The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-24
Birmingham's Opportunity.

the opportunities they afford manufac- | turers; and Birmingham, of all the cities in the south, because of its ex- ceptional advantages in the way of close proximity to raw material, rail- road facilities and nearby markets, easily leads as a center for small as well as large manufacturing concerns.
 Steady progress has been made here in the development of varied manu- featuring operations, and Birmingham has now reached the point where it should be easier than ever before to induce capital to invest in factories and shops. Every foundry and ma chine shop, every cast iron pipe plant, every woodworking concern and every other industry, including car wheels, cement, brick, fertilizers, cotton mill ing and blasting powder, established in the Greater Birmingham has been profitable. Most of these enterprises have succeeded, indeed, beyond the highest expectations of those who in- vested in them. And this is one of the reasons why new industries should be located here all the faster from now on.
 It is a noteworthy fact that far less capital is required in building and op- erating, a manufacturing plant on a moderate scale than is necessary in starting and conducting a mercantile business of moderate proportions. Ow. ing to sharp competition and other conditions large capital is absolutely demanded for conducting successfully any jobbing or retail business. One hundred thousand dollars is not con sidered large capital for wholesale house, whereas many profitable indus tries might be mar any one of which could be establishol with one-third that amount of capital A shop or fac tory that would give employment to a half hundred skilled men is the sort of industry that Birmingham is espe- cially interested in at this time. Big concerns are here and they will con. tinue to increase. They will always be, in a certain way, Birmingham D mainstay. But the Commercial club committees will accomplish untold good for this community by exerting 1 their special efforts to induce small enterprises to locate here.
 Now while there is lull in business manufacturers throughout the country will listen to, and consider, proposi- tions to remove their plants to Bir- mingham more eagerly than they did during boom times when profits were large even in localities not particularly favored. This is the time, therefore, when every one interested in Birming- ham should take part In concerted movement to secure small industries. If local men who have surplus money will show a disposition to subscribe to one-third or one-fourth of the capital stock needed to swing a new manufac- turing company into line, Birmingham would soon get an advertisement abroad that would result in many new pay rolls and great tide of popula- tion. Encourage every practical man | who comes here prospecting with the intention of putting up a majority of the capital necessary to build a plant, by subscribing for the balance, and Birmingham will become one of the richest and most populous cities in the United States.
 The majority of the smaller class of industries in and around Birmingham were established with very little capital, in some in- stances with less than $5000. They have all returned big dividends and have accumulated surplus funds. Man. ufacturing sites in the suburbs are offered at exceedingly low prices. The land companies are ready to let them go at nominal figures in order to build up their respective towns, all within Greater Birmingham. Conditions are singularly propitious, then, for this di- versified industries movement Shoul- ders to the wheel, everybody! and the work of building up Birmingham will be under way before the new year rings in.
 o,,;ciono purrhoon EanfonnioI