Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1897-03-27
Hargrove, Ala. March "a, 1897.
LETTER FROM N. F. THOMPSON

LETTER FROM N. +. THOMPSON.
Pittsburg, Pa, March "a, 1897.
To the State Herald.
Having a few hours wait-over here on
my return from western trip, l Will
give your readers some impression that
/ have received therefroTn. and which
l think will prove of at least passing IN
terest. In Chicago yesterday the all-ab-
sorbing topic was the supreme court &C.
esiOn against railroad traffic aSsoe.7-
ton, and the prediction was freely made
that this meant disruption of all traffic
oombina lions in the entire country, With
a possible general rate War to follow.
But the equally general opinion w2s, 1t
will help business" Today the ruling
matter of interest In this city is the
smashing of the one pool and the coEb-
ments are widespread On the effects that
will follow. Pittsburg5 welfare being
so largely dependent upon her iron trade,
the belief is pretty firmly held that Car
negie in taking care of his end of the
line must necessarily take care of Pitts
burg though it may bring still further
unsettling of wages in the ore mining
districts. The small operators VIII like
ly be forced out of business, and this
will leave many Idle laborers. 1t is rec
ognized, however, as a battle between
giants Carnegie and the Illinois Steel
company, and all on account of the ar
NOR plate prices. OF course it is Thought
here that Carnegie viii win in the end.
only what I have long held as a fixed
opinion that no legislation was needed
to destroy pools and combines-all hay
ing an inherent element of diSintegra-
ton, supplied by the magnitude of our
country and the diverse conditions pre-
vailing in different localities. Here We
have in the first three months Of the cur
rent year the disruption of three of the
greatest combines" that existed in all
our land, the steel rail pool, the railroad
a. al L@ lsaA
is not yet. L see the end Of another that
has long borne with great weight on the
consumers of the country, but | do not
wish to name it just yet, as am expect
ing to be in at the death. with an agency
that will figure largely in the work eff
overthrow. but it will mean immense
sa wing to the public.
Now. in all this l do not lose sight Of
Birmingham. There must be move on
the part of her people to meet these
ton Of iron" is the cry up here. Ito meet
southern competition" and the same ae-
tivity must prevail down there. ] find
southern iron in nearly all the fcundries
throughout the region | have visited,
and this confirms me in an opinion given
to an iron man during my recent visit
in Birmingham viz: that Birmingham
had a monopoly of the foundry BUSINESS
of America" if she only knew and util-
lied her advantages. I can't say any
she can largely control the steel trade
as we'll 1t would not be proper in me
just now to say more than this. but now
that traffic associations are no longer in
the way. the strongest move possible
should be made for a readjustment Of
rates and classified ton on iron and kin
bred products in Birmnghams interest.
Her future may depend on such action,
and now IS the most opportune time in
years to bring this about.
II my Judgment there has never been
a time in Birminghams history when she
needed the united work of all Her inter-
ests more than now. nor ever a time
when such work had greater possibilities.
What iron man will come to the front
ana prove to Birmingham what Carnegie
is to Pittsburg? The occasion is ripe for
such a genius. By the way, 7 have Just
had an interview with the new president
of the Carnegie company. c. ID. Scwab.
who is quite young. not over go wears
of age. is and old Ca.bria 10y. and one
well worthy of his position. I have
also been through the Homestead Arnor
Plate works OF the Carnegie company,
but will defer writing of them till some
other occa sion.
NJ. F. THOMPSON.