Birmingham state herald., 1897-03-06
TO BE MOVED TO GADSDEN.
The Concern Will Be Consolidated With the Weller Pipe Works.

Gadsden Times-News.
 The Times-News is able to present to it's readers, and especially to the people of this city, an item of news today which will be welcomed by everyone.
 Gadsden is going to the front with steady march, and nothing can head her off. While other boom towns are going down hill and while there is general depression of business throughout the country, the Queen City has kept up her progress without any material abate- ment.
 A deal was made this week which will put Gadsden to the front in the n1anu- featuring world, and it is one which will bring about large amount of work for the aboring element of this place.
 The Hoffmann and Billings Manufac- ing company, of Milwaukee, Wis, will move it's entire pipe plant to this city as soon as the railroads can transport the machinery, part of which is now speeding Southward. The Hoffmann and Billings company has been extensively engaged in manufacturing soil pipe for a number of years. The concern Is one of the best known in the country, and it's factory was located in the best market for the article it manufactured. But competition has forced it to pull up stakes and come to Gadsden.
 The company here will be known as the Hoffmann, Billings and Weller Manufac- turing company. The new plant and the Weller Pipe works will be merged into one and the same industry. Two large buildings will be constructed immediate ly and other Improvements will be made as soon as possible
 The capacity of the plant will be in creased to- forty-five tons daily; the Weller Pipe works only made eight tons.
 The outlay of money to construct the Improvements will be not less than s60,- 900. The company is incorporated for 5000 .1i e.
 It is interesting to note the cause of such concern coming south and espe- cially to Gadsden.y Soil pipe factories in the west and north, in fact. all iron pipe makers in that section find 1t impossible to compete with the factories in what is known. as the Birmingham district for the reason that the crude material is so much cheaper here.
 Coal, coke, iron and labor are not SO high here as they are in the west and north. Railroad facilities are such here that the Weller Pipe works can ship pipe right into New York and compete with the world. There is no doubt but what this removal is to be followed by others of a like nature. Iron factories cannot be operated in the north as cheaply as in the south Manufacturers are fast realizing this fact. f'se J
 The new concern will be known as the Hoffmann, Billings and Weller Manufac- turing company, with w H. Weller of this city as president; Benjamin Hon. mann, of Milwaukee, vice-president and George Schumacher. secretary and treas- urer s.
 It is the intention of the management to have the new plant in operation by Marsh 15. Some of the new machinery will be here this week and 1t will be put up as fast as 1t arrives.
 The Louisville and Nashville Railload company has been granted a right-of- way on Second street and it will immedi- ately begin to build a switch to the pipe works
 The securing of this big industry, and 1t is the largest of the kind in the south, Is due to the work of rapt. w. H. Weller.