The age-herald., 1902-04-06

ent furnace company at Talladega, and acquired for it some two thousand acres of ore lands These lands were Acquired to supply two furnaces Several of the properties of the remaining four thou sand acres Ga considerable portion Of which has been obtained since the pres ent furnace snpany was organ1zed), l have seen, and here alone there is room for probably four more furnaces.
 Indeed, 1 doubt not that Talladega and the environs Is the natural centre or at least eight or ten furnaces. These lands have been obtained in lots of from forty to a few hundred acres and whilst there are no such other holdings yet, there is probably much more land just as rich in iron as that already taken up, and it Is now generally held at from $15 to $20 an acre for that which has been explored. Some is held at $50 an acre, The smaller properties are for sale whilst the larger, as that of MT. Chambers Is held for in vestment in companies building furnaces. After the successful efforts of MT. Cham bers in opening up the iron industry at Taladega, I cheerfully refer to him any parties interested in investing in the iron industries. He has also a property on which there Is a lake suitable for the To- cation of furnaces, which he offers to companies building furnaces at Talla- dega."
 "One of the largest and most powerful companies in the South and especially in the mineral district of Alabama is the Northern Alabama Coal, Iron and Rail- way Company, which has its general offices in Talladega. 1.l.s company is made up of a number of subsidiary com panies and o..-ns considerable railway and mining property in this section of the Statc.'
 These subsidiary companies included in the general company are:
 The Birmingham and Atlantic Railroad Company.
 The Coal City Coal and Coke Company.
 The Broken Arrow Coal and Mining Company.
 The Coosa Valley Company.
 The local officers of the company make up some of the most prominent men in Talladega affairs and are men of sub- stantial ability. They are
 John c. Soley. General Manager.
 John E. Hammond, Superintendent Ore Division.
 W. L. Law, Superintendent Railroad Di-
 H. E. Fleetwood, Superintendent Coal Division.
 w. H. Lane. Superintendent Coke Di- vision
 George Dunglinson, Assistant Treas urer.
 J. F. Fleetwood, Auditor
 The Birmingham and Atlantic Railway owns and operates lines from Pell City to Talladcga. It also owns number of other shorter lines In various parts of the county running to mines an. plants. The equipment of the road has recently been made modern, one very handsome new car being put on within the past few weeks. The company does a large busi- ness as well as fair amount of pas songer business. Connections at Pell City are made with the East and West Rail- way and the Southern Railway.
 The mining companies and the furnace company own and operate several valua- bio mines for coal and for ore. These bor of men and make the pay rolls of the company run up to a very large sum. The general company gives employment to more than 1000 men, These are at work in Talladega, St. Clair and Etowah co unties.
 Furnace Plant.
 The furnace plant of the Northern Ala bama Coal Iron and Railway Company is situated on the southwestern boundary of the city of Talladega.
 This furnace Is now in blast, having been recently rebuilt. This plant has a capacity of 150 tons of pig iron per day. The iron made is of a very superior aual- ity. and finds a ready market
 This company owns and operates it's