The age-herald., 1898-07-12

statement was received as an illustration oi the hopefulness with which the southern people could wait for something that in all probability would never come, but for seN- eral years past it has been evident that southern steel would yet materialize, and now it is announced that the long-deferred plant Is to be built at Ensley, Ala. The Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad com pany has declared its intention of putting up plant at the point mentioned. An of ficer of that company states that the plant will consist of an open-hearh steel worKs' containing two Wellman rolling open hearth furnaces of the latest type. each furnace having capacity of at least fifty tons of ingots per melt, the total capacity of the plant being not less than 1,000 tons every twenty-four hours. In the rolling mill there will be provided, first, the blooming mill, with a proper complement of heating furnaces. In this mill will be produced a full line of sizes .of slabs and blooms From the mill the blooms or slabs will pass directly to the shears. If they are intended to be shipped in the rough state, they will be carried directly from the sehafss by d conveyor to the shipping yard or if they are intended to be worked further, they will pass to the proper f1nish- A provided to winch finch bloom will pass driect from the shears and be rolled with it's initial heat to any size that may pe required to Is inch square. A raii hlli will be provided. to which the blooms VIII be taken directly from the blooming mii and finished Into any section of rail that may be desired.
 If there sanything in location, this es- tablishment should certainly have 1t. The plant will draw it's pig iron, coal, ores and limestone from the property of the com nany and it will be enabled to ship Its pro duct right from the mill yard to any point. The projectors of the plant say that the matter of markets has rapidly and pfactlc ally adjusted itself evn before the plant is commenced The inutliries for soft steel from various sources have been so numer- olls aAd in such large quantities, that they practically assure a market Tor the ehtiie output. even if the plant were running at it's full capacity today, without consid- ering the foreign market, Tor Whicn tle new company will have peculiar adVan- tages, because of the proximity of It's works to tide water.
 The operation of this plant will surely be watched by all who are interested in the iron and steel industry of the country. UT course some very strong claims nave peeh made for this plant, and while some may not be based on the best grounds, It would he folly to assert that the concern is likely to he n faiure For a number of years pig iron has been made more cheaply in BIT mingham and it's manufacturing supurps and enighboring towns than anywhere else in the world. Long before northern iron masters were able to compete with the Middleboro district of England in making grey forge, Alabama was turning out cheaper iron than came from Middieporo furnaces The successful establishment or basic steel manufacture in the south VIII mean much for that section, and may have a far-reaching effect upon the northern steel industry as well. If successful, the southern steel plant will be an important factor in the export trade. In any case the country will await with interest the practical operation of the Alabama Steei plant.