The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-12-02
SOUTHERN BUSINESS.
Plans 10 Extend Southern Commerce
~ West Indies Continuc 20 be Madc

TO West Indies Continue TO be Made
BALTlRCRE. December Especial
From different points in the South comes
news of industrial AMI commercial under
takings of new factories planned of adj
ditions 90 old ones and of increasing IA
cilties at ports. There IS discussion Of
the opportunities for building factories
to manufacture starch from sweet pOta-
toes, rehnerics for sugar and plants to
develop water power. In no place, proba-
bly,. b. there greater activity than in and
near Birmingham. Ala. Ensley city is
the liyelicst place I'm the State. The
nelvy material for the steel plant has
arrived and active work ON the structure
has begun. All kinds of structures are
being ERECTED. and SO large is the influx
OF AN kinds of mechanics and other labor
that many Of them lack for accOmmOda-
tion and are compelled 10 lodge in Bir-
mingnam temporarily. Part OF the huge
fifteen stacks OF the steel plant are in
place and the one hundred and twenty
coke ovens OF the Samet-Solvay Com
pauy are now in fun operation. The
hOop-irOn factory Is an addition 20 the
new industries at Ensley City Ship
ments OF iron from the Birmingham dis
,rict continue as large as the cars fur
nished will permit. The accepted bust
day. Closely related 20 this business in
Alabama is the condition OF the iron and
steel trade I'm Germany. The Berlin cor
respondent of the Manufacturers Record,
after quoting the prices OF various classes
VI iron, steel and coke says:
THE iron ami steel prices would seem
TO offer excellent prospects Of compeu-
ton for our American producers, and mo-
where is this more clearly recognized
than i'm Germany itself Prices have adj
vauced considerably within the past six
months, but these advances have been
accompanied by frequent warnings that
thus an opening for American compeu-
ton would be given The subject OF
American competition continues 20 crop
up. but. owing to the splendid condi-
tons prevailing I'm all branches
Of the iron and steel trade. there is
less discussion OF the matter now
than a month ago. ] will, however,
quote the following passage from
Dortmund market report which shows
that the Germans are vide awake TO the
actual condition OF things with us: What
makes competition with America so diff
cult SAYS this report. and under eX-
isting conditions here and over there al
most completely excludes the hope OF
meeting it. Is the incredibly low costs
OF productions there. The only effective
measure. therefore, against American
competition is that We should also fur
Their reduce the costs Of production, but
IN order to do this the first step neces-
sarv is the reduction OF freights on raw
materials and finished products
Plans TO extend Southern commerce 10
The West Indies continue TO be made.
That there are large opportunities for
the South, as well as for the rest OF the
country in this direction, IS shown by
ID special correspondent of the Manufac-
turers' Record from Havana. There is
need there OF machinery for the sugar
plantations ana other agriculture, Of all
kinds of plumbing supplies, Of equip
meuts OF steam and electric railways,
laundry outfits and cheap lamps. South
ern rice growers will be particularly in
terested in the statement that rice Is a
staple article Of food In Havana, no
breakfast or dinner being complete with
out it, From 25,OO0 10 5000 bags are Inn
ported annually. India is getting the
bulk OF the trade
Among ,the new Industries reported
during the week by the Manufacturers
Record were: $4,000 zinc mining company
at Harrison, Ark; $4,000 mercantile com
pany at Augusta, Ga; 25,O00-spinlle and
4O0-loom cotton mill at Rockmart, Ca;
$4,000 ice company at New Orleans, La;
500 900 brewing company at Paducah'
Ky: $4,000 machine works company al
Baltimore, Md. $4,000 lime works at
Baltimore. Md. 20-barrel -four mill at
Ronda, n. c.: $4,000 gas and chemical
company at Washington. y. c. 5000
lumber company az Bellehaven, n. c.
1000 lumber company at washington
y. c.; 3.O0-spindle addition TO cotton
mill at Fayetteville, y. G; o'"o-spih1le
ad5ition ia cotton mill at Chester, 5. C;
30-barrel flour mill AT Lee Spring. Tenn;
500 600 phosphate company at Nashville.
Tenn. $500 900 cotton machine company
al Memphis. Tenn; 5000 peanut com
pany at Petersburg, Va; $1,000 railroad
shop at Weston. w. Va $4,000 hur-
spar company NJ Wheeling. W. Va.