The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-06-14
BUILD THE CANAL
sOUTHERNERs URGE 1T AT INDUS
TRIAL CONVENTION.
LET BRITAIN GET OUT.
NEEDS OF soUTH'S RIVERS AND
HARBORS DISCUSSED.

Iy Help SOuth's COmmerce-Gibson
of Birmingham Tells of AIabama,s
Great Advance in Coal and Iron.
OF 2S0, 7S3 Tons of Pig Iron Ex-
ported Last Year Alabama Furn-
ished 23S,615.
Philadelphia, June 13.-Topics of ma
tional interest were discussed at the third
days session of the Southern Industrial
Convention. One OF the most important
of these was THE Nicaragua Canal;
Why Has 1t Not Been Built" and dur
ing the debate on this question many
strong arguments We're advanced in IA
vor Of the speedy construction of the
waterway. The discussion on The Mis-
sdssipp River and Tributaries" was par
ticipatesf in by specially appointed speak
ers from New Orleans. Memphis shreve-
port, St Louis, Nashville, Chattanooga.
Knoxville, Louisville, Cincinnati, Wheel
ing and P1ttsburg.
How Our Rivers and Harbors Should
Be Provided For" another important sub
jeot, was also discussed. Realizing the
Importance of the topics most of the del
egates were early in their seats and,
though the weather was uncomfortably
warm. there was no lack of interest in
the proceedings.
J. 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 Man
ufacture in the South" showing the
growth of that industry since the develop
ment of the iron deposits was begun. Mr..
Gibson said it had been known for many
years that iron was abundant in Ala
banla, but the owners of land we're not
sufficiently wealthy to make the neces-
sary equipments
The real development of the iron in
dustry. 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, al
though 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 average
daily capacity of IT'S tons.
AIabama's Iron Industry.
The export of pig iron from the Birm-
ingham district" Mr.. Gibson said, began
annum have since been exported. In 1900
the United States exported 2S6783 tons of
rig iron, and of this amount Alabama
furnished 23S6l5
There are in the Birmingham district
$500 wage earners who receive 81 500 600
per month in pay rolls. This money turn
ed loose goes regularly in the channels
Of trade and gives life and volume to
every line of business. The volume OF
business done during the last twelve
months in mining and manufacturing
amounted 10 $50.OOOOOO
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 Nicaragua Canal.
The discussion on the Nicaragua canal
was opened by Hon. Sewall Cobb of PEN
sacola, Fla. He said in part
Five hundred and fifty millions of peo-
pie Of the far East, for half a century
nave entreated us to open a highway
through the narrow strip of land that
connects the two great continents of
america, but we have had at the helm
ol the ship of state men of limited mari
uHe Information and deaf ear has been
turned to their requests When our mill
tary arm sought opportunity for promo
uon Qn ranO our officials rushed to a
eohfict with people of less than 10OO0.-
y" IN population and already have ex-
pended in the effort to inoculate them
with benevolent assimilation upwards Of
F'VMOOO and countless lives. This money
eApehaed in the other process, CONNER
C!aI assimilation would have constructed
u.e Nicaragua canal and established lines
OF steamships numbering not less than
one hundred, each of 5000 tons capacity,
'aIIYlng our own products.
me twentieth century calls for human
aoVancement We of the South learned
al me close of the war that If we would
ueNeioS' our resources the military arm
ty. '''o '''
England Must Back Down.
me Clayton -Bulwer treaty is only a
peteNt for delay. We cannot concede the
4sht od any nation to dictate either To-
au'y or manner of occupation to those
Sl"se mutual interests demand a work
p ee nom entangling alliances. Costa
90 Nicaragua and the United States
4'Hefca are competent to decide what
" oeSt for their interests"
Teorge H. Anderson of Pittsburg spoke
orIy "Jsny on the subject expressing the
opullon that the United States can build
" lsthmian canal without the helm OF
N,siahd or any other nation The Suez
o'aI ne said, is a great boon to British
.oI'lnerce' and he asserted that this coun-
~ us needs short and economic course by
"Hih 10 send its products to the Pacific
S. 9. and thence to the markets of the
Nv. H. Cavanaugh Of st. Louis made a
c ADDRESS and the discussion was
oS0l by Walter c. Stevens of St Louis
WY, ~.o spoke on the coming st. Louis Elk
.tloh' a,ptl
p,iDe discussion on "The Mississippi
".er and Its Tributaries" was partici-
~ IN by 5. A. Thompson OF Wheeling
1o W. Samuels. st. Louis. Judge James
FFeer of Memphis and II. Clay Evans
M missioner of pensions
"Is afternoon the delegates visited the
lercial Museum. where luncheon was
''a and later witnessed the cere-
i-Nes Of the dedication OF the new
DNlled States mint.
Improvement of Employees.
me irst speaker at to-nights session
p pr William II. Tolman. director of
n. ,"lustral Betterment Department OF
.-. ~ asue for Social Service He deliv-
70, ih illustrated lecture on Movements
-Inproving the Condition OF the En-
Dr, Tolman asserted that where
b,..t effort has been made by the om-
a.. 10 uplift and improve the condi-
49,, MS employs IL has resulted In
NJ a.