The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-06-14
AND ALSO MANY A SHIP
Military Arrangement Should be Sub.
servient to Civil Rule.
GROWTH OF ALABAMKS IRON INDUSTRIES
Discussion on the Mississippi River and Tribu-
taries Participated in by Specially Ap-
po'nted Speakers From Many
Southern Citieg,
Southern Cities.
lBy the Asgoelated Presg.) }

Philadelphia, Pa. June 1S.-Topics of
national interest were discussed at the
third days session of the Southern Indus
trial convention. One of the most i.npor-
tant of these was the Nicaragua Canal;
Why Has it not Been Built? and during
the debate on this question many strong
arguments were advanced in favor of the
speedy construction of the waterway.
The discussion on the Mississippi River
and tributaries was participated in by
specially appointed speakers from New
Orleans. Memphis, Shreveport, st. Louis,
Nashville, Chattanooga, Knoxville, Louis
Vile, Cincinnati, Wheeling and Pitts
burg.
How our River and Harbors Should be
Provided For" another important subject
was also discussed Realizing the impor-
tance of the topics most of the delegates
were early in their seats and though the
weather was uncomfortably warm there
was no lack of interest in the proceedings.
]. B. Gibson, secretary of the CONNER
cial Club of Birmingham, Ala, was the
first speaker at the morning session. He
read paper on iron and steel manufac-
that industry since the development of
the iron deposits was begun. Mr.. Gibson
said it had been known for many years
that iron was abundant in Alabama, buS
the owners of land were not sufficiently
wealthy to make the necessary equip
ments.
The real development of the iron fndus-
try, he said, began with the founding of
Birmingham in 1871 and the growth Of
one has since been the exponent of the
growth of the other. Before that time
although coal and limestone were plentiful
in the Birmingham district. it was con
tended that the coal would not make
coke. In Jefferson county there are now
twenty-seven coke furnaces with an aver
age daily capacity of 175 tons.
THE export of pig iron from the Bir-
mingham district" said Mr.. Gibson, be
gan in 1897, and an average of 200, 900 tons
per annum have since been exported In
1900 the United States exported 1861
tons of pig iron and of this amount Ala
bema furnished 2SS,615 tons.
There are in the Birmingham dis
trict 45, 900 wage earners who receive $2,~
100000 per month in pay-rolls. This
money turned loose goes regularly in the
channels of trade and gives life and vol.
ume to every line of business. The vol.
ulne of business done during the past
twelve months in mining and manufac-
turing amounted to 5O,OO0,0O0
when the Nicaragua Canal is built
Alabama coal will supply the steamships
of the world; her iron, steel, timber and
labor will build them and the product of
her industries will load them"
The discussion on the Nicaragua Canal
was opened by Hon Sewall Cobb of Pen
sacola, Fla. He said in part:
give hundred and fifty million of peo-
pie of the Far East for half a century,
have extreated us to open a highway
through the narrow strip of land that con-
meets the two great continents of Amer
lea, but we have had at the helm of ship
of State men of limited maritime infor-
nation and deaf ear has been turned
to their requests. When our military ar
rangement sought opportunity for pronY)-
tion Tin rank) our officials rushed to a
conflict with a people Of less than ten
millions in population and already have
expended in the effort to inoculate them
with benevolent assimilation upwards of
800 600 900 of dollars and countless lives.
This money expended in the other pro
cess of commercial assimilation would
have constructed the Nicaragua Canal
and established lines of steamships num-
bering not less than one hundred, each
of five thousand tons capacity carrying
our own products.
THE twentieth century calls for human
advancement. We of the South learned at
the close of the war that if we Wruld
deyeIop our resources the military ar
rangement must be subservient to the
civil authority
"The Claytor Bulwer Treaty is only
a pretext for delay. We cannot con-
eede the right of any nation to dictate
either locality or manner of occupation
TO those whose mutual interdsts de-
mand a work free from entangling al
liances Costa Rica. Nicaragua and the
United states of America are competent
to decide what is best for their inter-
ests"
George H. Anderson, of Pittsburg,
eroko briefly on the subject, express
nraesine the opinion that the United
Stotes can build an isthmian canal with
ont The help of England or any other ma
lion The Suez Canal. he said, is a
oraot boon to British commerce and he
Escorted that this country needs short
and economic course by which to send its
aroducts 10 the Pacific coast and thence
- - tne markets of the world.
NJ II. Cavanagh,Ao of st. Louis made a
brief address the discussion was