Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-04-12
CAPITAL CHAT.
Considerable Attention
Attracted Over the Plans
O. Consolidation of Southern
Iron and Coal Interests.
Figures of Interest In Regard to An.
nuai Output.

Washington, D. c., April 10.-(Spec-
iaD.-The announcement of the COM
pletion of the plans for a consolidation
of the coal and iron properties of the
South into new corporation with
S125 1000. 900 capital, made by Col T. G.
Bush, president of the Alabama Con-
solidated Coal and Iron Co., has at
tracted attention once more to the
great mineral resurces Of Alabama. In
the new company will be the Alaba-
ma Consolidated Coal and Iron Co,
the Sloss- Sheffield Steel & Iron Co,
and the Republic Iron & Steel Co. The
plans for the consolidation have been
prepared by John H. Hoadley. presi-
dent of the International Power Co..
which controls the Alabama Consoli-
dated and Mr.. Hoadley and his ASSOC
ciates are also credited with the con-
troll of Tennessee coal and iron.
The United States geological survey
has already issued a number of works
relating to the mineral resources of
this field and is now engaged in COM
plotting a typographical resurvey and
geologic map of the entire district both
of coal and iron in the Warrior. Caha-
bd and Coosa fields. This work has
been under way for a year and will re-
quire about two years longer as the
birmingham district comprises about
SIX thousand square miles.
~ preliminary paper on the War;
rior group is now on the press, and al
so preliminary report on the eX-
IRENE extension of iron ore in Alaba
ma. said Prof. c. w. Hayes, of the
geological survey, yesterday. after
the completion of the work we shall
issue a series of geological folios and
detailed papers on the mineral re-
sources of the district.
"There is no section of the United
States in which the outlook for the
coal and iron business is more salts
factory than in what is known as the
birmingham district. Alabama con-
tinued Prof. Hayes. "Foundry iron can
be made in this district more cheaply,
perhaps. than anywhere else in the
world. This is due to the prodigality of
nature which seems to have deposited
! in that region all the essentials for the
| conversion of the ore into pig iron.
coal, limestone and iron ere. This dis
| III o'bouiiS III i'ii sc qohiltilItS VI
| first-class coking coal. large and SEEM
| ingly ineXhaustible deposits of very
fine ore, and right between the two an
abundance of limestone for tluxing
| purposes. The ore, the fuel, and the
| 1uX are all found within rifle shot of
| each other so that the conditions are
ideal and the result is that as this dis
trict becomes more and more devel-
oped it will he the great center of the
| ron and steel industry of the United
States.
"The question of cost of transporta-
| ton Of and facility in securing raw ma
| terial is the great question to be salts
factorily answered in the establish
ment of an industry. and at the Very
outset this is answered favorably il
the Birmingham district. Here one OF
the greatest taxes upon manufacture
ing is eliminated and the problem OF
how cheaply the raw material can be
assembled is one that need not bother
the manufacturer. The wonderful prox-
unity of the three essentials in the
production of iron and steel eXist
Throughout the Birmingham territory
In some places in this region the Goa
is mined on the mountain side ano
carried by gravity down to a lowe
level where it is transformed into coke
At the base of the mountain contain
ing the coal stands the smelter sur
rounded by limestone giving all tn
flux needed while from the opposit
side of the gully the ore is taken iron
the ground. Here We find the ore. tn
fuel and the fux at the very doors o
: the furnace. a condition that cannot b
excelled anywhere else in the country
: When one considers the long iourne
taken by the ores of the Great Lakes
r reach the smelling works of the innu
: merable furnaces around Pittsburs
one realizes the advantages that lay q