davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-07-12
Rapid Growth Of the
Manufacturing Centre
Of the South.

0enn 0nDuuupsuAWm. HUw 1ng&nnd
Nswspapss LsaguA)
uG10mruHAk, AiA-. June 1>-Birming-
IN has bsan christsosd The Magic
Oaty" and the name 10 most ap-
propriakA Cor n has grown with .
saptA6ty ghat suggests IN Arabian fable
The progress Of this CITY has not been
fostsrsd By sAventttous circumstances,
but - founded upon tho solid and endur-
lng basis Of natural resources In mo way
of minsrzl wealth 20 wonderful that Il Is
doubtful II any city on this continent or
IN thu world u moro advantageously 10
GATED a. o manufacturing centre. II -
singular That Q commonwealth % rich in
coal and iron a. Alabama SHOULD have
remained an agricultural state % long.
There aro, Of course. reasons for the fail
urs 70 utilize pre-cminent advantages, but
they are not pertinent TO the subject OF
this article, which IN to tell Of Birming-
ham % It in and what IL must become IN
the course Of natural events. The signs
Of me times point inevitably 10 the con-
elusion that Birmingham 10 destined to
become one Of the great cities Of the
world. It u the centre Of tbs Birming-
ham district. one Of tho most favored SEQ
tions Of the United States and . locality
where the coal and iron deposits arc 20
great that they could supply the whole
world for hundreds of years.
Birmingham has grown IN nineteen
years from q village OF 1000 Inhabitants to
Q city which. including its most adjacent
suburbs. has population Of nearly $1,000
II is already one OF tho greatest centres
of manufacturing IN tho country, and It
has. aside from its wealth IN coal and
iron. tho advantages Of unusual accessi-
siiity as . shipping point an squable CHI
mate and cheap food and low-prtccd
labor The iron men Of the world at last
are beginning 20 admit, and doubtless
they long since recognized It, the fact
chat ehis city II uneuuallod for such ad-
vantaGes as proximity Of raw materials.
Cheap labor ana transportation facilities.
The products Of the new plants In the
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-07-12

The total shipments OF export iron from
Alabama and Tennessee points In 1898
birmingham district furnishing practi-
cally alb was 2O2 e7S tons a decrease from
the preceding year OF 2oSSi tons. or 10 per
cent. From July TO December there was
an increase OF a. 4G5 tons against the de-
crease I'm May. April. June and Jlly. ow-
ing TO the Spanish-American war. and
the last three months business was the
heaviest OF the export business.
The total output OF Alabama coal last
year was 65O9.223 tons. an tncrcase over
the preceding year Of sl5.i52 tons, or II
per cent.
The total production OF coal in Jefferson
county alone was last year t0fS. .050 tons.
an Increase over the previous year OF 333,
SiS tons. or 10 per cent.
The production OF coke In Alabama In
lS9s was 1.390245 tons, an increase over
the preceding year OF i5,iN tonA
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-07-12

ments) was 90. 20 tons, an increase over
the preceding year OF li4.26o tons. or Is
per cent
The total shipments OF cast iron pipe
from Alabama and Tennessee points last
year was l27 .4o1 tons. An increase OF ss,363
tons. or 40 per cent.
The total shipments OF cast iron pipe
from the Birmingham district alone was
a. 53l tons, an increase over the preced-
ing year OF 522s tons, or Il per cent
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-07-12

