The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-03-21
CARNEGIE ON THE SOUTH.
His Viows on the Iron Interests Based
Upon His Recent Tour.

Upon His Recent Tour.
BALTIMORE, Md, March 20.--The Nan
utacturrs' Record this week will publish
letter from Andrew Carnegie, giving his
views upon the iron interests OF the South,
based upon his recent investigating tour.
Mr.. Carnegie states that the first feature
which impressed him was the general ex-
cellence Of the plants Of the South. The
modern blast furnace is the product oil ev-
olution. The pioneers in the business
have had to build and rebuild these. Our
Southern brethren have reaped the adj
vantage and have become possessed all at
once OF the modern type. This remark
applies also to the machinery IN the mines
and mode Of opening, handling, facilities
and 80 forth. All is OF the latest pattern.
The character Of the coal, iron ore and
limestone, and the ease and cost OF mining
are all better, he says, than he had cx-
pected to find. Upon the much disputed
question Of the cost OF pig iron pro-
| ducton in Alabama, Mr.. Carnegie says
that $40 ton for foundry iron, which is
the highest grade, is a liberal estimate.
| With good management, and for a series
OF years, some of the best located and best
managed furnaces may be able TO do even
better than this figure. The ability to
manufacture at this price must give the
| Southern manufacturers large market for
| their pig. When the next stage comes
and they seek 10 manufacture the pig into
more advanced forms | believe ii will be
done by converting pig into steel by means
OF Bessemer and openhearth basic pro-
cesses, and advised our Southern friends
when there TO make some experiments
! looking to this desirable end.
As was to have been expected, specula-
| ton has entered more or less into this
/ Southern field. Some ill-adyised enter
prises have been undertaken, and con-
| siderable reaction may take place. But
this IL only the froth upon wave OF solid
wealth, and Legitimate manufacturing,
| prudenlly carried on In the Alabama and
other districts, will meet its due reward.
In concluding the letter Mr.. Carnegie
saws that he regards the South rs Pennsyl-
yana's most formidable industrial enemy
| in the future. In referring 10 the indus
| trial activity throughout the South and the
| investments that Northern capitalists are
now making in that section the Mdnufdc-
firers' Record says: Never was the union
of Northern and Southern resources in the
development Of this section better illus
irated than in the fact that New England
men are TO build great city at Shelby,
Ala, whore 200 people are now living,
having Us a nucleus the Shelby furnaces,
railroad shops. etc, because IL was from
Shelby ore that Shelby's furnaces made
iron Tor the plates that covered the Con.
iedcratc gunboat Tennessee, whose ar
mored sides withslood the incessant can
nonading OF Farraguts fleet at Mobile Bay
during the memorable naval engagement
Of August 8, 1854. as few gunboats have
ever done. In this same town New Eng
land capital, backed by New England
brains, is TO build great industrial city
North aud South no longer 6ghtingagain
each other, but uniting TO develop the
| wonderful resources OF this country.