Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-08-22
SOUTHERN MINES.
A Revival Of the Iron Industry at
Birmingham
Now Coal Mines are being Opened The
Uncoyeriug of Southern Mincrals win
Continue building Operations Here
and There.
Especial to virglnian- pilot.)


Baltimore, Aug. 20.-Though the buy
ing inclination that has OF late moved
in the West has not yet reached the
birmingham iron district sellers there
are expecting it. There is u good deal
OF iron stacked in furnace yards.
which buyers refused on the decline of
the market. There was little exnort
selling done during the week, though
me outward movement was cons!dera-
DIE. Included in it was the last ship
meht OF $4,000 tons sold last April and
me beginning of the shipment OF q
similar amount, and it is reliably
stated that GOO cars have been order
eo from one railroad alone to move ex-
port iron. The Birmingham CORE
Spondent OF the Manufacturers Rec
ora notes general resumption of ac-
tiFlty; the steel mill has started with
three furnaces i'm blast ana its bloom
ing mill at work: the OUTPUT will be
increased as demand warrants: the
par, rod and wire nail mill has also
started. and 1t is thought that the
piow works at Ensley will begin oper-
atoms within a few days. New coal
mines are being opened principally Nv
local capital.
PHOSPHATE MINING.
AS matter of fact. the uncovering
OF minerals in the South must continue
III more lines than one In the Ter
hcssee phosphate fields the set backs 10
INNING phosphate rock due to heavy
ram and the drift OF lnborers 10 otber
locailtieS where temporarily they may
petter wages have resulted I'm
CONDITION described by correspon-
cent OF the Manufacturers Record ms
lo!loWs: For The FIRST time since the
mines were opened there vii, he a
heaVy decrease in production against
!. ne.vy increase each succeeding year
neIetoiore In the autumn OF 1859 all
the orders were filed and the storaue
sheds were full OF rock; the miners
We're INTO winter quarters with over
iVo ouo tons Of rock on hand To shin
OUT on winter orders. To-day the sill
uauoh is entirely changed The ship
,,,. rave Deen larger in the first six
months or 1890 than for the corresnont
me period OF 1889. The demand is not
mere steadily, but rapidly increasinr
ne orders on hand for the last half
81 ms year are larger than they were
iol tnc last SIX months of last wear
osi, so miners nave been compelled 20
ASK Tor extensions of three. four ana
even SIX months on their shinmenis
unu several companies decline 10 hook
any further orders at any price"
FLUOR- SPAR.
Tor Two years fuor-spar has hoo,
mined anu shipped from the mineral
neit IN Crittenden aud Livingston roun-
.les, kentucky, and at this time ship
.,ch's are about equal TO the prod,lc-
I'm a correspondent OF the Manu-
lecturers Record. detailing The oper-
atohs OF i've strong companies in the
Heiu, says; 1t Is estimated that thern
are oOO men at work in all phases Of
the business. though mining Is sin
III me initiative. New men are, coming
IOs
no apnormGl rush. representatives of
capital and mining enterprises from
commercial ccnterS are finding their
way mere every week. The quantity
ol lluor-spar is simply inexhaustibie.
upl /. Is OF Tue pureSt quality; The
S s,.,.,' ieau and zinc are found in true
assure VEINS; the veins are from six
TO thirty feet wide, and as they are
carried deeper lead and zinc come In
70 lheii ana the spar gradually grows;
lcsS' me separation OF the lead, zinc
anu spar mas been Il problem which
un.l recently has retarded matters;
now the problem has been solved Nv
!re use of dry air gigs. ana machincrv
Is being erected for this purpose: one
company is building a large and en-
pensive plant, and az soon as his is
,,p'nlneted the zine and lead ores Will
~ MprAeu ana deeper mining for these
VIII be commenced in earnest"
BUILDING OPERATIONS
Among the many building operations
under way in the South are those con
hected with the erection OF new cot
ion mills or adjuncts thereto. Ar.
ransements have been made for Tie
building of the beachey of the clear
water Is. c. B!cachery ana NAM.
featuring Company: The hleacherv vii;
be established In a $50 900 builr,inr Cn.
dartown. Ga, is 10 have Sl00. 900 srIn-
ming and knitting mills; the site has