The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-03-12
The BIRMINGHAM ROAD
AND THE TRADE In IRON 1T WILL
ENCOURAGE.
A New and Profitable Industry That
win Make Memphis Prosper.
Gus Manufacturing City.
loORREsrOsDrsCr OF THE ArrEAL.l


LRK COUNTY, MISS, March O.
Geographically, Memphis is favora-
bly, situated, No city in the South is
more so, when we tp'ak Of the South
proper. From its position on the
great father Of waters 1t is, practically,
in arms length of any place in the
Mississippi Valley which can be
reached by water. Added to this con-
trolling advantage its iron arms ex-
tend far out in various direction on
both sides OF the river. Still another
railway from Memphis is projected,
and actually in process OF construc-
ton. This Is the Memphis, Birming-
ham and Atlantic road. Already that
enterprise has progressed 30 far as TO
preclude speculation as to its success.
We may safely conclude that at no
distant day trains will be running
upon II from Memphis to Birming-
ham, sweeping tn ough the rich coal
fields and iron beds Of Alabama. From
the completion of this road we may
date new impetus to the growth Ct
Memphis.
Taking our country generally, there
is unquestionably great deal OF iron
ore. But there are few places where
this ore and coal are found together.
But in AlabaDa there is large area
where these two minerals are bedded
side by side, go to speak. They are
not only abundant in quantity, but
their superior quality is well attested.
As for coal, il may be disposed of in a
very few words. There is q prnfusion
of good coal. As for the iron ore, it
Yields a large per centum OF natal.
Iron, like other metals, is all alike,
when separated from the ether sub
stances with which /. is intermixed,
When we speak Of iron by compari.
son, as good iron or inferior iron, the
meaning is that some is clearer of for
eign substances than others. 1t has
been claimed that the Alabama ore
has more iron in it, pound for pound
or bulk for bulk, than any other ore
known in this country, or, indeed,
anywhere else. This claim is proba'
bly, well founded.
The writer OF these lines is cogni-
zant Of fact bearing on this point,
which may be stated. Soon after the
war a considerable number OF persons
from the North and West came South
b prospect for various purposes.
Among this class was venerable
Pennsylvania. He was attracted to
Alabama by reports about the iron ore
there. All OF his business life, which
was nearly half century, had been
devoted to the making Of iron. His
object was to obtain such information
as would enable him to decide
whether ne would or would not set
his sons up In the iron business in
Alabama. He made careful examina'
tions, taking ample time and leisure
for the purpose. The conclusion he
reached was that the richest iron ore
OF which he had any knowledge was
that in Alabama. 1t is not improbable
that the capital of that old gentleman,
under the management OF his sons,
hiss contributed not little to the phe-
nomenal growth OF the city Of Biz
mingham.
Another illustrative incident may
be stated: Soon after the building OF
the Alabama and Chattanooga railroad
was commenced the Hon. r, M. Pat
ton, then Governor of Alabama, made
a railroad speech near where Birming-
ham now stands. There was no
semblance OF a town there them. The
speaker was well informed as to the
abundance and richness Of the iron
ore OF that region. Yet 1t
was lying undeveloped in its
native bed. The Governor f)ressw
and predicted the future wealth
that would grow from those rich iron
beds. He then described the manner
in which the rails for that road were
brought from remote points-some
from England. After the long dis
lance that these rails had been trans
ported, laborers were at that time dig
ging up and re removing iron ore to pre-
pare the roadbed for them, aud he
then declared, from well-attested data,
that the ore thus dug up and removed,
had in IL from 10 to IL per cent. more
iron than the best ore from which
those imported rails hal been taken.
Such is the character of the iron ore
in the vast field which will soon be
opened up by this road from Memphis
to Birmingham. But, of course, this
road will be profitable to the capital
lists who build it, and greatly advan-
iageous to Memphis, apart from it's
sweep through the coal fields. A large
portion OF the country through which
1t will pass is a fiue cotton-producing
region. The cotton OF that region, from
the ordinary rules which govern COM
merce, will be thrown into Memphis,
But the manipulation Of coal and iron
in Memphis will be new feature in
the business Of that city. D.