrew Marschalk and "The Mis- sissippi Messenger" began publication at Washington a short time later. On June 4, 1800, the county of Washington was created by a proclamation, and it embraced all that population of the territory now in the present Alabama. Its limits were, from the Chat- tahooche on the east, to the Pearl River on the west, and from the 31stº on the south, to the 32º 28 minutes on the north. Twelve counties in Alabama, and twelve in Missis- sippi were later created from its territory.

Inhabitants of that section of the territory now in the present Mississippi, took a pro- miscuous part in the Creek Indian War of 1813, notable among them being Pushama- taha's Choctaw Indians, and General Clai- borne's Mississippi Volunteers.

In March, 1817, Congress passed the En- abling Act, for the admission of the State into the Union, and on December 10, 1817, the State of Mississippi was admitted with its present boundary lines, leaving that east- ern section as the Alabama Territory.

MITCHELL, FORT. A former American fortified post on the Chattahoochee River, in the present Russell County. Among the forts thrown up just prior to the Creek War, due to the dissatisfied and threatening atti- tude of the Creek Indians, was Fort Mitchell. This fort was built on Alabama soil by Georgians in 1811 and named by them in honor of David Brodie Mitchell, then gov- ernor of Georgia. It was garrisoned by U. S. Troops in 1813.

It was one of a chain of forts built on or adjacent to the old Federal Road and during the Creek War was a rendezvous for United States troops.

One event of signal importance in the life of the fort was the visit of General La- fayette. Here it was, that a delegation of prominent Alabamians, militia and Indians, probably about 300, assembled to welcome Lafayette to the State.

Another much honored visitor to the fort was Francis Scott Key, author of the "Star Spangled Banner." He was at that time (1833) Federal Commissioner appointed to investigate the dissatisfaction in Russell County occasioned by the conduct of the U. S. deputy marshal, Jeremiah Austill, in enforcing the removal of intruders from the newly ceded Creek lands.

REFERENCES .- Pickett, History of Alabama (Owen's ed., 1900), pp. 677, 687; Ala. Hist. So- ciety, Transactions, 1897-98, vol. 2, p. 49; Brewer, Alabama (1872), p. 511; Woodward, Reminiscences of the Creek Indians (1859).

MOBILE. The county seat of Mobile County, and the metropolis of the State of Alabama. It is situated on the N. W. shores of Mobile Bay, just below where the Mobile and Tensas Rivers empty into the Bay. It is about 30 miles N. of Fort Morgan, the defense of the Bay. It is about 141 miles NE. of New Orleans; and about 182 miles SW. of Montgomery, by railroad communica-

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History of Alabama and dictionary of Alabama biography, Volume II, Part 52

Author: Owen, Thomas McAdory, 1866-1920; Owen, Marie (Bankhead) Mrs. 1869- Publication date: 1921 Publisher: Chicago, The S. J. Clarke publishing company Number of Pages: 724

Author: Owen, Thomas McAdory, 1866-1920; Owen, Marie (Bankhead) Mrs. 1869-
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Chicago, The S. J. Clarke publishing company
Number of Pages: 724