The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-11-01
Facing the Industrial Future

EaCl4K the 4QQU5IElal
Notwithstanding the information con-
corning the progress Of southern industries
thai from time to time has gone forth over
the country il has not all together, IN the
gradual way it mas come out, attracted 50
much attention aud general interest as was
aroused BY the recent visit Of the British
Iron and Steel Institute, that. with the
unstinsed praise aud expressions Of amaze
ment it evoked from recognized experts,
turned the ewes of the world upon Roanoke
and Birmingham with dsgres of earnest
scrutiny they had never before assumed,
and prompted the newspapers Of Pittsourg
70 regard this growing competition more
seriously than they have ever done before.
Commenting upon this visit, the Pitts
burg Dispatch says that it was interest
ing not only to that section, but to
Pittsburg, which has kept kindly watch
on that district, not 50 much as a present
rival as an infant which may in time be-
come one. The reports state that all the
speakers united in declaring that good basi c
steel could be made there as chsaply as in
any district in the world, and Sir Lowthisn
Bell repeated his prediction of 1874 that
Birmingham would become the point Of
cheapest iron production in the union, which
be considers already realized.
These assertions, made by authorities or
such standing, are, Of course, extremely en-
couraging to the Alabama interests, and
must be taken 70 indicate the direction of
their greatest growth. Heretofore the COM
plete success Of the Ala lama iron industry
has been hampe-ed by the unsatisfac DRY
results of the efforts to produce iron fit for
the Bessemer process. These declarations
quoted are TO be taken as a corroborat on of
what has been intimated before, that the
basic process affords the Alabama region
the most available method of converting
her mineral deposits into steel, and that
with the adoption of that process the future
erection of great steel manufacturing
center there is to be taken as a settled thing.
Pittsburg can recognize this fact, says
the Dispatch, frankly and without
jealousy. And it adds that "the experience,
skill and muscle which our city has sent to
that district, has been no mean contribu-
ton to its growth in that direction. But
because we recognized that our southern
neighbors have before them the brilliant
prospect of becoming competitors to Pitts
burg's steel products, that is no reason why
we must concede that even at some distant
point in the future the supremacy will be
be transferred. On the contrary,
the recognition of the important
part which basic steel is to
play in creating a competitor only points
out to Pittsburg the way in which she must
fortify her position by charging her plants
for that class of manufacture as energetic
ally as she has done with the Bessemer and
open-hearth process. Pittsburg has within
easy reach immense supplies of ores suita-
BILE for the basic process, and by taking the
steps necessary to make them tributary to
her works, she can maintain her leadership
in the manufacture of steel in the future as
decidedly as in the past"
Such an established and prosperous CITY
as Pittsburg has no need to depreciate nor
refuse to recognize the progress of a posi-
BILE rival in the domestic production of
Steel There is room enough in this great
country for half dozen such manufactur-
ing centers-especially il they shall be
located SO far apart as Pittsburg and Bir-
mingham are.