The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-11-09
COMBINATION OF
LIME INTERESTS
Southern kiInS to Be Absorbed
By Consolidated Lime Go.
CAPITAL OF S2,5OOO,000
Stock" Methods Will Not Be En-
ployed-Claimed That Prices Will
Not Be Advanced Alabama
Figures in the Deal.
CAPITAL OF $2,5OO0,00C

All the lime kilns in the south, with the
exception of those located in Texas, will
pass into the hands of one corporation on
the first of January.
Negotiations looking to this end have
been pending between the lime manufae-
turers of the south for several months, but
up to few days ago they were unable to
agree upon a plan of consolidation.
The following clipping from the Balti-
more Sun of the 18th instant gives the
details of the combine:
arrangements have been perfected for
combination of the lime manufacturing
concerns in the SOUTH The plan was en-
gineered by the banking firm OF Sperry,
Jones Sc Co., which has recently carried to
a successful issue number of important
combinations.
1.-The new company which is to absorb
the various concerns, will be chartered
under the laws of New Jersey and will be
known as the Consolidated Lime company.
1t will go into full operation on January 1,
1900. The details of capitalization have not
as yet been perfected, but the company
will have a capital of about $2,50O,0oO. NO
bonds will be issued, the entire capitaliza-
ton being divided into common and pre-
ferred stock.
"Mr. A. M. Baldwin, well-known imam
cier of Montgomery, Ala. and president OF
the First National bank of that city, Will
be president of the new company. Inc
board of directors will contain fifteen men,
bers including Mr.. Richard 3. Sperry, Oh
Sperry Jones & Co. Offices of the COM
pany will be located at Montgomery Ala
and Chattanooga, Tenn. Experts are now
examining the different properties and
special dispatch to the Sun from Mont
gomery, Ala, yesterday stated that they
were in that city examining properties
there. When seen in reference to the pro-
posed combination Mr., Richard b. Sperfy
said:
at is true that my firm ana MS asso-
ciates have secured control OF pracueaHS
all of the lime-producing interests IN Rhe
southern states south of Virginia, except
in Texas This includes Al plants in ken
tuckys Tennessee, Arkansas, Alabama
Georgia. Florida and South Carolina
There is no stone suitable for commercial
lime in the other southern states. Inc
capacity of the plants secured Is about
100000 barrels per annum and they are
located on the most eligible sites by rea-
son of accessibility to the best stone'
abundent fuel and barrel supply and situ-
alton with respect to freight rates TO the
centers of distribution. 1t is proposed to
consolidate all these plants into one COM
pany and under one management to con-
troll the production and market in those
sections.
'.It is not the purpose of the consolidation
to advance the price of lime, low as 1t ID
now. On the contrary, it Will prooaoiy De
reduced. This will be effected by control-
ling the production, reduction IN the COST
of manufacture and by enlarging the uses
of lime, notably for agricultural purposes
The output of these plants for the year
ended July l was about 1,2O0,ooo narfeis,
hut the increase since has been about %
per cent.
'I do not know of any industry where
the possibilities of a reduction in the cost
of production are greater than in phese
properties nor one where a more satiSfac-
,tory profit can be obtained by reason OF
economies possible when the production Is
under control. 1t is the exception to find
in the southern quarries steam drills or
other labor-sa Wing devices. The same crude
methods are practced now that We're In
use thirty years ago, but i'm spite of this
the aggregate profit of all the plants Is
large. l do not know of any industry which
can so we'll control it's own territory and
market. A barrel of lime weighs 200 pounds
and sells for 90 cents It's very cheapness
and bulk make it impossible for distant
producers to compete in the southern mar
kets, and ule geographical distribution of
our plants enables us to cover this entire
territory and to control these markets"
The principal lime kilns in Alabama are
located at Calera, slluria and Longview, in
Shelby county, and near Admission, in Cal
houn county. Alabama produces more lime
than any other southern state