600. 900 tons. which would take 10,2I5 yearp
The area OF the cahaba coal field IL
about mile in thickness. Twelve seams
or coal are from "a 10 IL feet thick. with
mas,n ,1,at ,hhiexness h OF y 20 70 feet Esti-
seams covers 200 square miles 20 feet deep
there Is coal mass OF 1900. .0o0. 900. which,
mined at the rate OF 10000 tons per day.
Held Is 345 square miles In extent, and
mined at the rate OF 10000 tons per day
would last for 60 years. These coal fields
practically tnexhaustible.
Analyses OF the coal mined In these
three neIds show II TO be unexcelled for
steam or domestic purposes. and for the
manufacture OF coke and gas The War
rior coal has been compared 10 the best
steam Goals mined in this country, and.
the most economical IL carries asa per
cent of fixed carbon and 3l.S5 per cent OF
volatile matter. The moisture is only 1o2
sulphur less than l per cent. The Ca
haba coal carries so,ls per, cent OF ear.
bon. Ais per cent OF volatile matter. les
and sc per cent OF sulphur. Coosa field
coal contains 6o.3 per cent OF carbon.
S2M per cent Of Volatile matter. lts per
LILO per cent OF sulphur.
There are over 80 producing coal mines
IN Jenerson county, In which Birming-
to 100000 tons annually but this output
Is easily capable OF being doubled at
once. and increased five or ten times
within short time. and all at q low
cost OF operation. The cheapness at which
coal n mined In an inviting feature for
manufacturers Tho mining cost varies
according 10 the accessibility of tho coal
seam, but steam and coking coal sells In
birmingham at 90 cents per short ton. In
cluding profits and freight charges and a
fair quality can be bought at the mines
= rev miles from the city at g cents per
Coke.
Some idea Of the value OF the coke of
the Birmingham district may be gathered
from tho fact that tho tonnage OF the
Pratt and Blue Creek seams OF tho War
rior field Is second 70 tho famous Con-
nellsville district OF Pennsylvania. Tho
run of coal at the mines Is separated into
slack and lump. The lump is taken by
the users OF steam coal throughout the
South. and the slack Is washed and con-
verted into coke in the ovens Of the dis
trict. Tho successful washing OF slack
end the scale on which II Is carried on
gives the manufacturers an opportunity
to utilize an inexpensive grade OF coal.
and at the same time produce q better
quality OF coke than heretofore.
The Birmingham district has about 1000
coke ovens in operation, and the annual
production Is nearly 2.ooo.0o tons. The
average cost OF coke, carrying about 10
per cent ash, Is about sl.7b per ton deliv-
cred at the blast furnaces. The price Of
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-07-12

pig iron IN the birmingham district n IN
the neighborhood OF Sc per ton. made up
as follows:
Cost OF materials. coke. ore and limo
stone per ton OF iron..................N25
Labor cost per ton OF iron. .............. LOO
Repairs, supplies and arbitrary
charges per ton OF iron. II
Making a total Of about. t........-....8.o
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-07-12
Furnaces. Mine. and Ovens.

AZ the time OF writing there are the
following furnaces in blast in the Bir-
minsham district: Tennessee Coal. Iron
a Railroad Company. at Besse-
mer. 4 at Ensiey. 2 IN the city and at
oxmoor: sloss Iron & Steel Company. 2
in the city and 2 at North Birmingham,
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-07-12

Production of rig.
The q furnaces OF Birmingham district
st present In blast are kept running to
the greatest limit in ordsr to supply the
demand for their product A few years
ago LIS to 15o tons per day was considered
large output for the biggest furnaces.
but now ths same stacks are pushed to
200 and ESQ tons capacity. The growth OF
the business has been without parallel.
Alabama produ ces about 40 per cent of all
the Iron used In the country and Birming-
ham furnishes about 100000 tons, or 80
per cant, OF This output; Previous to the
foundry and forge irons were made in
birmingham. Their analysis showed them
to be OF a very high grade Basic iron
is shipped to Ohio, Pennsylvania. New
YORK. New Jersey. Illinois. Missouri. In
diana, California and Massachusetts mills
Forge and foundry iron are also shipped
TO every part Of the world Tho most
careful analysis OF basic iron shows 1t to
facture of basic steel. The cost Of max
ing pig iron IL figured at Sc per ton at the
maximum, but this Is figure that can be
TO come I'm manufactt ring. At present
the furnaces of Birmingham are equipped
10 secure the best results at minimum
OF cost
Steel Making.
6teel making is In its infancy IN Birrn-
ingham; In fact. basic steel was first made
In the United States but q decade ago.
Ideal conditions prevail In the Birming-
ham district for the manufacture of steel
by this process. For bridge and structural
material for armor and boiler plato and
all purposes where great strength, dura-
bility and ductility are needed basic open
hearth steel Is the best and architects,
engineers, etc. provide for It's use In all
work. The steel made In Birmingham is
exactly the same as that furnished to
the governSmep,t S,. for armor plate plate for Or war
dillon OF the nickel and before the plates
are case-hardsned or Harveyized.
The ingredients which enter into tho
manufacture or basic open hearth steel
are pig iron. ore and limestone. The ore
and limestone are secured In immense
quantities right beside. the steel furnaces
duced I'm unlimited supply in the blast
furnaces OF the district. Nearly every
maker Of basic steel IN the country has
tried the pig OF tho Birmingham district
and u is recognized as the most suitable
stock for the purpose. The iron runs not
to exceed one per cent OF silicon. not 10
exceed one per cent OF PHOSPHORUS and
not 10 exceed .O5 per cent OF sulphur
Scrap. used I'm the manufacture OF steel
where it can be had cheaply, is In abund-
ant supply.
Enormous Mass OF Coal.
Nearly all OF the coal deposits OF Ala
bama are in tho Birmingham district.
There are three fields Of coal. the War
rior, the Cshaba and the Coosa- Tho
Warrior is the largest. and It's product Is
sold all over the South and q large ton
mage exported to Europe and South
America. The Warrior held IN spread |
over 1910 square miles, and is over half
mile in thickness, with many easily
worked seams Of coal. A ridlcuously low !
estimate OF the workable coal I'm this
field, placing the area al only 900 square
miles and 15 feet in thickness, would
give a solid block OF coal IS miles long.
u miles WIDE and 10 feet thick, or 37,5oN-
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-07-12

