The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-08-24
COMING IRON CENTER.
The south Is Fast Developing, and will
Pas tho North.

Pass tho North.
Baltimore Sun; The rapidly increasing
shipments OF iron from the south 10
northern and other markets promise an
early NeallzatIon of the prediction that a
great centre of iron production is to be In
Alabama, In June last the shipments
from the southern iron fields, according
to the Nashville correspondent OF the
New York Evening Post, aggregated
10000 tons, and for the six months end
e.. July the record was over 100000 tons,
For the year the total, II Is believed, VIII
be over 100000 tons and may. reach
100000 tons, This Is the probable ship
ment for the year, but not the whole pro-
durtlon. In 1886 the production was
1883, 1886 tons of pig, against ll,OOO tons
twenty-five years ago. So promising Is
the outlook that the southern IRON
makers are increasing their plans with
view to a large output. The fact that
Alabama and Tennessee can sell long
ton OF pig iron at the furnace, with protit,
at 81 and In England at 81 90 Is the rul-
ing fact OF the iron situation. II explains
the wide area of southern iron sales,
which now includes not only a great part
OF the northern states OF theIunion, but
also all countries accessible by sea,
The Sun recently alluded to the begin
ming Of steel production on,a large scale
at Birmingham. By the Martin process
basic ingots are now made there at cost
OF 80 per ton, billets at from 81 to Sl2 per
ton, steel rails at $40 per ton and steel
rods at $40. When It is added that
freight to England Is from 81 90 to - 10
per ton, II will be seen that the southern
teel-making industry ID on firm basis.
In view of the much higher cost OF pro-
ductlon everywhere else, the demand for
Alabama pig and steel must be practI-
caiiy unlimited. The cost OF pig In Ala
bama and Tennessee, low as II was In
1896, will be lower, say prominent iron
men, by forty-seven cents In 1897, owing
to the Improved methods constantly be-
ing introduced II Is conceded In some
quarters that the southern ores and coal
are inferior to the northern, and the ex-
cess OF phosphorus in most southern ores
unfit them for making steel by the Besse-
mer process, but the Martin process
makes the ores available, and new meth
DDS OF managing the coal correct Its al
legged defects,
Now that steel Is made largely at Biz
mingham. mills to put 1t Into commercial
shapes are also being brought into opera
ton. These mills. like the furnaces, are
of the most approved design and of large
capacity, so that good economic results
are secured. According to the Posts cor
respondent: 1.-THE new steel mill at Blr-
mingham Is provided with ten revolving
steel furnaces, each with capacity OF
seventy or eighty tons, These are filled
by machinery operated by a new method.
with very heavy charges Of crude iron,
and are able to turn out daily 1000 tons
of Ingots, which are at once turned into
blllets, sheets, steel rails or bar steel.
The mill turns out 1900 tons OF finished
steel rails daily" This looks like busi-
ness and must be very gratifying to all
who feel an interest In the establishment
Of the Industrial independence Of the
south What hive Of industry Biz
mingham has become may be gathered
from the fact that there are twenty-slx
iron furnaces within sight OF the city,
turning out daily nearly 5000 tons. The
south is at length developing Its real
sources of strength. Development comes
late, but not too late.