Birmingham state herald., 1896-01-05
YOU CAN'T DISCOUNT THESE Some ChiII-SteeIed Facts About
 Birmingham AND HER GRAND DISTRICT Truths SoberIy Set Forth, But lnvincble in Their PanopIy of Logc-The Years
 Record.

The mercantile agency of R. G. Dun & Co. has three offices in Alabama-at Bir- mingham, Montgomery and Mobile which divide the state in about three equal portions. The Birmingham office has charge of the twenty-one northern and central countless together with the western side of Mississippi. This em- braces the district most closely identi- fled with Birmingham in commercial way. In this district there are 3215 man. ufacturers, merchants and traders
 During the year 1895 there were in this district fifty-eight failures, of which for ty-nine were commercial and nine man. ufacturing. The estimated liabilities for the year were $540,000. For 1894 the fail- ures in the same district numbered elgh- ty-eight with estimated liabilities Of $2,655, ,00O.
 The past year, especially the last half, has been on the whole reasonably satisfactory. Our city has not yet as- stunned any very great importance as a jobbing center but we are steadily ex- tending our lines and slowly, but surely, occupying territory heretofore held by Nashville, Atlanta, Montgomery and Mobile. If we could rid ourselve, of cer- tain freight determinations our jobbers would be more in evidence. The market is already leading one in produce and hardware and it has gained some ground during the past year in dry goods, shoes and groceries.
 Our position as a manufacturing cen ter has been discussed too often for me to go over the ground. I think we have reason to be satisfied with the year. s work in this direction. We are inclined to be impatient of our progress, but 1t should be borne in mind that large man. ufacturng enterprises cannot be pro- jected and put in operation in day, and the past two years have been years of general depression. Why, it took Gads- den two years of hard and persistent work to arrange the preliminaries for their big Dwight Cotton mills, and after these were completed almost year has been necessary for its erection even un- der the favorable circumstances of abun dant capital
 I notice many encouraging signs of de Velopment here and throughout my diS- trict We have made a start in cotton mills The Birmingham Engine works, operated by the Hardie Tynes Foundry and Machine company, is erecting com plete plant for the manufacture of en- zines and kindred lines. The Birming- ham Machine and Foundry company has added the manufacture of large Corliss engines to the manufacture of sugar house machinery and general foundry work. All the other machine shops have largely increased their business. A plant
 
 wheels. The coal output for the county and district will largely exceed that of any previous year. There has been an immense development of this industry, which is even. yet in its infancy. At Anniston the United States Car company has resumed operations, and a company has been formed for the opera ton of the rolling mills. built some years ago. but never operated. At Talladega I am informed that a movement is on foot to start up the furnaces there. At Tuskaloosa the opening of the Warrior river has made feasible the barging of coal to Mobile. and two or three compa- nies have been formed for that purpose, and one Is now engaged on its initial shipment It does not take a prophet to foresee the immense development of the coal export business through this source which means, of course. great things eventually for the university town. A cotton yarn mill has also been started there the past year.
 Walker is also to the front in substan- tial gains in the coal mining business and new company at Leland expects shortly to have an output of 1000 tons to add to the gains of the old companies.
 Pessemer has not been a laggard in the industrial march. and visit to that place reminds one of the "boom days" The Howard Harrison Iron company. one of the largest pipe manufacturing estab- lishments in the world. has made exten- sive improvements, and other evidences of thrift and progress are noted.
 Altogether think we have cause for graduation at the results of the past year and much reason to hope that 1896 will be even more satisfactory. T.
 DlRiGO LODGE K. OFP
 The following officers were elected at the last meeting of Dirigo lodge No 76 Knights of Pythias, Tuesday, December 31 1895:
 Chancellor commander. ]. E. Gossett; vice-chancellor. V. L. Allen: prelate. T. l.. Collins; master of work, J. 1T. Mullen: master of exchequer, Sinclair Bennie: master Of financa. A. l.. Eaton; keeper of record and seal. w. l.. North master at-arms. T. I. Shirley; inner guard. T. S. Abarnathy; outer guard. S. w. Goode :; representative to grand ladgs. John s. Jemison; trustees. c. ". Nichols l.. V. Frazier. !. !. Larghran; committeeman central relief, Jim Scott