The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-10-23
Situation is Encouraging and the Future is Full of
 Promise
LARGE SUM INVESTED IN
 STEEL AND IRON PLANTS
The Prominent Men of the Steel City Discuss Business and Industrial Activity In an Optimistic
 Vein-Some Interviews.
BY E. R. NORMAN.

BY E. R. NORMAN.
 Ensley. October 2-(SpeciaD-By com bning the Bessemer and the Open-hearth processes, Ens1ey has demonstrated that as fine quality of steel as is produced in the world can be made from Alabama ore The question was worked out by the Tennessee Company with the liberal use of money, pluck and patience. It is true that when the steel plant was built, it was looked upon as an experiment.; and there is no Coubt that it has been an expensive one too, fo- this kind of eX- perience comes high. The problem has been solved however, and now all Ala bamians especially those living in this city, can proue.y say with Andrew Car genie that "The city or nation that can produce the cheapest ton of of steel has assumed supremacy"
 The introduction of the converter, bet ter known as the mixing machine, is perhaps responsible for assured success of Ensley steel. To this alone must be given the credit for the plant breaking all former records. when heat was made, a short while since, in one of the open hearth furnaces in just five and a half hours
 continual heating process is the plan Dn which the moder.. system of Ensley steel making is conducted From the time the ore is dumped into the pig iron furnace 1t never cools until it is rolled out at the rolling mill as hard steel
 The new system, not only diminishes the use of scrap iron but saves both time and fuel. The hot pig in first treated to a thorough blowing under the highest air pressure obtainable, before it is plac- ed in the open hearth furnace. Under the new system 1000 ton. day is an easy record for the steel mill
 Over s1o,ooo,ooo Invested.
 With over $10,o0O, 900 invested in indus tries, Ensley is not only one of the chief feeders of the Birmingham district but is bound to be a l,~lding factor in it's in- dustrial development A summing of the various industries in the city is unnecess- ary, but it might be fitting to say that the estimated number of men employed in the several plants is 5000 and that monthly payrolls amount to something like s2O0,OOU.
 Ensley is a public spirited town and the citizens are pulling for it's industrial development, but while every plant is turning out products necessary to the maintainance of the railroad and indus- trial world, the people have not neglected the city's improvement. During the past two years 7200 feet of concrete sidewalks have been laid A complete system of sanitary and storm sewers have been constructed at cost of $60, 000 The san itary system is over eleven miles in length and the storm sewers and the laterals are over three miles.
 In addition to this work, over two miles of the new streets have been graded and macadamized.
 The assessed tax valua tions of Ensley, excepting all the industries, according to the taxpayers themselves, have gain ed over $15o,000 during the past year.
 The citizens of Ensley in all lines of trade and professions have confidence in the city's future as is shown by the statements given below:
 Mayor N. w. Scott.
 Mayor N. w. Scott, a native of Jeffer- son county, who has been mayor of the city every since it was incorporated and has been of the greatest factors in its development, has great faith in the city. "Ensley," he sad lis certainly destined to rank among the large cities of the country. l have unbounded faith in its industrial future.
  of unparalleled prosperity in the history of the city. Notwithstanding the air of uncertainty that has prevailed in certain quarters Ensley has continued to grow larger day by day. Being blessed as we are with the natural resources in such close proximity, the city is bound to come to the front"
 J. E. Hollingsworth, member of the city council and leading contractor, said ''The people of Ensey have no room whatever to knock All of the industries are breaking records and are employine more than at any time in the history oi the city. A building boom in Ensley seems to be fixture"
 Henry Zuber, the well known contractor and candidate for mayor, says: My con. fidence in the present and future of Ems. ley is unbounded l freely predict that it will be one of the leading cities ir the south. at day not far distance. Bus mess Is fine in all lines, and we have ev, cry reason to believe that 1t will con. tinue to grow better.''
 One of the prime movers in Ensley's development is Superintendent Mason H sherman of the Semet-Solvay. one of the citv's leading industries. He has not only been prominent in the industrial wei fare of the city but has taken leadns mart in the social and political life oi Ensley. He is a member of the board oi aldermen and as chairman of the finan cial committee for the past two years has rendered the city much valuable ser vice. He has shown his confidence IT Ensley by the part he has taken in al the affairs of the city
 On very earnest request he gave out the following information concerning th' semet-Solvay plant, on grounds that it b' used to further the industrial advance ment of the Steel City:
 Semet-Sovay Plant.
 The Semet-Solvay company's plant a Ensley. consists of 240 by-product cok' ovens with the necessary equipment fol the recovery of by-products They con sume 5000 tons of coal per month ant produce 5000 tons of coke, all of whici k delivered to the Tennessee Coal. lror and Railroad company's Ensley furnace which are immediately adjoining theil ~Iant. The coke is delivered there Tn car