The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-05-22
v, H. KNIGHT TALKS
OF HIS VISIT HERE
He and George w. HoadIev Are
On Investigating Trip
PLEASED WITH DISTRICT
Northern Manufacturing Plants May
Come South--Merger Will Ulti-
mately Go Through, Says
Knght-Why 1t Failed.
PLEASED WITH DISTRICT

W. H. knight, an assistant of Joseph
H. Hoadley, president of the Information
al Power company, and leader in the
recent movement to merge the iron and
steel industries In the Birmingham dis
trict, talked interestingly last night of
his impressions of Birmingham during
his weeks stay in the city Mr.. Knight
accompanied by George w. Hoadley,
Brother of Joseph ii. Hoadley, arrived in
Birmingham early last week and has de-
voted his attention while here to a some-
what critical examination of this dis
trict as an industrial center. In COM
mentlng on the purpose and result of his
visit, Mr.. knight said:
Eyes on Birmingham.
Like many other persons in the indus
trial world, our attention has been at
traeted to the Birmingham district. Mr.
Hoadley and l are here in order to ex-
anime conditions at close range and to
ascertain as accurately as practicable
what are the actual and the possible
values of various industries here, as will
as opportunities for the establishment of
manufacturing plants in this section.
I'VE have been most favoraby inn
pressed with everything we have seen.
There can be no doubt that undeveloped
wealth of. large amount is in the dis
trict. and that opportunities for invest
ment here are many and various. Con-
ditions here are highly encouraging, and
the cost of manufacturing should be rel
atively low when compared with that Of
more northern states.
Factories Coming South.
ut is not to be wondered at that north
ern manufacturers are contemplating
moving their plants to the south. | may
say that our people are thinking serious
ly of moving some of their factories from
Providence and Worcester to more SOUTH
ern points and that l am here now TO
find out whether or not the district is
adapted to the purpose we have in mind.
My impression Is that this district will
attract a great many northern manufac-
turing plants
HAS your visit here anything to do
with the recently talked about merger
of iron and steel companies in the Biz
mlngham district" Vas asked.
A Word About the Merger.
directly" said Mr.. Knight.
'"rhere is no doubt that the merger propo-
sition will ultimately succeed. When it
does go through 1t will be along lines
different from those laid down in the re-
cent unsuccessful effort. great many
mistakes were made in the recent negotia-
tons. Many unfortunate things were SAID
and printed But the principal difficulty In
making the merger a go, was that 1t
was impossible to persuade heads OF rival
interests to recognize the value of their
competitors property One man would
say that his company owned 10 per cent
of all the iron producing land in the dis
triet Another would say that his COM
pany owned 60 per cent of 1t. Another
would say his company owned 40 per cent
and still another would say that his COM
many owned 50 per cent. Well, when the
various percentages were added together,
there were about $50 or 300 per cent. The
upshot of it all was that the percentage
in that sort of game beat u.s.
A New Plan.
1T is of course impossible to marry
rival interests under such conditions.
When the merger goes through. each
company will lave to be bought up sep
arately by private negotiations. and after
all are purchased. an all embracing cor
poration formed.
1--WE shall b. here the remainder OF
this week" continued Mr. Hoadley. We
have been shown every courtesy here,
and our impressions of the district are
very good We've been over the various
plants. and our belief is that there is
a great future for the district. The Ten
nesee companys property is In excellent
shape. it's mining equipment being
brought up to a high state of perfection.
It's steel mill is also in fine shape. In
fact we have been highly pleased with
what we have seen wherever we've been.
Conditions Satisfactory.
conditions here are most inviting for
Industrial development. The raw material
is on the ground Cost of living should
be and will be low. The price of food Is
low. Shelter is cheap. Comfortable houses
in this climate can be built a great deal
more cheaply than in New England or
Pennsylvania. Labor consequently will be
less expensive"
Mr. Knight and Mr. Hoadley who are
stopping at tho IIilmal will continue
their investigation of Industrial condi-
tions in the district Throughout the week.
Tl.ey will probably spend several days
looking over the Sheffield company's
properties
The international Power company of
which J. H. Hoadley is president owns a
controlling interest in the Alabama Con-
soldated Coal and Iron company
Railroad Contractors, Take Notice.