The age-herald., 1899-05-28
SECRETARY GIBSON'S. REPORT
 TO THE COMMERCIAL CLUB

passed anywhere fin the United States The Pioneer Mining and Manufacturing Company has opened up its new Sayreton mines with the necessary railroads and dwelling houses, at an expense of $150 GOO The Sloss Iron and Steel Company is building 100 new coke ovens at Brookside at a cost of s25, 900.
 The Tutwiler Coal Coke and Iron Com pany is overhaulng and repairing the Van derbilt furnace plant and building 100 coke ovens, with the necessary side tracks, etc. at a cost of $70,00O.
 Tennessee Coal. Iron and Railway Com pany has put in improvements at Pratt Mines amounting to S1OOOO0
 Birmingham Machine and Foundry Com pany Is erecting new buildings and putting in new machinery at an expense of $25, 900. The Alabama Brewing company has made improvements to the amount of $25,- 000
 The T. L. McGowan Paint company has improved it's building and put in new ma chinery at an expense of $10,000.
 New Buildings
 The following new buildings are worthy Of note:
 Owenton College. COG. ........ ........$ 50 ,099 New dormitories for same..... ....... 15010 Loveman, Joseph and Loeb building 100000 Mayberry and Watson Go. building 35000 W. J. Milner buiding..... ............ 40000 Sisters of Charity hospital..... ...... 100000 Hillman hospital..... ......... ........ 3Oo00 Building permits for the first quarter of 1898 amounted to S54,OOO; building permits for the first quarter of 1899 amounted to S239,0 ,000, an increase of $1S5,0O0.
 Hanks Bank clearings 1S9S...... $23, I'll 899 42 Increase over the year 1S97... 2S70, ,403 55 Bank clearngs for the first
 quarter of 1899. ....... ...... 66i3,Sl6 Oi An increase over first quarter.
 of 1S98....... ........ ......... 49l,S03 LII Bank deposits in the city of
 Birmingham at present eggre-
 gate.......... .......... ......... b,lUV,0VO oO An increase during the year of 1,60o,0OO OO
 Car Service
 The Alabama Car Service association re- ports 293 1925 cars handled during the year 1898. an increase of 15 per cent. over the previous year. The Birmingham district furnished 72 per cent. of the entire tonnage of the state
 Pig Iron, Coal, Etc
 Tons Total production of pig iron in Alabama for the year 1898 was .1,026,559 Total output of coal..... .........65 65V9,223 Total coke production .,....... l5SO,zo4 An average increase of 10 per cent. over the output of 1897.
 The export of pig iron for the year '9S amounted to 220, 900 tons, which was not an increase over the previous year owing to the greater nome demand
 Cotton
 Cotton receipts for the seasons '9S and '99 amounted to 115,09O bales This shows no increase over the figures of '97-S, the req son given is the operation of new com presses at nearby points, which restricts the Birmingham territory.
 Tax Valuations
 Tax valuations for Jefferson county for '9S were $34,5 FPS, an increase over the f,f Ioff ty now pays about one-sixth of the entire revenues of the state.
 The healthfulness of the city and county is not surpassed in any section of the country. The death rate of the white popu- lation for year 9S of the city and county taken together is 1923 per 1000 per annum.
 It is estimated that there are now em- ployed in the Birmingham district 95,000 wage earners with monthly payroll of $1,500 000.
 Everything taken into consideration it Is but fair to state that there is no place anywhere that presents a greater oppor- tunity to the laborer as well as the capi- talist. We see development on every hand. Every avenue of trade is in a. flourfshing condition. Values of real estate and all commodities have an upward tendency Dwelling houses, factories hospitals school houses and churches are going up in every direction. Every one who wishes 1t finds employment Hope strengthens every heart and neves every hand. Every eye that is faithful and earnest can see the inspiring spectacle of 0 people united in effort and purpose; mindful of the interest of all pushing nobly forward in the erection of an industrial and social structure, and by developing their resources and widening their fields of opportunity perfecting their educa tional system, enlarging their chari- ties and methods of relief, and adjusting their laws more and more to the needs of society, laying round upon round with steady resolve until by degrees rising higher and higher 1t shall be seen from afar and admired of all men.
 Respectfully submitted.
 J. B. GIBSON, Secretary.