The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-01
WAS ANNIVERSARY IF STEEL MAKING First Run Made Six Years Ago
 Yesterday ENSLEY PEOPLE REJOICING First Steel Successfully Made In South Thanksgiving Day, November 30,
 1899-Untiring Faith of
 Tennessee Go.

Ensey. November SO-(special.)- Thanksgiving day will always be of spe- eial significance to the people of Ensley On Thanksgiving day, November 30, 1899. the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Rail- road company made it's first run of steel in this city. It was the first steel to be made on commercial basis in the state or in the south as to that matter.
 Some years before this time the Hen derson mills at North Birmingham had made an attempt to produce steel, but had met with signal failure. In those days the only soft steel in the market was made by the Bessemer process There are no Bessemer ores in the south, but MT Henderson and associates hoped and thought that they could make steel with our hematites. He made faithful effort and tried every device that he and his friends could suggest. but failed. The venture of the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad company was in the nature of an experiment., but they were forced to i the making of steel to create a market ] for their iron furnace products. This  1 ing of iron few years before by lack of market for their coal products, and now they were forced to make steel to dispose of the iron to an advantage. The making of steel was in the nature of a necessity and the company made the venture bravely.
 l They succeeded in making steel on a commercial basis, but instant success did not crown their efforts Several years of patient toll and administrative vigil lance were experienced before the venture was a financial and permanent success. In fact, it was not until last year that full and ample commercial success was l achieved.
 There were many obstacles to overcome l but they were met bravey by the master minds of the Tennessee Coal, Iron ant Railroad company. and today the making of steel on a sound commercial oasis i, the Birmingham district is an assured fac and well beyond the experimental period ] Ensley has reason to be proud of tn | great success of the Tennessee Coal, Iroi and Railroad company in the manufac turer of steel, and while It offers u Thanksgiving today to the many goot l things that the years have brought Ems ley it remembers with pleasure that thi is the anniversary of the steel making industry in the south and that that gre l industry had it's beginning in this city The beginning was small and experimel, tal it is true, but it is the small began nings that often lead to great achls Je ments.
 Now that steel making Is success and an assured fact there is no estimae ing the possibilities of the future ant the extent to which the industry will b ] carried in the next few years.
 In fact the Tennessee Coal Iron an Railroad company has already begun tn extension of it's plant at this place ai is installing new and larger machinery
 Notes and Personals.
 Ensley gave over absolutely to the spiri of Thanksgiving today and almost all tn business houses were closed at noon to allow everybody to enjoy the lay.
 The miscellaneous committee of the cit, council will meet at the city hall tu morrow night to continue the work O. the license schedule for next year
 The musical concert at the opera hous tonight given for the benefit of St. An thony's Catholic church. was well attend ed and the programme was greatly en joyed by all present. The programm was made up of some of the best musi cians in the Birmingham district and wa pronounced by all who attended as one 0 the best entertainments of the kind eve given in this city.
 Ensley aerie of Eagles will meet in reg ular session at their hall on Nineteentl street tomorrow night and among othe things of importance will elect officer for the ensuing year officers were nomi mated for the various offices at the las meeting and there are a number for eacl office. The contests promise to be quit interesting The committee on hall fo ----------------------- ---------------