Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-11-20
BIRMINGHAM, ALA.

Thoroughly Well Advertised by the
Concurrent Testimony Of Capitalists.
Special to the Appeal
BIRMINGHAM, November l9.-If there is
any efficacy in advertising Alabama has
right to expect something from the spread
ing on the government records of the
testimony taken here by the Labor and
Education Subcommittee of the Senate,
as much of this testimony is of rather
surprisingly satisfactory nature. Not a
day has passed but good deal of definite
and sigG,,:'s; so;s, ;t ri.ep riinieg%atioE has been
ri iccc,,,se ~, rJ"ne associated Press has
not sent out reports of the session of the
con mittee is not easily to be explained,
as, to the knowledge of your correspond
points of the the testimony are well worth
a report in the columns of the APPEAL.
During the first days session, Monday,
a rather remarkable review of the indus
trial history and capabilities OF Alabama
was had from Ex-Gov. II. NJ. Patton, of
Florence; remarkable not less from the
length of the period reviewed than from
the range of topics touched upon. Gov.
Patton said he had been q resident OF
Alabama for seventy-two years, having
been born in North Carolina.
w. II. Gardner, cotton factor, of
Mobile, testified that whereas coal cost SIS
per ton at Mobile fifteen years ago, it
could now be bought for 81. He thought
Alabama, before great many years had
passed, would furnish Central America
with coal, though as yet she did not pro-
duoe more than she could use. In 1879
only 1860 tons OF Alabama coal were re-
c9ived at Mobiiei in 1852 over $4,000 tons
were received. lie had aR interest in a
mine near Birmingham, which, 1t is esti-
mated, could yield 1000 tons of coal day
for 1000 years.
James Hale, colored man from Mont
gomery, testified that he had accumulated
$4,000, but cited instances of the general
thriftlessness of his race, and some OF the
disadvantages they are ecompelled TO suffer.
Wednesdays session was taken up in
the main by tariff discussion between
$. w. Lapsiey, of shelby county, and Ex-
Mayor H. c. Evans, of Chattanooga, for,
and Senator Pugh against protection. Mr.
Evans testified that the cost Of making
coke-iron at Chattanooga is SIS 40 per ion.
One Of the most valuable witnesses was
Gen. James w. Burke, collector Of the
port of Mobile, who testified that when he
went to Mobile in 1881, government YES
sells employed in the coast survey were
| paying S. ton for coal, and that he at
once undertook to have them use Ala
bama coal, which cost them but S.. The
same coal conld now be bought in Mobile
at 81 IS, and as soon rs the Coosa river is
cleared of obS;ructions it can be had
at -. Mobile was iSs only port in
the country to which co@l could
be fioated direct from the mines on river
tide. Gen. Burke eoneuTred in the opin-
| ion that Alabama would before Long sup
ply Central America with coal, as she is
| 1900 miles nearer than England. The
harbor improvements at Mobile had been
a success, as there is now twenty-five feet
of'water where before there was only ten
feet. He knew of . vein of coal in the
Warrior fields that was six miles long and
| five feet six inches thick lie aisc knew
of camel coal. The port receipts at 1io-
bile had Increased, Gen. Burke said, from
$4,000 TO SlSo,ooo.
Ex-senator Willard Warner testified vo-
luminously upon political and industrial
questions. He said it costs about So a
ton 70 make charcoal iron, the labor cost
ing Sld s5, Undet such conditions IL
would be impossible TO compete success
fullywith English irop-mskers on an equal
footing.
Col. J. w. sloss,- president Of the sloss
Furnace Company, and also president Of
the South and North railroad, was another
good witness. He said his furnace could
make coke iron at $ll 30 a ton. Being
interrogated as TO Birmingham's manuiac.
tunes, he said $2,000Oo0 of capital had