The age-herald., 1901-02-21
MIR. BAXTER SAYS
 IT IS ERRONEOUS Statement Concerning Price of
 Iron in Other Cities HE DEFENDS BIRMINGHAM Points Out Difference In Favor of This District-Question Came Up In
 Discussing the Removal Of
 tIardie-Tynes Plant.
HE DEFENDS BIRMINGHAM

In connection with the discussion o1 the probable removal of the Hardie 1ynes foundry to Memphis, 1t has beer stated that pig iron can be purchased in Memphis at the same figures paid for 1t in Birmingham. At the meeting of the Commercial Club directors Tuesday | afternoon 1t was stated that this was one of the reasons assigned by Mir. Tynes for removing, if they should finally de- eide to remove to Memphis. After dis cussing this statement for some time the secretary of the club was instructed to investigate the matter and report back to the board of directors
 President Baxter, of the Tennessee Coal Iron and Railway Company, de- nics the statement that Birmingham con. su,ners are charged as much for pig iror as consumers at distance who have to pay freight.
 MT. Baxter has sent the Age-Herald the following statement in this connec- tion:
 Birmingham. Ala, Feb. 20. 1901. ''To the Editor of the AgeHerald: "The Evening News, in. it's issue of February 20. publishes the following: An important question. and one which may have great bearing upon the future industrial development of the Bir- mingham district. has been taken up by the Commercial Club.
 "It is stated that the iron and steel producing companies of the Birmingham district make no concessions to the iron and steel consumers of the district; that the, have to pay just as much for their raw material as do the iron and steel con ners of Memphis and other foreign poin.. the producers thereby making a greater profit off the home concerns than they make off of the concerns at a dis tance. It Is said that iron consumers in Memphis can buy iron laid down in Mem phis at just the same price the Birming- ham consumer can. In other words, the producer pays the freight and sells the produce as cheaply at that distance from the point of production as 1t Is sold right at home, where the item of freight is practically nothing.
 This statement Is serious. and one that ought not to have been made without investigation, and 1t is scarcely less startling than serious Anyone upon re- flection would know that such a condi- ton of trade would be absolutely im- possible of existence. The freight on pig iron from Birmingham to Memphis Is s2 per ton, and the freight on pig iron from Sheffield to Memphis Is $1.55 per ton. No concern In Birmingham could enter a competition with Memphis con- cern engaged In the same line of iron business if Memphis was allowed to buy its iron at the same rate that the Bir- mingham consumer obtained his. The facts are that all iron going from Br- mingham to Memphis or other points, Is charged for and sold at the price at which the Birmingham consumers get 1t, with the freight to the point of delivery added. That Is to say, Memphis pays g per ton more for iron than Birmingham does; Cincinnati pays $275 per ton more than Birmingham; Nashville pays $1.50 per ton more than Birmingham, and Louisville pays s2.60 per ton more than Birmingham does.
 Such Is the universal custom, and is not departed from by any company in tho district. It would be impossible for any concern to depart from this rule. were 1t so disposed All iron consumers in the Birmingham district obtain their Iron, even though 1t may be a car load, at the same price that the Louisville Cincinnati, Memphis or Nashville con sumers do, less the freight from Birm- inyham to the point of delivery.
 q shall feel obliged to you If you will publish this, as 1t is intended to correct a statement which Is well calculated to do incredible injury to the district if per- its truth
 Truly yours.
 IN. BANTER, JR."