The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-03
NED BRACES USUAL
SUNDAY OLA lPADRIDA

1t did me good to see Colonel A. NJ. Shook
on Friday evening after the new steel plant
had made its first successful run of steel.
He was as happy as young father over
his first+born. He has given more than a
year of his time to the superintendent of
the construction of this great plant, and
the first successful run without a jar or
fritter was more to him than all the COM
piiments which could have been passed by
his fellow man. Colonel Shook combines
practical ability and Enthusiasm COM
ibination found in few.
The history of the first conception of
open-hearth basic steel manufacturing in
Birmingham is interesting. II was back in
SO. One day Mr. Nat Baxter, president of
the Tennessee company, received a tele-
gram from the Carnegie Steel company of
Pittsburg asking if he could deliver to
them within a given time 10000 tons of basic
pig iron. week previous to the reception
of this telegram Mr.. Baxter and Mr.. Nc
Cormick were at the Alice furnace. They
suggested to the superintendent change
in the manner of charging the furnace,
Mr.. Baxter had conceived the idea that
The analysis of the experiment proved
good. A sample was sent to the Carnegie
company in answer to their telegram. That
company accepted it and the Tennessee
company took the contract. Mr.. Baxter
then began planning for the construction of
a steel plant here. He 1t was who first
suggested the idea of a small plant at the
rolling mill, and he was largely instru-
mental in its inception and construction.
Then he began work to finance the tre-
mendous plant at Ensley. He presented
such facts and figures that the chef own
ers of the Southern and Louisville and
Nashville railroads subscribed $4,000 each
After this the financing of the great con-
Germ was in measure plain sailing. Its
history is well known.
look for wonderful future developments
of the Birmingham district as a result of
this steel plant. The Tennessee company
has not less than five men among its ex-
ecutive officers located in Birmingham who
rank amongst the aIblest and most intelli-
gent metal manufacturers of the world.
They are ambitious men-thorough develop
ers. Within less than three years from
date 1 expect to see the Tennessee COM
pany selling nothing but the finished prod
uct of iron. 1t will manufacture right here
in this district every pig of iron made by
it's great number of furnaces into finished
products of all descriptions 1t will be
even greater than the Carnegie company
a company which, several years ago, was
selling pig iron but which now makes all
its pig into steel and makes the metal into
the finished product
A steel casting furnace is proposed, and
will doubtless be built within the next
year. A rail mill is already begun. Others
will follow in rapid succession, until the
great output of iron from all the stacks
will be turned into manufactured articles.
With scores of finished product plants to
follow the great central producers of the
rough material will come population in
thousands and Birmingham must soon be-
come the great city of the south.
Speaking of Birmingham becoming
great city, its bank deposits are beginning
to speak loudly One bank is now carrying
something like $2,70O,Oo0 of deposits, and
another shows over s20eo,ooO. In almost
every one of the eight banks in the city
deposits have mGre than doubled within
the past twelve months. The growth of
bank deposits lis very good indication
of the growth of a city.
Congress meets Monday, and trouble be-
GINS with it. With the opening Of con-
gress the national campaign comes on
When statesmen get together they become
politicians, and the alleged leaders of each
party begin manoeuvering for position. The
imperialism, trust and financial issues are
to be fought over. President Mckinley is