The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-14
TALK OF ISTHMIAN CANAL
Nicaraguan Route Favored by
 the Delegates.
J. B. Gibson of Birmingham Tells of the Mineral Wealth of Ala bama-w. H. councill Speaks
 on Race Problem.

Philadelphia, June 13-The delegates to the Southern Industrial Convention today coiis,uered rhe important ques- ton of waterways and in their rela- tion to the improvement Cf the coun- tIy's trade. An interesting discussion occurred on the value of the lsthmian canal. the opinion of the speakers be- ing that the proposed Nicaragua Ca- nal N.ould be .he most desirable eco- nGmicaI channel between the Atlantic ana Pacific coasts. Hon. Sewell C.. Cobb of Pensacola led the debate on this subject. The Mississippi River and it's tiibutar were also discussed. the speakers giving reasons why the wa tes @ avs or the South should be adopt ed and utilized. J B.. Gibson of Bir- mingham read parer on Iron and Steel Manufactured in the South" de- taii.ng the development of the indus try and showing the benefits to the in ve1tors an ] manufactul CTS. Two in- te. estins ada eSseS were delivered at the night session, one being by Dr. W. H. Tollman on the subject of i'm proving the condition of wage-earners, and the other by w. H. Councill. who spoke in behalf of the colored race. In his speech, J. B. Gibson said: The real development of the iron industry 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 plen- tiful in the Birmingham district, 1t was contended that the coal would not coke. In Jefferson County there are now twenty-seven coke furnaces with an average daily capacity of 175 tons" The export of pig iron from the Bir- k..tA Ar dfhan1 began in 1897, and an average of 2O0,- 900 tons per annum have since been exported. In 1900, the United States exported 2S6. .TSs tons of pig iron. and of this amount Alabama furnished 23S, ,615 tons ''-'' 'eH -.-s. "There are in the Birmingham dis trict 45,000 wage earners who receive $2. 500, 900 per month in pay rolls. This money goes regularly into channels of trade. and gives life and volume to every line of business. The volume of business done during the past twelve months in mining and manufacturing amounted to 50.00O.000
 When the Nicaragua Canal is built, Alabama coal will supply the steam ships of the world; her iron, steel. tim Der and labor will build them, and the
 product of her industries will load them"
 The first speaker at tonights session was Dr. William H. Tollman, Director of the Industrial Betterment Depart ment of the league for social service. He delivered an illustrated lecture on Movements for Improving the Condi- tion of Employed" Dr. Tellman as- serted that where special effort has been made by the employer to uplift and improve the condition of his em- ployes, it has resulted in actual mone- tary benefit. He said the transporta- tion companies Of the country have done more than is generally known in the direction of applying the new i'm dustrial idea through the medium of railroad branches of the Young Mems Christian Association.
 w. H. Councill, President of the Az ricultural and Mechanical College, of Normal, Ala, spoke on industrial ed- ucation and its relation to race devel- opment. MT. Councill said he had been a slave boy, and his experiences at that time caused him to vow that he would some time devote himself to the work of uplifting the colored race. He as- serted the solution of the race problem was in neither the question of fran chise nor education. but rather in a
 proper understanding between the white people and the negro.
 An interesting incident of the session was the presentation by General w.. w. H. Davis of Doylestown. Pa, of a captured Confederate flag to the South Carolina delegation.