The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-05-17
THE ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ALABAMA
TONNAGE Here and Elsewhere.

iOn1dQe mere anu C1S6WHeTes
It is often said the tonnage of this
district exceeds that of the entire cot
ton crop, but such statement is so
very far within the truth that it is
absolutely misleading. Let us look at
the figures.
If the cotton crop be put at 10000
600 bales-an average crop of the last
ten years-it weighs just about $780,
900 short tons-tons, that is to say,
of 1000 pounds each. Practically all
the cotton grown in the south is
moved by rail or water.
Now, how about the other side of
the problem? We have 100000 tons
of coal to begin with. AS the iron
product of this district is now 1000, 900
tons, we must next add to the list this
item, 100000 tons of iron ore, thus
making 100000 long tons, every
pound of which must be moved by rail.
The flux needed and all other articles
whatsoever consumed in this populous
district are good for 100000 tons
more, thus bringing the entire tonnage
of this district up to 20,000000 tons,
or eight times the weight of the entire
cotton crop.
uha oxao+. a o,,raS IF Joffarcon county
alone are not at hand, but approx
mately they are maze up of 100000
tons of coal, 100000 tons of iron, A.
100000 tons of iron ore, and 1000, 900
tons of fiux and other stuff-total, IA,
100000 tons. The average cotton crop
weighs 100000 tons, and the seed
twice as much, but only one-half of the
seed crop Is crushed or moved, and
this brings the entire tonnage of the
crop up to 100000 tons, unless in
deed we add 100000 tons on account
of oil and seed products moved, max
Ing a total of 100000 short tons, or
Just one-half of jefferson countys ton
mage.
In view of these facts the following
comment from the Atlanta Journal
will be read with either amazement or
amusement, or perhaps both. The
journal grayely says:
AS for the two cities, Atlanta compares
with Birmingham same as Birmingham
with Gassaway, Tenn, the home of Har-
ry Hale. The Century or Empire build
ing in Birmingham would throw a dark
shadow over the entire city and blot out
the light of day. Many necks would be
broken or sadly twisted by the local COM
munity there trying to gaze to the top of
a fourteen story palace like Atlanta pos
sesses The most lofty buildings In that
town would be spurned as shanties in
the peach belt. Birmingham may be a
hustling city, but we haven't detected
the odor of gasoline when 1t passes along
1t is enough to make a saint weary or
the ice man weep when you hear the
community here talk about Birmingham
being the coming city of the south. when
you could dump the entire village, iron.
Stag, ball team rooters and all in a cor
ner lot on Decatur street and not disturb
the hum and throb of city life. When 1t
comes to hustle the swiftest citizen in
Birmingham couldn't dodge an Atlanta
hearse.
The esteemed Journal is respectfully
asked to consider tonnage, rather than
rooters or skyscrapers, or even CASA
way, Tenn. II the Journal will hold
still until the next census Is taken, it
will soc Jefferson county leave Fulton
county so far behind that the latter
will be counted among those who also
ran" In 1890 Jefferson county had
$4,000 more people than Fulton county
could muster, and in 1910 the gap will
be widened SO much that Fulton coun-
TVS bumptious town will be put in the
Macon and Montgomery class.