The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-04-07
A Remarkable Revival Of Industrial
Interests in Dixie.
VIRGINIA FURNACES PURCHASED.
In Every Direction from Maryland to
Texas There are Signs of Increas-
ing Business activity Many
New Enterprises Reported,

10 the South, and the Manufacturers
record, In summing up the Southern end
OF the situation, says
After some years Of weary waiting
the South once more begins TO feel the
thrill OF industrial activity The promise
OF Undertaking development, and, ne
ccssariy, OF general prosperity for tho
whole South, which this paper continued
10 predict oven daring the time when
tho business depression was the great
est, Is now being more than fulfilled. In
every direction from Maryland TO Texas
there are signs OF increasing business
activity: manufacturing enterprises are
generally crowded with orders; the iron
interests arc not only turning cut
larger product than ever before, but are
making larger profits than at any time
in the past; cotton mills are running
night and day; lumber interests are be-
coming more prosperous, and the SUR
of new life and enthusiasm is every
where felt. 1t is difficult TO make n
summary even of the more important
enterprises that have been definitely Or
ganized with all of the capital secured,
during the last three months. and Yet
few of the more important undertake
ings reported by the Manufacturers
Record during that time will show how
general is the upward tendency
VIRGINIA IRON AND COAL.
Probably first In importance is the Nir-
gin!a Iron Coal and Coke Company. with
capital stock of s7.5O0.eoO and S0'0O
of bonds. This company has purchased
some ten or twelve furnaces built In
Southwest Virginia and Tennessee during
the boom period OF 1889 to 1891. and which
have been idle for several years. 1t has
also purchased the large steel and iron
plant at Mddlesborough. Ky, and ex-
tensive bodies of ore and coal lands. All
OF these furnaces will be repaired and
put into blast as rapidly az possible,
giving the company an annual capacity
of several hundred thousand tons Of pig
iron when all of it's furnaces are run
ming.
"The Empire steel and Iron Company.
captal 5000. 900. backed by some very
large iron and moneyed people in New
York and elsewhere. has purchased the
long-idle furnace at Greensboro. y. G..
and will put 1t into operation. This COM
rany is now negotiating for a number OF
furnaces in Alabama. also built during
the boom period, and which have been
put in blast
'The Roane Iron COMPANY. Pock-
wood, Tenn. will spend about 10000 in
the enlargement of it's furnace and in
building a new furnace. The Pioneer
birmingham Is charging its furnace
operations. onening new ore mines and
building a railroad to extensive coal pro-
perties.
IN ALABAMA
"A syndicate is being organized by
some Alabama and Western people for
purchasing and operating several Ala
bama furnaces The Vanderbilt furnace
at Birmingham has been purchased and
will pc put into blast. and the Mary
Pratt furnace has been optioned ana
will probably be bought and go into
blast The Star and Crescent furnace at
Rusk, Texas, has been leased and viii
be blown in as soon as the necessary
repairs can be made. A plant for maxi
ing cement out of Stag. with a capacity
of 5000 barrels day, will be built at
Ensley City, Ala, and a cooperage shop
to produce 1900 kegs day will be es-
tablished under contract to furnish
kegs TO the wire nail works now building
there.
The Chester Rolling Mil Company.
capital $4,000. will erect an iron and
steel mill at Chester, w. Va The Ca
toctin Iron Company property at Fred
erick. Md. including 1900 acres Of min
eral land has been purchased by people
who expect TO build one or more fur
naces. The Cumberland Rolling NIL.
Cumberland. Md. has been leased by
the Potomac Steel Company. IS now be-
ing overhauled, and will be put into ope-
ration making light steel rails. The An
niston Pipe and Foundry Company. An
niston, Ala. is making large improve
ments TO its pipe works. and Tyler &
Co. are erecting sewer pipe works and
II. NJ Wheedon. of Boston and others
have leased and will operate the Her
cules Pipe Works at Admission, Ala. The
Tennessee Coal. Iron and Railroad Coma
pany is building large foundry and
machine shop at Birmingham i'm connec-
ton with the Alabama Steel and Ship
building plant. and the American Pipe
and Foundry Company will enlarge its
plant al Bessemer at a reported cost OF
about 500 200. The Eagle Iron Company
has been organized TO buy and operate
a charcoal furnace at Alfalfa. and the
Janifcr Furnace COMPANY of Janifer.
Ala. is erecting 5O0-ton ore washer and
improving its furnace with view 10 put
ting into blast Baltimore ana Phila-
deiphia people have purchased l. 500 acres
of land adjacent 10 Birmingham, with
the probability of the establishment there
of iron works. A sl25.0oo iron foundry
has been established at Newport News,
and the Buffalo Iron Company, of Nash
vile. 1eln., VIII dow III us furnace At
Cumberland Furnace ~ O. The West
Virginia Steel Company, capital 81 100000,
will build 800 900 plant for making steel
sheets. A dozen or more enterprises
looming up, the building Of machine
shops the enlargement of furnace ope-
rations, and the development Of coal
mines are under way in different parts
of the South, while in copper mining
some extensive purchases have been
made of copper properties and large de-
velopment operations will he pushed.
AS TO COTTON.
Turning from iron and steel matters to
cotton, the activity in the building of new
mills and in the enlargement of estah-
lished concerns since January LIST has
been very marked. The most important
enterprises In that unexpectedly the
most important In its effect OF any textile
concern ever reported in the South-was
the decision Of the Merrimac Manufac-
turing Company, of Lowell. Mass. to
build in Alabama a mill Of 5000 spindles
and 700 looms, and as soon as this Is
completed to continue the extension OF
the work until II has In one plant eight
250so-spndle mills with an aggregate OF
geo 900 spindles and $500 looms. and also
bleachery and print works. the entire In
ycstment to be about S2.500.000
Colonel Julian 8. Carr and the Dukes
and others of Durham. N. c.. are PLAN
ming the development Of lo.00o-horse
power canal at Lockville. N. c.. and the
building Of 100000 mill. The Pee
Manufacturing Company. Greenville. Is