The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-12-23
SOUTHERN IRON TRADF.
WHAT ITS CHIEF PROMOTERS
SAY ABOUT 1T
To the Capitalists Of New York
Eighteen New Furnaces Uuder
Construction.


men OF the South, who have been in
this city during the last ten days, viii
20 home to spend the ChIistmal holi-
days thoroughly satisfied with the
business OF the year, and more than
hopeful for the future. And they
have good reason to be. The
time for which tome of them have
been waiting, for nearly twenty yesTa,
when Northern capitalists would be
Convinced not only OF the safety but
OF the immense profits 10 be gained
from the investment OF their money in
developing the almost fabulously rich
coal and iron resources Of Alabama,
Tennessee and Georgia, has come at
last. Furnaces throughout the region
are Increasing their capacity; new fur
naces are building or contracted for;
fresh markets are taking the product;
iron workers are arranging to establish
themselves in this favored region,
where they can buy their raw mate
rial cheaper than anywhere else on
THE continent; new railroads are be-
ing built and old ones extended, and,
in short, the Birmingham, Chattanoo-
ca and Sheffield districts are just now
enjoying boom" such as no other
section Of the South ever saw since the
country was first settled; aud, what is
better, it ia q "boom" that rests on the
most cold Of foundations, and Is as
certain to be permanent es anything
in business can be.
The Simultaneous presence in thie
city Of such men ss Gen. Willard
Warner, president OF the TeCumssh
Iron Com paDy, at Tecumseh, Ala. A.
M. Shook, OF Tracy City. Tenn, man
ager of the Tennessee Coal, Iron and
Railroad Company; Prof ]. b. Kille-
brew, formerly State Geologiet Of
Tennessee and secretary OF the Ala.
bama and Tennessee Coal aud Iron
Company Mr.. Parish, of Philadelphia,
also largely interested in the develop
ment Of coal and iron properties in
the Southwest, hes afforded an oppor'
turity to obtain from the men most
competent to give it, verification Of
the reports made by William d. Kel-
ley, OF Pennsylvania, alter his return
from a recent visit to this favored re-
gion.
Gen. Warner, Mr.. Shook and Prof.
Killebrsw we're together at the Fifth
Avenue Hotel on Friday, and while
the frat is the authority for most OF
the facts and figures given herewith,
his statements were all sustained by
the other two, each OF them volunteer
ing items OF information to supple
ment those given by the ex-senator.
81 suppose you know" said Gen.
Warner, "that there are three great
centers OF coal and iron production in
the States of Alabama and Tennes-
BEE - Birmingham, Ala, Chattanoo-
ga, Tenn, aud Sheffield, Ala. The
large charcoal iron producing region
OF East Tennessee, and on the line oil
the Selma division Of the East Ten.
nessee, Virginia and Georgia railroad,
in Alabama, are Subdivisions OF the
main districts.
1.-THE great Clinton vein Of red hem.
attic or fossilierous ore, belonging
geologically to the upper Silurian pc
Rod, beginning in the State Of New
York, extends with great pereistency
to Birmingham, Ala, there attaining
its greatess thickness OF tweDty-siS
feet. Ii is six feet thick at RlsinI
Fawn, Ga. The brown hematite ores
from which all the charcoal iron o.
these States is now made, and which
is also largely used by the coke furn'
aces for mixture with the red hema
lite ores, are at present most largely
developed in Alabama, along and con
tiguous to the Selma division OF the
Eaet Tennessee, Virginia and Georgil
railroad, and in Hickman and Wayne
counties, Tenn, while greet deposits
as yet untouched, arc found in Frank
lin county, Ala, on the line OF tbs
Sheffield and Birmingham railroad
nov being rapidly built by MeeBrs
E1sley, Parish, Shook and their asso
cistes, and elsewhere in Alabama ant
Tennessee, These ores, when clearly
miaed, will yield raw, that is withou
roasting to expel the moisture, frou
As to 10 per cent. OF iron; and cal
Cined, from 90 to % per cent. Tn
red ores are all worked raw, and yiol,
from 40 to 45 per cent. OF iron.
AN INEXHAUsTlBLE COAL SUPPLY.
"The coal supply OF these districts
inexhauslible, and covers an area O
5000 square miles in Tennessee, wit
from one to three workable seams
the best coking seam being th
Sewanee, which is 500 square miles ii
extent. la Alabama 1t covers an are
OF COCO square miles, embracing III
Warrior, Cahawba and Coosa heldt
with three or four workable SEAM
each from four TO seven feet in thicl
ness, and mostly cokiBg coal. OF thes
the Pratt seam has hitherto iurnishe
by far the greatest amount Of coal, bu
the good coking qualities of the otht
VEINS have been proven. The pre-
duc,ion OF the Pratt nine is now 25C
tons a day and OF the Sawauee 15C
,ons
Each Of the subdivisions OF tn
great coal and iron field has its oil
ADD coal In cloae proximity, and linn
stone OF the best quslity for furnaC
purposes is also found 10 great abu!
dance near the ore. The new city {
shelf I'D is built on a limestone blu
IN The Tennessee river, from so TO il
feet high. The cost of this limestoI
10 the furnaces is simply that
uu8Tying, Within a rediua of ii,
miles Of Birmingham there are inc.
haustihle quautitieB Of coal, iron an
Inn stone"
What means have you for geltiu
yoUr prOd1ct 10 mBrket?" wss askt
q Gen. Warner.
"The very best, with the certaint
OF Important extensions Of them in Il
n0sr future" was the reply. "Tv
railroads, ths Georgia Pacific and Il
Memphis and Birmingham, c,
through the great Warrior coal fie
from east to west; and the Sheflie
aud Birmingham and the Louisvil
and Nashville from north TO sout
The Cahawba Geld is reached by h
East Tennees e, Virginia aud Geoygi
aud by the New 0rleane, Texas AZ
Pacific; and tho Coosa field by q
Eat and West railroad OF Alabau
Teanew city Of Sheffield is most fave
ably situated Besides lis assured "a
way connections, south, north, ca
add west, it sauds on the bank Of d
Tennetsse river below the Muse
shoas TIE river,is navigable 10 th
point at all seasons."
"What Developments have alrea
Ara. .y.,Ia L., tN.ua Jtet, To-. Oh