The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-07-12
TEXAS IRON.
A Texas and st. Louis Company
to Work II.
A New Birmingham to be Laid
Out and Built Up Near
Rusk.

Some two weeks ago The STATI sMAN
published the charter of an iron company
located at Rusk, Cherokee county.
Speaking of this company the s.. Louis
Post Dispatch says:
az. l.. Coleman is the principal figure
in the enterprise, so far as St. Louis is
concerned. Mr.. Coleman has been, for
many years, a leading dealer in pig iron
in this market representa- southern and
eastera furnaces and through his relation
to the southern iron trade, became
acquainted with A. B. BleviDs, resident
OF Texas, who about twelve months ago
purchased 10000 acres of iron and timber
land in Cherokee county, Texas. Mr..
BIZ wins was led to make this purchase by
his observation of the success which at
| ter d. i the iron industry developed by the
state authorities through the direct
management CT the superintendent
If the penitentiariCs. One of
the prisons is located at
Rust, the county seat of Cherokee. The
authorities began some years ago the de-
velopment of the iron fields located i'm
mediately surrounding the site of their
| prison, and they have had remarkable sue
cess for three years Iast. The furnace
has been under the charge of R. A. Bar
rett, formerly connected with the iron
trade in this city, and by his intelligent
efforts the furnace has been producing an
average of over thirty tons of charcoal
iron per day, which has been marketed in
all parts of the west and has given univer'
sal satisfaction for every purpose where
first-class quality of foundry iron is
wanted. For car wheels it has been espe-
oially desirable, having been used by a
car wheel works at Marshall, Texas, and
they -eport that some of their wheels
have stood mileage of over 100000
miles, which is at least 20 per cent above
the average life of wheels.
Mr.. BleVins came to st. Louis, after
having purchased the lands referred to,
and placed the matter in the hands of Mr..
Coleman, and a company has been organ
lied under the laws of the state of Texas
with $1,000,000 full paid capital. The
president and treasurer of the company
is H. H. Wibirt, of New York City, who,
at the time of the Organization, happened
to be out Of active business, and will here
after give attention to this enterprise
The position of vice president and gen
eral manager will be held by r. l.. Cole
man, who will have his headquarters in
this city. The company recently en-
Iloyed John Birkinbine, of Philadelphia
an expert in iron-ore fields and furnace
building, who visited the property and
made very exhaustive report upon it
and upon the report all the capital
needed was subscribed readily in New
York city and by Mr.. Coleman and his
| friends in this city. Mr.. Coleman says
the work being done by the state authori
, ties is not to be excelltd anywhere in the
United States. They are making there @
/; pig iron, which taking series of months
together could not be improved upon by
any furnace in the country, in his judg
, ment. 1t was all made from single class
, of ore, which, after caloimining, gives
resu of so to go per cent in the fur
] mace. The iron, being absolutely neutral
. can be used for any purpose that {
, foundry iron is used, without any mix
ture whatever. They are making cas-
iron water pipe at the state furnace direc
from the blast furnace, and have beer
doing this for three years.
II According to Mr.. Coleman's statemen
5 it is the int ntion of this company to a
3 once commence the operations of fifty
( ton furnace, for which they have alread
- let the contract, and will have it in bias
:; if possible by the 4th of July mex
! year. They have laid out town site
e to be known MS New Birmingham
|, three miles south of the present town o
=; Rusk, Immediately upon the line of th
>; Cotton Belt road. They have employe
e as landscape engineer for their tow
g Nathan Barrett, of New York city, VIII
/, was employed in the same capacity TO
|, Pullman, Ill, Decatur, Ala, and Seattle
}. Ore.
= Capitalists end iron men in variou
: parts of the country are negotiating wit
3 them for locations to erect furnaces an
o other industries. There is no question
II according to Mr.. Ooleman's belief in tn
d matter, that they have an abundance o
= ore to supply the entire southwest for tn
. next hundred years, and he does not hest
: tate to ask omparison with any iron 10
cality in the south. The financial head
quarters of the company will be in NeV
York city, but the principal business vii
be carried on in the Office of the genera
t manager in this city.