Birmingham state herald., 1897-07-04
OUR LETTER BOX.
No communications will be published un- der this head unless signed by the author Editor.
SLACK WATER IMPROVEMENT.
 Johnstown, Pa., July 1, 1897.


 Johnstown, Pa, July 1, 1897. Editor State-Herald:
 The first thing to attract my attention on returning from my recent visit to Birmingham Is the final announcement made by the United States government that it is ready to pay the award given by ths. viewers appointed for the purpose for the slack water improvements on the Monongahela river at Pittsburg, thereby opening up that stream to free nayiga- ton for ccal. This measure has been openly advocated by the coal operators of PittsbuTg for some time, on the ground that it was necessary in order that they might compete on the lower Mississippi river with Alabama coal, and yet so far as I have. seen, when the appropriation was made for this purpose, no Alabama congressman or senator raised a word of protest against it. Possibly in view of movement for the Warrior canal, it was better that no action in opposition was taken by the Alabama representa- tives. for it should make the claim for that ca nal now almost a certainty. The gov ernment cannot refuse to do for Birming- ham what it has already done for Pitts burg; and here is a work that the Com m1rcial club can take up with profit at once. The amount paid for the improve ments on the Monongabefa river is about thres and a, half million dollars, and this has so much elated the coal men of Pitts burg that they now say they will have that other cara1 from the lakes. to bene- fit the iron men; and I want to say right here that they will get it. and with the aid of the government, unless Brming ham a orce asserts her rights for equal favcrs from Uncle Sam.
 It is one of these things that fail to understand why~so little attention is paid to Pittsburg by the iron and coal men of Aiaba ma. when it bears vital relation ship to It's future Looking at things as I see them up here. and knowing as do Birmingham's advantages, I would say that it would pay either of the larger companies in and around Birmingham to employ man for no other purpose than to keep them advised of what Pitts burg is doing. With the Improvements that Carnegie is making. there is com ing a sharper competition between these two districts than any that has hitherto prevailed, and Birmingham must be just as active in her march of progress if she would profit by those advantages with which she has been so richly endowed. I have no question as to the success of the steel experiment by the Birmingham Rolling Mill company, but the company should be permitted to reap some fruits of it's enterprise before attempting to crowd other similar plants on 1t. There are many reasons why this should be done. the principal one being that it will be folly to make more of any product than can be proftaTbiy sold, and one plant had better prosper than for two to lose money at the outset.
 I am convinced that the day is not far distant. however when a modern fur mace plant will be built in the Birming ham district something on the order of Carneeie's Duquesne furnaces, that will take all matters of economic production into consideration. and turn out a product cheaper than Birmingham herself has yet dreamed would be possible. I am convinced that such plant will be need ed to meet Carnegie, and when that is done would say five dollars for tasic pig will place Birmingham where nature intended she should bslong-in the lead of all the iron and steel markets of the world. N. F. THOMPSON.