Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1884-03-07
BIRMINGHAM. ALA.

The GubernatoriEI NOmination Gov.
o'SesI Chances fOr suceeedias Him.
SELF.
Special to the Appeal
BIRMINGHAM, March 6.-The canvass for
the Gubernatorial nomination is taking
shape, and promises to be an interesting
one. An avowed aspirant to succeed Gov.
O'Neal has appeared in the Hon John NJ.
McKleroy, OF EufauIa, who has some
strength in the State, chiefly as an ex-
ponent of the young man" idea. Gov.
O'Neal wants another term, and the indi-
cations are that it will be no
very easy matter to beat him in
the convention. lie has made on
the whole rather a popular Governor,
and IN certain circles has good deal
stronger backing than he had when he
captured the nomination two years ago.
The State military are among the most en-
thusiastic supporters he has gained. The
tradition in favor OF asecond term will be
a considerable factor in Gov. O'NeaPs
favor-the more SO that 70 man of COM
manding ability has offered as q COM
petitor. Among the strongest agencies
said 10 be backing McKleroy is the "con-
vict ring" so disparagingly designated by
vict system, and especially its operation
under certain OF the present iessees. Nc
kleroy is chairman OF the State Executive
Committee, and q meeting of the
committee has been called, it is supposed,
Tor the purpose OF receiving his resigna-
ton. Col. \. II. Il. Dawson, OF Selma,
who is one OF the most prominent of those
mentioned Tor the nomination, and who,
it seems, would have had pretty strong
support, has refused to oppose Gov.
0Neal.
There has been a good deal of talk
lately OF running Mr.. II. T. De Bardlehen,
OF this city, as an Independent candidate
for Governor should the convention de-
clare in antagonism to protective tariff.
MIR. De B2rdleben is largely interested in
iron and coal operations about here, and
is reputed the richest man in the State. In
view of his wealth and the demands of
: ais shissinoss, it IS doubtful however,
whether lie would have the Governorship
If he could get it.
The remarks ably lo7f death rate OF this
city last year has been cited in this CORE
spondence. The returns for January
show even lower rate. In the Bir-
mingham Civil District, with population
OF between 15, 900 and 10000, there were
oaly twelve deaths in that month, or one
to about 1900.
There is pretty good illustration OF
Birmingbam's growth in the fact that it
has been decided to build an addition OF
seventy five rooms TO the Florence House,
the new hotel, as soon as the main build
iRS is completed and occupied. April
LIST is the advertised date cf the opehing.
Prof. Henry McCallie, assistant State
geoiogist. is here arranging the exhibits
and making other preparations for the ex-
position.
Prelminares have been concluded here
for uniting into one enterprise coal and
iron interest that will make the most ex-
tensive property OF the kind in the United
States The parties to the consolidation
are the Pratt Coal and Iron Company,
the Alice Furnace Company and the Linn
Iron Company. The Pratt Company owns
50, 900 acres Of coal lands, six miles from
Birmingham, 10000 acres of iron lands,
twelve miles Of railroad track, with roll
ing stock and all the incidentals TO
mining daily between $500 and 5000 tons
OF coal and operating $50 coke ovens. All
its stockholders are Memphis men. The
Alice Furnace Company own 5000 acres of
coal lands, n large area of red ore and
brown ore lands, beside two blast fur
naces at Birmingham, with daily capaci-
ty OF $50 tons OF pig, and 250 coke ovens.
The Linn Iron Company's property is a
foundry and machine works capable of
building all the new company's cars, keep
ing up repairs and doing large amount
of other work. The company will build
new blast furnaces as fast as the coal lands
develop sufficiently to supply them. The
capital OF the new company will be S3, ,000,-
coo, and it will be called the Pratt Coal
and Iron Company.