The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-29
COMPANIONS"
A Vigorous Plea in Behalf of Tennessee's
Natural Resources.

Natural Resources.
From the Chattanooga Times.
The Nashville american rises up and re-
marks that ''in the quality and quantity
of coal as cdIing coal, in the quality and
quantity of the iron ore, in the quality and
quantity Of the limestone, and in their
proximity 10 each other, there is nothing
like Birmingham in America or anywhere
else. These facts are being conceded now
by some of the best iron men in England
and Scotland"
This is inspired by the pocket nerve
The gentlemen who own and edit the
AHTicdn have large Investments and risks
in and about Birmingham hence the pa
per in this matter is merely tho organ Of
personal interest. In fact, the ores Of
birmingham are not Of good quality. The
bulk OF them average about "a percent. OF
metallic iron, and used alone they make
n mean iron. The pig iron business has
been utterly ovcrdone and ovcrblown at
the expense Of all other interests in the
Birmingham district, and nobody knows
this 'for fact better than do the smart
men who are using the Nashville imeicdn
to hold up investments there until they
can unload without loss.
The Knoxville Journal says the American
sis mistaken" In the assertions above
quoted, but in that the Journal il mistaken.
The american deliberately states that
which its managers know TO be untrue, for
the purpose OF bolstcring up their own
shaky enterprises.
The Journal is, however, quito right
when IL says
There is better coking coal and better
iron ore in close proximity TO Chattanooga
and Knoxville than there il in the neigh
borhood Of Birmingham. There il no such
iron anywhere in the ncighborhood in
birmingham as the celebrated magnetic
iron ore ut Cranberry and in that vicinity.
Knoxville and Chattanooga both have good
steel making ores nearer than Birmingham
has, and advantages for making steel that
Birmingham never will nor never can have.
Birmingham has advantages for makingthe
lower grades Of iron, but even in that, in
no wise superior 10 those of Chattanooga.
When the railroads now in process of
construction are completed, Knoxville
will bo better point for making steel
than either Of these places. Ii il nearer
10 the coking coal and the steel making
ores than either Chattanooga or Birming.
ham. There arc no such COking Goals in
Alabama, or near Birmingham, as those Of
southwestern Virginia. Ores for making
the lower grades Of iron are found near
Chattanooga, which city has the advantage
OF river transportation, and there is no
reason why Chattanooga should not make
iron Mt as little cost as il can be produced
at birmingham"
The very best portion Of the western
North Carolina lead OF Bossemer ore will
bc found within seventy miles OF Chatta-
nooga by rail- within two years, and the
ores we now have are superior 10 those
upon which Birmingham depends for her
main supply. The pig iron made at and
about this city has commanded better
prices for several years than the product OF
Birmingham furnaces
As 10 the matter Of "steol making"
Chattanooga IL the pioneer in that rs In
most iron enterprises in the south. II
will be- time enough for better localities 10
boast Of their advantages in this regard,
when thcirpcoplc have shown disposition
10 utilize those advantages.
The Goals of Scquachec valley are supe-
rior "a any seam yet developed in Ala.
hana for cOking purposes, and those Goals
will bo within forty miles Of Chattanooga
very soon. Meantime our restless people
are pushing toward the development Of
the coal aud iron in Waldcn's ridge on the
north, Eve miles away, aud tho Lookout
valley on the south, which runs right up
10 tho city.
Another point about Chattanooga cannot
be too often mentioned by her friends. aud
that IL that the iron trade IL not the sole,
nor even the main dependence Of the city.
This IL symmctricaily developed indus.