The age-herald., 1899-04-30
NATURE HAS ENDOWED II
With Wonderful Resources, In0XhauStlb 8
 Supply of Coal and Iron.
BESsEMER LAND & &IMPROvEMENTCO
Is Composed of Men of Sound Judg- ment, Untiring Energy and Great Pub
 Spirit

The city of Bessemer must challenge the admiration of the progressive, wide-awake citizen. Twelve years ago not even a log cabin marked its present site; today it is town of six thousand inhabitants, no lights, in fact no improvements; but city possessing all the modern improve ments It is an incorporated towns, and it's municipal affairs are in the best condition. It's streets are graded and macademized and are lighted by electricity. Its system of water works Is admirable, furnishing it's citizens with an abundance of pure, cold water. Bessemer supports free public schools has a sewerage system adequate to meet the wants of its citizens; it's city hall would be an ornament to any city. Almost every religious denomination is represented and has it's own house of wor- ship. In fact, no metropolis in America possesses more modern advantages than Bessemer. The founders of Bessemer the Bessemer Land and Improvement company showed rare judgment when they chose the site for this marvellous little city. It Is
 
 ing railway lines pass through Bessemar: The Southern, the Louisville and Nashville the Alabama Great Southern, Kansas City. Memphis and Birmingham, and Birming- ham Railway and Electric line. The annual report of the Alabama Car Service associa- ton shows that 63,609 cars were handled at Bessemer during last year. This exceeds the number handled by any other shipping point m Alabama, and exceeds Birmingham by 2,V0O cars. This is a fact well worth noting and is an index to the enormous volume of Bessemer business.
 Natural Advantages
 No city could have grown and progressed as Bessemer has did il not possess wonder ful natural advantages, advantages which are simply marvellous. Bessemer is 600 feet above the sea level, and lies in a valley three miles in width; the hills on one side are filled with the finest coal, on the other side are the most wonderful iron deposits in the world. Thus in close juxtaposition are the complementary clements that com bined create the most powerful and eco- homie factor iii modern civilization.
 Iron ore is mined at Bessemer, and load ed into tram cars at varying cost of from 35 to 40 cents per ton. The freight from the mines to the furnaces in Bessemer ranges from s to $5 per car of thirty to thirty-flve tons. The red ores yield practi- cally from 40 to 50 per cent. of metal while assaying from 45 to 63 per cent, while the brown ores yield 45 to 55 per cent, while as- saying 50 to 65 per cent.
 The red ores can be delivered at the fur naces at cost of about 50 cents per ton., while the brown ores cost from 25 to 50 per cent. more.
 There are within twenty-five miles of Bessemer 600,000 arces of coal fields, which at lowest estimate will practically yield 30 100000 tons. A daily supply of 10000 tons for 5000 years.
 Certainly place possessing such wonder full natural advantages must grow and prosper, and the future prospects for Bes- semer are bright. What point in the world possesses such an ample supply of raw material, at as low cost as Bessemer does? Successful manufacturing is and must be the result.
 Its wealth is easily accessible to all mar kets, and the numerous trunk lines pass ing through it assures cheap rates for it's raw and manufactured products.
 The Bessemer Land and Improvement Co. has by it's untiring energy, progressive methods and broad liberality brought it's many advantages to the notice of outside capitalists and has made this thriving city what it Is. It furnished the capital that developed a city out of wilderness, and fostered every worthy enterprise that start ed there Donations of fine manufacturing sites were made and generous subscriptions to the capital stock of all important in- dustries freely provided The directors of this company are: MT. L. E. Bruns. presi- dent; Messrs. Walker Percy, w. P. G. Harding John B. Adger, A. T. Smythe, Moses Lopez and E. H. Lopez.
 These names are synonymous with good business judgment, great energy and public spirit.
 President Bruns has personal charge of the company's affairs and manages the business of this big corporation in mas 1e fn ct 1i1Cr a industrial boom which the whole county is experiencing, and it is safe to say that its population will double in the next few years. The company owns many town lots, and offers them to prospective buyers on very reasonable terms It is a safe propo- sition to assert that Bessemer property will increase very rapidly in value.
 The Belle-EIlen Coal Mines
 The company owns and operates the Belle Ellen coal mines, which are among the largest in the district. These mines are io- cated near Blocton, and include the cele- brated Underwood seam, which runs from five to six feet in thickness. It is one of the best coals in the south for domestic use and steamng purposes. It is an exceeding ly free burning coal, with but little waste, as there is only per cent. of ashes left as a residue. These mines supply seven of the most prominent lipes of railroad coming in- to the state, as well as several Georgia and Mississippi lines.
 The present output is from 800 to 1000 tons daily, which does not meet the demands.
 Bessemers Industries
 Within the limits of the Bessemer district the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad 3vnl- pany own five iron furnaces.
 The Woodward company operates two large furnaces.
 The Bessemer Rolling mills are the larg- est in the south.
 Some of the other leading industries are:
 Krebs Manufacturing companys saw and blaming mills.
 Bessemer Fire Brick company, the Bes- semer Brick company and Kloss brickyard.
 Bessemer ice factory, with daily capac- ity of twenty tons.
 Bessemer Bottling works.
 Bessemer Cornice works.
 Bessemor Water Works company (capaci- ty recently more than doubled).
 Bessemer Electric Light and Power com pany.
 In addition to these tho iron ore mines of the Tennessee Coal. Iron and Railroad eompany Slose Iron and Steel company,