There was an al around increase OF 10
per cent In point OF mineral production.
The value OF the Increase In the output
OF iron, reckoning a ton OF pig at $3.50,
was s724.5S2.
Exclusive wf the l2o productive coke
ovens In Ensley City. which is four miles
ovens in operation in Jefferson county.
The production OF these S7l9 coke ovens In
1897 was as follows:
No Oven. rrox- r>oLs
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-07-12
waterways.

waterways.
The waterways OF Alabama form a very
important subject in connection with the
history OF this country. The spaniards
explored them, the Frenchman possessed
them, the Englishman fought for them
and the Americans control them.
But we no longer have TO do with Go
dition and legend. We live in an age
the severest practicality. The WATERWAY.
OF Alabama are to be considered In re.a.
tion to their value to commerce. to eco-
nomlc transportation. to the magnificent
mineral and agricultural resources to
which they are so priceless an adjunct
and to the consideration OF the means
necessary to make those unrfvzfted hfgh-
ways OF commerce and human activity
most useful to the needs Of mankind. the
srestneSs Of Z our esas country. S OF H ali III: the
states OF the American union there is
none so favored In this respect as Ala
bama, In number. navigable qualities and
They were first brought into national
prominence by the scheme OF connecting
OF the Coosa, for which Congress ordered
q survey and made one appropriation In
December. 1870: This Improvement had
John Quincy Adams. and was regarded as
one or the great works Of national I'm
The necessity for connecting the waters
or the Tennessee, the Coosa and Alabama
vas apparent, and the subject OF great
solicitude by Congress. In 1S23 Congress
declared that 'the Tennessee, Coosa. Ca
haba and Black Warrior rivers shall be
forever FREQ from toll for all property be-
longing 10 the United States. and for all
persons In n their r, serviSe; & and for all Gu,
such tolls a. may be allowed by act OF
The Black Warrior, the northern branch
OF the Alabama. will undoubtedly prove
TO be the mineral river OF the South. IL
not OF America and the world. jus. a. tns
Birmingham district seems 10 be dis.
development and which will some day
wrest the supremacy from England In
coal and steel IN the open markets OF tho
world.
In 1895, the Hon. J.. A. Van Hoose. then
mayor os Birmingham. vigorously took
up the question OF opening up these vast
coal fields, by the improvement OF the ex-
listing water ways, from the Warrior up
to Birmingham II will come almost as
revelation 10 the outside world 10 be now
told that an exhaustive detailed survey OF
these water ways by the government en-
gineers. declares the plan 10 be feasible
practicable and desirable" In other
many many millions Milo OF dollars. the vast coal
and iron fields OF Birmingham and Dis
trict can be opened for tide water trans
portation 10 the Gulf at Mobile.
This matter n now being taken up viz
orousiy by parties interested In the enor-
in North Aiabama. and especially IN the
birmingham district. and influential men
all over the country are preparing 70
81 opening up this WONDERFUL territory -
water navigation 10 Birmingham
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-07-12
Limestone and DoIemits.


The region IN which Birmingham is SIT
ustsd offers splendid advantages for the
establishment OF cotton rnills, the greatest
OF which II the cheapncss Of fuel. Cotton
mills can be built right at the coal seams
which furnish them their fuel. This coal
can be mined q few seet from the boiler
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-07-12

