The age-herald., 1900-09-24
Says Hopes of the South Are in
 Export Trade.
CAN'T COMPETE WITH NORTH
Owing to Improved Labor Saving M a chinery-Europe Offers Splendid Trade for Southern Iron-As
 to Seaboard Air Line

ASNSNAiS Ol Allc1lnaIl, owner Of the Birmingham and Atlantic Railroad and of blast furnaces at Talladega and New Decatur, Ala, and Cedartown, Ga, was in Birmingham yesterday en route to Cincinnati from Talladega- MT. Zlmmer- man is vice president of the Cincinnati Hamilton and Dayton Railroad Company
 MT Zimmerman speaks hopefully of the Iron market, although he does not expect much improvement in the demand before the Presidential election. He is of the opin- lon that Southern iron manufacturers will nave to look to Europe for consumers, and not trust to the home market. In speaking of the export business he said:
 '"The foreign market will be the saliva ton of the Southern iron manufacturer. He cannot hope to compete successfully with the Northern manufacturer in the latter's own territory. In tte North the furnaces are owned and controlled by com panies that consume their own make the iron rarely going into the market until it has been worked into the finished product The fact that the furnace companies own their finishing mills keeps them out of the market for pig iron, and thus curtails the market for the make of the companies that are not so fortunately situated.
 "The installation of labor-saving machin- cry and other improvements in the North ern furnaces has reduced the cost of pro- ducing iron to figure that approximates the cost of producing it in Alabama. Un- der these conditions Alabama iron cannot pay freight to the mills north of the Ohio and compete with northern-made iron; or If it does there will be no profit to the manufacturers, even if they do not lose money.
 ''The foreign market affords the oppor- tunity for profitable iron making in Ala bama. It is fine field for Southern furnace owners. The furnaces in other sections of the country, farther inland. can not sell to the foreign market in competition with Alabama on account of the high freight rates they would have to pay.
 However, the South cannot do any con- siderable export business until better and cheaper ocean shipping facilities are pro- Vlded. That is prime necessity and no time should be lost in bringing about the needed Improvements in that direction The government should subsidize ships and thus build up our foreign shipping. The iron and other products of Alabama that are export ed will have to go out through the Gulf and Atlantic ports and ample shipping fa- cilties should be provided to accommodate all offerings.
 "'The present ocean rates are too high, in fact they are almost prohibitatlve; but no reduction can be expected until more ves- sells are put into service and until there is ship room for all freight offered.
 MT Zimmerman stated that his furnace at Talladega, which is now undergoing re- pairs, would be ready to go in blast again within sixty days. It was blown out for repairs two or three weeks ago. The fur mace at Cedartown Is now in blast and making high grade of car wheel iron.
 MT. Zimmerman said he was considering the advisability of removing the New De- catur furnace to Cedartown, but he has not yet definitely decided to do so
 The Birmingham and Atlantic Railroad, a short line running from Talladega to Pell City, distance of twenty-three miles, ed If 1t would be sold to the Birmingham, Alabama and Georgia Railroad Company of which company he is a director His re- ply was that he knew nothing of any such company as the Birmingham, Alabama and
 
 he said was making money and he was sat isfied with it as it now exists.
 He asked a great many questions relative to the holdings of the Seaboard Air Line Company in this district and appeared to be considerably interested in the matter.
 The Birmingham, Alabama and Georgia was recently chartered under the laws of Alabama, according to dispatch sent out from Montgomery and has in it's directory several men interested In the East and West Railroad of Alabama and, also, Mr. Zimmerman.
 MT. Zimmerman, when asked if he pur- posed disposing of the Birmingham and Alabama road to the Seaboard Air Line, the Birmingham, Alabama and Georgia, or to any other road, gave an evasive answer, adding that he was very well satisfied with the Birmingham and Alabama.