The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-12-30
7 OIdT. s...ss...'s - !. p, !, = :
THE STEEL INDUSTRY ..

"Of these 1900 new undertakings, the
greatest attention probably mas peen at
tracted TO the steel plants IN the biFm@
ingham district. though the active opera
ton Of the older plant at MiddlesDOrousn,
Ky built several years ago. but Oily
lately put ia operation. has not beeh tne
least notable gain Alabamd : lro sl pr, pr
duction has increased probably % per
cent and the foreign shipments OF PIX
have been at the rate OF about LOO tons
a day during the past four or hve moh,ns'
Southern ports such az New OIitdn9'
Norfolk. Baltimore. Pensacola, Bruins
wick Mobile securing the bulk OF the
exports While these shipments nave
been arousing the apprehension OF pro-
ducers in England and other European
countries. the South has been preparing
10 work up It's raw material lntO Shapes
that will enable 1t 10 participate 20
greater extent than ever In the rapidly,
expanding export trade In manufactured
goTids. There is the million dollar Piant
OF the Alabama Steel and SnlpDuidlhB
Company. al knsley city. win the ma
ural ally at the same place, the TWO MIL
lion dollar wire. rod and nan mill 10
tho same noighbOrhOOd VIII come mar
million dollar plant of the Addyston Pipe
and steel Company and divers other IN
dustries the whole representing invest
ments Of more than five million dollars
principally from the North and West.
That these investments are none TOO carry
is demonstrated by the demand for new
vessels for the American merchant ma
amounting TO 10000 tons OF steel for
abroad. OF which a Southern concern az
Sparrows Point. Nd, has just secured
5000 tons. ...
The companion OF pig iron and steel in
their journey across the ocean 10 the
European continent TO Japan, china ana
the South seas Is cotton in bales. Ihere
are. though Indications that the trade
with the orient in manufactured textiles
which Southern mills snare - 70 increase
largely. To gain this the southern mus
are eagipping themselves. me addltlohai
spindles announced during the year num-
Der &3l $50. and the looms 5.SNO. the eXpen-
ditures for these items asgregaung nYe
million dollars. 10 which should pc AIDED
about two hundred thousand dollars IN
vested I'm wooden mills. IN spite Oh wa
sympathetic depression I'm the cotton seed
oil trade. men who trust In the future
have not hesitated TO place money IN that
sand dollars have gone into new nils or
into improvements OF old ones
Seven developments or water power TOT
electrical purposes have been projected.
the most noteworthy, perhaps, being
those at Richmond. Va; IN the Yadkin
river near Winston. n. c., and in the
Chattahoochee river In Georgia
"The most significant additions. how
ever. 10 the field Of Southern Industries
are the smaller understandings, such as
furniture. vehicle and fertilizer factories,
saw and planning mills. agricultural i'm
plement works. stove foundrics, Hour mus
brick works, canneries, Ice pants ana the
miscellaneous factories. more than half
the total showing that the smaller cites
and towns are adding 20 their strength
as producers and traders with thoir re-
spectiye neighborhoods.
RAILROADS a FACTOR.
This adoption 10 changing conditions.
like the liberalization In farming opera
tions. Is due largely TO the enterprise OF
railroad companies In making, new INKS
in systems already established or IN
building new lines. With a great West
and south Inc. the Kansas city. Pittsburg
and Gulf completed. and with a four mil
lion dollar addition 10 the Mobile a ONO.
"a northwest and Southern line well under
way. the South at the beginning or the
wear entered upon the work Of more rail-
road construction and has the record or
more than one thousand additional miles
of tracks, with an equal. III not greater
number under contract Tor the coming
year Nearly every State south OF the
Ohio and the Potomac has increased It's
railroad mileage. but the greatest activity
has been shown in Arkansas, Louisiana
and Texas These roads will open up
wider territory for the lumberman, the
miner. the planter and the cuitivator OF
They will bring the products Of the minor
Industries closer 10 the purchasers. and
will help to swell the cargoes Of vessels
bound TO Caribbean, South American.
Oceanic. European and Orieptai ports,
roads are In fine spirits at the outlook
for the coming year. And the people OF
the South. with the knowledge OF their
magnificent resources, their increasing
facilities for manufacturing and trans
portatiOn and the better understanding
of them by all people than II has been
their good fortune to enjoy for many a
dav have but to press forward In courage
hope and steadiness toward the prizez OF