Iron Ore.
The Birmingham district has three
classes Of ore. hard and soft red and
brown. or tho red ore the known supply
Is sufficient to last $50 years. II Is calcu-
lated. The principal ore supply Is OBJ
tained from the red fossillferous depos-
its OF Red mountain. at the fot Of which
the city is built The vein is a very
strong one, and runs about q feet thick
at the outcrop and extends down at an
angle OF from l5 to 20 degrees from the
horizontal to an unknown depth. Any
calculations as to the richness OF the vein
OF the slopes are down to iooO feet from
the surface, and the quality and quantity
OF the ore is similar to the outcrop and
deterioration. The vein carries It's quail
lty and thickness to q distance OF 10 miles
northeast and Is miles south west OF Bir-
mingham. The brown ore deposits are
places near Birmingham. and give every
Indication Of maintaining their output for
years.
The production Of iron ore In the Bir-
mingham district In now estimated to be
in excess OF 100000 long tons per year,
and II costs. delivered TO the blast fur
hard red. IS cents per ton for soft red,
and 81 per ton for brown. These figures
are more likely to be reduced than ad-
and increased development OF the mines.
SO much for the cheapness and excellence
OF the ores OF Birmingham.
shows as follows: Hard red. metallic iron.
is.a Il PEI per ern' cent: T lims' g. isso per cent;
alumina, SIS per cent; phosphorus.
carbonic acid. i2A per cent; soft
red ore, silica, 1896 per cent; sulphur. II
per cent: phosphorus, .S per cent; sIu.
mi nina; SIS Per cent; I'll, lime ransab. lie per cens ero
toxide. 80 per cent; iron protoxide. .S2
per cent: iron peroxide. 75.05 per cent;
carbonic acid. .es per cent: carbon In CAR
composition, 1.s2 per cent; total metallic
iron, soft red ore. 62.S per cent; brown
ore, metallic iron. 81 per cent; silica,
per per cent cent phosphorus, 20. and sulphur. 10
per cent.
Limestone and DoIomits.
Extensive deposits Of limestone and
doIomre arc within few miles of
birmingham. and both are very important
factors In the development OF the dis
trict. Limestone II used for fux In the
blast furnaces OF the district, and dolo-
mite Is used In making hearths or bot
toms for the basio steel furnaces The
quality OF the dolomfte IN superior 10 any
found In the United States, and q demand
Is sure 10 be created for IL In other Sec
lions Both are very cheapiy brought to
the furnaces. the price varying from 40
TO IS cents per long tor. The limestone
carries % per cent of carbonate OF lime,
25O per cent of silica and per cent OF
oxide OF iron and alumine- The dolomite
Is composed or "a per cent carbonate of
lime. "a per cent carbonate Of magnesis,
80 per cent silica. and I per cent oxide
Of iron and aiumina-
Cotton Mills.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-07-12
Iron Ore.

commercial coke is from "a to yzss per
ton OF 1000 pounds.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-07-12

In Walker county there are $50 ovens,
with a yearly capacity OF is s3s tons: in
Tuscaloosa county, 200 ovens, with q
yearly capacity Of 1851 tons, and Bibb
county has 467 ovens, with a yearly ca
pacity OF 5s577 tons.
The production OF coke IN the BfrmIng-
ham district, which is the total prod1lc-
ton for the State Of Alabama. over rho
period from 1850 to 1897, inclusive, is as
Follows:
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-07-12

Industries and Wages.
But Birmingham bas other Industrial
The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-09-04
NORMA IN PORT
Beautiful Specimen of a
Schooner Yacht.
Commanded by Commodore Wea-
YER # rhe New York Yacht Club
will Stay Two Months.

The beautiful American schooner
yacht Norma in command of Com
modore Weaver of the New York
Yacht Club sailed into the harbor yes
terday morning at o'clock On board
besides Commodore Weaver are Mrs
Weaver and maid, one mate and eight
men in the crew.
The Norma sailed from Yokohama
August 5th and reports pleasant voy-
age. She will remain here two months.
Commodore Weaver sailed from New
York some two years ago for a four
years cruise around the world. From
New York the Norma went on a tour
of the Mediterranean ports through
SueZ and along the Indian and China
coast reaching Japan last winter, re-
naming there some months.
The Norna's owner is said to be an
Eastern capitalist and enthusiastic
yachtsman and has been on many
cruises along the California coast with
his intimate friend Commodore J. D.
Spreckels of San Francisco. He is a
nephew of Captain Meek, an old timer
on the islands and comes OF an old
Marblehead family. During her stay
here the Norma will cruise along the
islands. She will go from here to the
South Seas
The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-09-04
SATURDAYS PLAY.
Mrs Quinn's Twins
Create Much Amusement.
Australian Company WilhStay Over Until the
MarroSa ArriveS-The Golden
Giant Next.

