Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-01-19
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
REVIEW OF THE IRON AND COT
TON INDUSTRIES.
Especial to NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

Especial to Virginian-Pilot.)
Baltimore, Jan. 1S.-In spite Of the
difficulties In obtaining some raw ma
terial shared with other iron producing
regions by the Birmingham district.
the conditions there during the past
week have been satisfactory to persons
interested In the future of Southern
iron. The correspondent at Birming-
ham Of the Manufacturers Record says
that the most serious deficiency OF ma
terial has been in coke. Some furnaces
have on that account been declining all
new business. The demand for coal
and coke is not confined to Alabama,
but the ReDublic of Mexico is u con-
slant supplicant for such material
While some new ovens are added
weekly for the purpose OF increasing
coke production. and while 1t is true
that capacity will be considerably in
creased before the year ends. the fact
remains that the demand also con-
tnues to increase. AT the some time
there have been foreign inquiries. nota-
bly, one from Germany for basic iron,
but they have all been turned down.
Still, export iron is moving, one memo
randum during the week being q ship
ment of 4,T00 tons. The demand for
basic iron has SO grown and has been
so regular that the facilities for it's
production will soon be increased by
the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad
Company, which will devote another
furnace to its grade. 1t is also said
that second furnace interest in the
district will. before the end of the week,
be q producer Of basic iron. Produc-
ton will soon be increased to q limited
extent. as the Talladega and Gadsden
furnace began operations this week.
To these may be added n few more east
of Birmingham of comparatively small
capacity, the beginning of whose opera
lions is dependent upon regular and
constant supply of material. The re-
port is also confirmed that the Re
public Iron and Steel Company will
build two furnaces at Thomas. to be
followed by n steel mill. The Steel
Chain Company will put in four open
hearth furnaces. and proposes to make
its plant 'nrst-class in every resnect
The Central Foundry people are favor
ably considering the doubling of the
capacity of its plant at Bessemer.
CHANGING CONDITIONS.
A striking indication of changing
industrial conditions in the South is
given by Texas, where the discovery OF
oil a few years ago has been followed
by the lighting and heating of Corsi-
cana by natural gas. Ten years ago.
according to an article In the Manufac-
turers' Record by Mr.. c. r. u. Car
acristi, but forty barrels were pro-
duced from one we'll a year. The pro-
duction has now increased to GOO 900
barrels from 360 wells. and this. 1t is
believed. is but n forerunner of greater
development, with the probability OF
Texas becoming the third greatest oil
producer in the United States most adj
vantageously situated for markets in
Mexico. Central and South America.
COTTON MANUFACTURING
In the meantime cotton manufacture
ing. in a certain sense n pioneer in
Southern industry. is holding it's own as
leader. Among the developments OF
the week was the closing OF deal nj
jackson. Tenn. for 300 acres of land,
upon which will be built n 5000 spindle
mill by the Bemis Brothers Bag Com