The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-27
Mr., GATES TALKS
OF DEVELOPMEN
Has Great Confidence in Biz
mingham District
He SEEKS INFORMATION
Financiers Interested In Birmingham
Receive People From the District
Very Cordially and Ask
Many Questions.
He SEEKS INFORMATION

"While in New York last week 1 had
personal interview with John w. Gates
and was very much impressed with the
interest that he and his associates take
in the development of the Birmingham
district" said Robert Jemson, Jr, presi-
dent of the Commercial club of Birming-
ham yesterday.
Mr.. Gates confirmed his estimate of
the districts Importance as expressed
several weeks ago In an interview in the
Manufacturers Record of Baltimore, and
went even farther in his predictions for
the future of this community. He and
his associates are really enthusiastic over
the industrial advantages of the district
and seem never to tire of talking about
the natural resources and opportunities
for development here.
These men seem glad of every oppor-
tunty to meet and talk with people from
Birmingham. They seem not only inter-
ested in the development of their own
holdings in the district, but seek infor-
nation of things generally. They ask
about schools, churches. labor and in
fact seem DESTROYS of knowing all about
every business and social condition of the
community.
Many Millions.
"The statement made by Mr.. Gates that
the Tennessee company would probably
spend more than $9o,ooo,oco instead of
$40, 900 in development work is very
significant and indicates that the com
many intends to make their operations
even more permanent than has already
been indicated.
"All this is very interesting news to the
people of Birmingham, but the mere an
nouncement gives us but little idea of the
real extent of the development that is
coming.
| NO matter how we'll we think of the
advantages of this section 1t Is really In
spring to hear Mr.. Gates and his assoc
ciates talk of what they expect to do
and the estimation they have placed on
the value of the district as manufae-
turing and mining center.
"A gentleman in the Gates party that
came to Birmingham last spring eN-
messed the appreciation they have of the
district when he remarked that the Ten
nessee company owns ten times more
undeveloped mineral than has been taken
from the Messaba district at Pittsburg
and possibly three thousand millionaires
had made their fortunes in that district.
Birmingham and Pttsburs.
IT was also impressed with a state
ment made by the mayor of Pittsburg at
The National Rivers and Harbors con-
gress which was held at Washington
about two weeks ago and which meeting
attended The mayor of Plttsburg, In
discussing the needs of river and harbor
improvements incidentally stated that un-
less n channel Is opened down the Ohio
and Mississippi rivers that Pittsburg
cannot begin to compete with Alabama
in the coal and iron market at Panama
and other points In that part of the
world
birmingham is already a formidable
competer of Pttsburg in all the coal and
iron markets of the world, and with the
DEVELOPMENTS that Will certainly come
with the completion of the expenditures
already begun on the large Industrial
nlants of the district will, in my opinion
nut us in the lead of all the producing
centers of the world