There is no better criterion of an
actors ability than his power 10 grow
upon an audience, to inspire more and
more admiration at each successive
appearance.
This has been the good fortune of
H. r. Roberts during his engagement
in this city. That he has established
for himself in Honolulu a reputation
as an actor of sterling merit was
proved by the outburst of applause that
greeted his first entrance upon the
stage in Mrs. Quinn's Twins Satur-
day night The play is an interesting
little story of Irish life in which a
rich squire turns schoolmaster in or
der that he may be with the girl with
the doe-like eyes His suit prospers
with the young lady, but is opposed by
her father, also squire, who has 9TH
er plans for his daughters marriage.
the poor girl is about to be forced in
to signing contract Of marriage with
Squire Blake, whom she does not love,
the whilom schoOlmaster enters and
reveals his true identity as landed
proprietor, foils the schemes of the vii
lain, receives the fathers consent
"and they live happily ever after.
The comedy is furnished by Mrs. Quinn
and her dirty-faced twins.
AS Gerald Common, the squire-school-
master, Roberts sparkled and shone.
h. l~o1,
Quinn take care of the twins, his pas
sionate scorn of the man who would
marry girl against her will, were the
work of a true artist. No one who has
followed Mr.. Roberts in his engage
ment in Honolulu can predict any
thing but most brilliant future for
one of the most versatile actors that
ever stepped on the local stage.
AS Mrs. Quinn, the mother of the
obStreperouS and dirty-faced twins,
Maggie Moore was full of rollicking
comedy. She is most natural and I'M
affected on the stage and brings out to
the full the true intent of her lines.
Madge COrcOran made a charming
Kate, who loved the schoolmaster in
spite of all.
The villainies of Squire Blake, who
would we'd the heireSS not for herself
but for her money, was well brought
out by Alec. Cochrane.
The success made by little Baby
Bashford in Hans, the Boatman," was
repeated last night. She was capti-
waiting little fairy as she fitted about
the stage. Her baby voice is as clear
as a bell and her singing of can Old
Fashioned Mother" was greeted with
storms of applause.
Tomorrow night 'The Golden
Giant" a comedy-drama, will be pre-
sented The company has decided to
stay over and play until the departure
of the Mariposa. They have sterling
talent, their plays are good, and their
venture should be success.
The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-09-04
HEAVY FREIGHT CHARGES.

"Salvation's Free" the preacher said,
AS the elder passed the plate;
"Salvation's free for you and me,
But we have to pay the freight
No freight to pay when you ride a
Sterling.
women who wear eyeglasses or
spectacles are always congenial." Eyes,
they like to tell each other they had
to put them on, long before age had
anything to do with it,
Built like a watch Sterling bicy-
cles are all the go. The P. G. & Mfg.
Co. have just received a new shipment
of the latest.
For him there's little in life's cup
Who waits for something to turn up;
And then he finds, to end his woes,
When something turns up it's his toes.
Remington Breach-Ejector Shotguns,
the finest guns made, for sale at the
P. c. & Mfg. Co.
"There's nothing like perseverance"
'Still, it hasn't done much for the
English in their attempts to win a
yacht race"
But when you are trying to get d
good bicycle, and strike Sterling
Built like a watch" you don't have
to go any farther.
The P. c. & Mfg. Co. have them.
The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-09-04
Group Pictures.

A large group picture of the win
ming Healani boat crews, September.
1898, will be placed on view at the Pa
cific Hardware Cos store today. The
photos are by J. ]. Williams, and the
tic lettering were done by Viggo ia
cobsen, of whose work the various
boat houses have now collection
which forms quite small gallery by
itself
The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-09-04
GOING AWAY.

l.. B. Kerr, the Queen-street mer-
chant, will go away on August 18th
and from now until that date an
ncunces a departure sale at his big dry
goods store, at prices that will make
competition impossible.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-15
BOsTONEsE AND BROOMs.
humans Invention One of the Food
Fairs Quips.

Fairs Quips.
Inc antiseptic broom, the invention of a
ra'annahian, is feature of the Boston
-ooa Fair. The Boston Transcript, in
uouee Of Mr.. HUMANS exhibit says
ne Dlack-eyed Southerner who yields
WIS broom tells thrilling tales of disease
"nleh have followed in the wake of a
e'llinon ordinary broom. A bit of dust from
common broom which had been used
b,S d FAMILY where there was typhoid fever
ts' u oeen put under the microscope-and
10 it can be seen-a horrible warning
ty 1u people to beware of brooms which
r, ~ the dread diseases from room 10
o cy9'u' clever device in this broom gives
sn a' olsinfectant which keeps the broom
isste and clean as long as the broom
i0i i'L .at Mr.. Kulman is capable of present.
o's 'he merits of his invention goes with
so saying. IL is true, also, that he has
1ry.-iileIhlng meritorious to present. He
,+i1es mat the broom Is taking right
vf,us' and that he is more than gratifed
VIVA the success of his enterprise.