Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1900-08-17

Dut lies
In that last drop which unknown
powers fling in.
II. w. Higginson.
Industrial Operations In Birmingham, Ala.
A review of the industrial opera
lions in the southern iron field and
Of the Birmingham district for the
first six months of 1900 and of finan-
cial and building operations in the
city Of Birmingham show continued
development along these lines, says
a recent Birmingham (Ala.) dispatch
to the Atlanta Constitution. The to-
tai shipments of pig iron from Ala
bama and Tennessee for the period
named was 6S9,50S tons, a decrease
from the same period of last year OF
,6S,2S8 tons. But last year there were
1886, 900 tons of accumulated stock OF
pig iron to draw from for shipments
and these stocks were exhausted dur
ing the year. Therefore, the amount
Of pig iron shipped from Alabama and
Tennessee this year was manufactur-
ed this year, and 1t is thus apparent
that 100000 more tons were made the
first six months of 1900 than during
the corresponding period of 1899. Pig
iron shipments from the Birmingham
district alone for the first six months
of the present year were 433,422 tons,
q decrease of 1887 tons. Accumulat-
ed stocks in this district last year
were nearly 10000 tons. 1t thus ap-
pears that over 100000 tons more iron
was manufactured in the Birmingham
district during the first half of this
year than during the same period last
year. The amount of pig iron export
ed during the period under considera-
ton was 62, 461 tons, decrease of 3d.
679 tons. This decrease was to have
been expected In the face of splendid
home market and maintained from
last October until May this year, when
exports again became active. Export
movements for the remainder of the
year will be very large. The amount
of cast iron pipe exported during the
period in question was 1888 tons,
decrease of 3,439 tons. The cast iron
pipe business for the first six months
of this year was largely under that of
the same period last year. Pig iron
was high and cast iron pipe was held
at fancy prices owing to the increased
cost of production. The result was
that work on water mains and sewers,
which had been projected, was sus-
pended waiting for a declining price.
Pipe manufacturers make only on o.
ders and the orders being scarce pipe
production was small. 1t bids fair to
pick up again, as iron is on the de-
cline. Total pipe shipments from Ala
bama and Tennessee during the above
period were $1,000 tons, decrease
from last year of 81, GIG tons, or nearly
200 per cent. Shipments from the
Birmingham district alone were 9,377
tons, a decrease of 22,045 tons, or over
200 per cent. For the above period the
production of coal was 100000 tons,
increase over the same period of last
year Of $4,000 tons. This industry
has made an unexampled progression
the last six months, many large and
modern mines having been opened and
fitted with the most up-to-date coal
washers and other machinery. The
Mississippi river coal trade is rapidly
developing. The river business this
season will amount to 250,000 tons
against $4,000 tons last season, ship
ments already made being more than
last years total business. The coke
industry has developed in like proper
ton, probably 300 new ovens having
been fired in the Birmingham district
alone and several hundred more in
course of construction. Exact figures
are not obtainable, but 1t is known
that production is largely in excess of
that of last year. The tonnage of the
Alabama railroads for the first six
months of 1900 was the largest on rec
ord. The total number of cars handled
in the territory Of the Alabama Car
Service Association was 234,438, an
increase of 1924 cars as compared to
the same period Of last year. While
this increase is partly accounted for in
the accession of new territory, the net
increase is still very great. The first
half of 1900 was banner period with
the Birmingham banks. All of them
increased their deposits and most of
them declared dividends. The total
clearings for the period were $21, 487,-
ass. an increase over the same period