The age-herald., 1901-10-14
Believes It VIII be Built.


 'As to the proposed steel plant at Thomas, believe 1t will be built Certain ly President Thompson and his asso- ciates were greatly pleased with the sit uation here and with the extent, wealth and condition of their Alabama prop erty.
 And I'll make this prediction: The holdings of the Republic Company in Alabama will in a short time become the most highly developed, profitable and important of all the possessions of that great company. The president and direc- tors have just now begun to fully realize the vast wealth of their Alabama prop erty, and they intend to develop it to the utmost"
 It will be remembered that 1t was MT. Pinckard's skill as an organizer and de- veloper which brought together and con solidated the immense mineral properties in Alabama that were sold to and are now in possession of the Republic Com pany. It was the first of the great con- solicitations in the Alabama mineral re- zion, and by his work in bringing it about Mr. Pinckard made a large for tune.
 Still a Topic of Gossip.
 The steel plant project of the Republic Company continues to be a topic of ab- sorbing interest. While many prominent business men are confident that the com pany means to erect a great steel mill at Thomas, a few there be. cynical men of course, who say they will look for the steel plant when they see 1t.
 A. w. Thompson, the president of the Republic Company, and William N. Page. one of the directors. and the mineral ex- pert of the concern, did most of the talk ing when the Republic party visited Bir- mingham last week. Mir. Thompson dis cussed the steel plant freely but all the statements which he gave to the press were such as might have been expected from a sensible, conservative business man. They were not positive, but they pointed to an early realization of the pro- feet. MT. Thompson said he and his di- rectors were eager to build a steel mill and for his part he felt that the scheme was feasible.
 Must Await Report.
 ON0@N be done, he said, until Julian Kennedy, the expert in steel-mill construction. who went over the proposed location at Thomas with them, made report and the board of directors considered not only that report, but the whole question in all it's bearings
 That is what he said, in substance, for publication. Those who talked with him were impressed with his sincerity. and inferentially there was only one side to the question. MT. Page was more cau- tious in his remarks, but those who dis cussed the steel plant with him were led to believe that the board of directors meant business and that MT. Kennedy would be employed to go ahead with this work.
 Men who have enjoyed personal ac- quaintance with MT. Page for many years and those who know him by repu- tation as mining engineer and a man of wide business affairs testify to his noble integrity. He is the last man in the country, they say. who would be dis posed to bluff. Hence the prevalent opin- ion here is that the steel plant will be- come reality.
 Looking After Ship Building.
 When President Thompson was leaving Birmingham Wednesday he stated simply to the press that his party was going to Richmond. The next day high official of the Southern Railway who was here with Vice President Finley said:
 "The Republic people are on their way to Richmond. but their objective point in