The age-herald., 1901-05-01
t is the Beginning of a Deal
 Involving Millions ID CONTROL RIVER TRADE Properties Purchased from Vir- ginia & Alabama Coal Co. MEANS MUCH FOR BIRMINGHAM Pittsburg Recognizes Great Superiority of Alabama Mineral Properties and
 Were Forced to Stop Inrosd
 On Southern Port Trade.

'-rhis is the most important occurrence in the history of the Birmingham dis trict.' declared one of the best known business men of Birmingham yesterday.
 He referred to the sale of the Walker County properties of the Virginia and Alabama Coal Company to the Mononsa- hela River Coal and Coke Company of Pittsburg
 This transfer of ownership of great min eral interests of the Birmingham district. referred to in the Age-Herald a month ago and since then repeatedly denied and wildly spculated upon. formally took place in this city yesterday morning
 The Monongahela River Coal and Coke Company of Pittsburg paid in cash ,450,o0O for the mineral properties of the Virginia and Alabama Coal Company situate in Walker County and extending to 550o acres of the best coal land in this min eral region.
 As To Other Properties. This great transaction does not ir11 the Corunna coal mines and ts1 property of the Southern Cot 1 the transfer of which was | Age-Herald month aga
 calities as to direct - the perfect consumma the Monon- I sahela Company's pIaiisS Jr the acquisi- tion of these latter named properties: dif- fculties which may be expected to be overcome very speedily.
 The fears of many persons in Birn1ing- ham and the district that Pittsburg own ership of the properties in discussion would mean the closing down of these properties are most erroneous.
 The Pittsburg company which is the Monongahela Coal and Coke Company will run the Walker County coal mines and coke ovens to their utmost present capacity. and will take steps at once to largely increase the output.
 This transaction in Birmingham dis trict mineral property is held to be the most important that ever occurred, with the possible exception of the building of the gigantic steel plant at Ensley!
 6irmingham's Greatness.
 It means that Pittsburg acknowledged the overwhelming predominance of the Birmingham district in the matter of gulf coast supply and shipment of coal.
 Birmingham Is within five hundred miles of New Orleans, some two hun dred miles by the Southern Railway to Greenville, Miss, and the remainder o1 the distance is by the Mississippi river to New Orleans This short route is oper every day of every year. as the centuries run.
 Pittsburg is twenty-one hundred miles from New Orleans by river. and statistics of many years prove that the river route between the Pennsylvania centre and the great Louisiana. port is open but four times in the twelvemonth. and then for but very short period each time.
 Thus P1ttsburg capital sees, recognizes and in hard dollars acknowledges the im- mense superiority of the Birmingham district.
 A Great investment.
 This acknowledgement from the center of the greatest developed coal and iron center of the world takes the form of an immediate investment of nearly a half million dollars. with the certain and early investment of millions more.
 In other words. Birmingham has won upon it's own merits That which is the greatest of all its material victories, with the possible exception of the steel plant at Ensley.
 That cry has been sounded by the Age Herald these dozen years and more, and it is come to pass in a measure surpris-
 
 Meeting Yesterday.
 The annual meeting of the Virginia and Alabama Coal Company was held in Bir- mingham yesterday forenoon. and the formal transfer of its splendid properties to the Monongahela Coal and Coke Com pany of Pittsburg took place, the con sideration being a certified check for s45o,ooo
 Amongst those present were Col. James M Boyd of Richmond president of the Planters National Bank of that city. president of the wealthy Virginia Trust Company and the largest dealer in leaf tobacco in the world Gen. Lewis z. Nor ris president of the Richmond Savings Bank and director in two other banks; Morton Rosenbaum. head of one of the richest and oldest established firms of Richmond. and large stockholder in two of the Richmond banks
 These men of great money represented a controlling interest in the Virginia and Alabama Company. with mines in Pat ton and in Coal Valley. Walker County of which w k. Leake of Birmingham Is vice president and general manager.
 The present output of these uiues in 550
 
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