Birmingham state herald., 1895-11-15
ROLLING MILLS RUNNING
 4. -asEs- Report That They Had Shut Down
 Is Unfounded. BLACK SMOKE STILL RISES The Bar Mill Has Been Temporarily Closed and the Men Transferred to Other De-
 partments.
BLACK SMOKE STILL RISES

The newspapers and financial journals of the north and east for the past week have been publishing statements to the effect that the rolling mills of this point had shut down and that the bottom had dropped out of the iron business in Bir- mlngham. In view of a reviving market and rising prices that has been construed by the journals mentioned as evidence that Birmingham can no longer success fully make iron. This has brought joy to the hearts of iron magnates eslnorth of the Ohio river and they have seized upon the opportunity thus presented to decry Birmingham and to advertise to the world that she cannot compete with them in making iron.
 But the black volumes of smoke ascend ing hourly from the immense stacks of Birmingham's rolling mills day after day bellies their statement. Birmingham can and is making iron today so successfully and so cheaply that her product finds market in the very heart of the iron sec tions of the north.
 The only fact upon which such reports could have been based was the rumor of a possible closing down at the Birming- ham Rolling mill a week ago. As stated in the State Herald at the time, certain requirements were made of the men which they refused to accept and follow ing that came the report that that mill and the Ala bama mill a Gate City would close in order to regulate the market, an agreement to that effect. according to General Manager Wards letter to the State Herald at the time, having been en- tered into between the mills north and south.
 As matter of fact neither mill has stopped running, but on the contrary both are running on full time, according to information obtained by State Her aid reporter yesterday from a gentleman who investigated the matter The facts as he stated them to the reporter are that the bar mill department of the Brming ham Rolling mill has been temporarily shut down and the men transferred to other departments. The reason for this Is that when iron began to advance few months ago wholesale dealers bought large supplies at prices ranging below s1 per ton. Now the price is $160 at the mills. By reason of their purchases dur ing the spring and summer the whole salers are enabled to undersell the mills in this particular line, hence the opera tors decided to quit making bar iron un- til the stocks of the wholesalers shall have been exhausted
 The rolling mills of Birmingham are using just as much iron and just as much coal today as they did two weeks ago, hnd the Gate City mill Is operating every department and the Birmingham Rolling mill every one with the exception of the bar iron department, as above set out.
 The trouble between the mill operators and the employees was settled in a man. ner satisfactory to all concerned, accord ing to information furnished a State Her aid reporter and the anticipated shut down did not occur.
 Another fact that will probably bring dismay to the hearts of those who would rainina fo tno ha m Q e ducer removed, Is the blowing in of two idle furnaces in the district within the past ten days. The latter part of last week the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Rail road company's furnace at Oxmoor which had been idle for two years, was again lighted and is now turning out high grade of iron. Last Wednesday furnace No. l of the same company at Bessemer. was put in operation. Both of these furnaces have been repaired and modernized in the past few months.
 Still another furnace that has been idle over two years will be put in operation early next year, deal looking to that end being almost consummated.
 Taking 1t all in all the iron manufac- turers of this district are not at all dis turbed over the outlook for the future of this district.
 In a conversation with State Herald reporter last night President Baxter of the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad company informed the reporter that he had received three letters from New York during the day calling his attention to the published reports and requesting information. MT. T. H. Aldrich said he had received similar inquiries. Both of these gentlemen replied that there was no truth in the reports and that all the rolling mills of the district were running on full time.
 The starting of No. 1 furnace at Besse- mer makes nineteen now in operation in the district.