The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-08-05
President of Alabama ConSoIi-
 dated Discusses Question
REASON FOR CORPORATIONS
Colonel Bush Calls Attention to Many Facts Bearing on the Develop uent and Progress of the
 Birmingham District.

bama Consolidated Coal and Iron compa- ny, contributes the following
 To the Editor of The Age-Herald
 In the heated political canvass which is now in progress it is exceedingly un- fortunate for the state of Alabama, and for the Birmingham district particularly, that wholesale attack should be made on corporations.
 It has always been my understanding that the laws providing for. the organlza- ton of corporations were primarily for the benefit of people of small means-who, by combining small amounts of capital, would be able to compete with those of greater financial ability. Besides, it Is ap- parent that corporations were further pro- vided for in order that those who desire to invest in business enterprises to which they | cannot give personal attention could limit their liability. In addition to all of this, it seems to be fully recognized that great undertakings cannot be had without large capital and large capital can only be provided by combinations on the part of individuals in corporate form. So popu- lar is this form of doing business that it will be observed that all of our industries, however small, and most of our mercan- tile firms, are conducting their business as corporations. Indeed, I believe that even the newspapers of Birmingham are corporations.
 It sounds very unreasonable and almost ridiculous to hear the repeated statement that legislation in this state Is controlled by the corporations If one will only re- fleet for moment he will see that this could not be done unless the members of the legislature should desire to invite such control The total number of do- nestle corporations in this state-of all kinds, including many that probably never entered into business, and many that have discontinued business-is about 7O0O There is reported to be about 1000 foreign corporations of all kinds doing business in this state. Of the entire number, about 2000 are in Jefferson county; 125 in Montgomery county 125 in Madison county, and a larger number of all kinds in Mobile county. It will be seen from this that Jefferson county-judged by the number of corporations-would be the only county in which corporations could exert a large influence-assuming that the
 
 tions could be made to think and act in the same way. Assuming, however, that these four counties should all be controlled by corporate influences, they would have four state senators out of total of thirty-fve, and sixteen members of the house of a total of 105. It would | hardly be reasonable to assume that the railroads could control the actions of the citizens of every county in the state q IL
 should not, then. apparently, be any ap- prehension on the part of the people of the state generally as to being yet awhile swallowed up by corporations, or in any sense controlled by them.
 What They Have Done.
 It appears that the people of other counties would not object to the exist ence and influence of corporations in Jer- ferson county, when they come to realize what the corporations have done for the county and the state at large in the way of contributing to the state treasury and to the general prosperity of the state. What the corporations of Jefferson county have done for the state Is illustrate in the increase of assessment from &, ,i35 300 in 1880, to (estimated1 $50, 00O 900 in 1906 From this showing, Jefferson county is paying 1-6 or more of the taxes of the Sldtet ana pouring nunureuS or thousands of dollars into the state treasury for schools and other purposes. It is dlfa- cult to understand how any thoughtful and fair-minded person-or any class of persons-can inVelgh against the corpora lions of Jefferson county. when they real lze and appreciate what the corporations have done for the county and the people living In same. Were 1t not for the exist ence of these corporations, which are so much abused at this particular time. there would be practically no merchants, doc tors, lawyers and no daily newspapers in Birmingham or Jefferson county-for it is obvious to any thoughtful person that the corporations-and more particularly the iron and coal corporations-produce the business for the city and county. Att tacks have been made on corporations as a whole; then upon the incorporated iron companies; and then agaln-more par tieuarly-upon these Iron companies which hire and work convicts. Were it not for the coal and iron companies there would be no business for other corporations-and, were 1t not for the iron companies there would be no particular reason for Birmingham to exist--as it's present and future prosperity is based on the present condition and future pros poets of the iron and steel companies. It is a well known fact that while many have prospered and grown rich from the results brought about by the Iron com panies, these companies have had a great struggle to reach their present stage of Gevelopment-and at times have passed through most trying and perilous periods such as truly try mems souls.
 Turning Point.
 very few people of this community can be pointed out as having grown rlch in manufacturing iron. but many have grown rich under the conditions pro- duced by .the iron companies. It is a well known fact that the turning period for this district was in the experiment made in the manufacture of steel. The whole future depended upon whether or not commercial steel could be made here at such cost, and of such quality as to compete with the world IL was left for one of the iron companies to make this experiment-and if the people of Jefferson county or Alabama, furnished any money for this experiment, l have no knowledge of the fact. It is true, however, that the railroads then operating in this district came to the rescue and subscribed for the bonds and provided funds to erect a steel mill-which is now being operated at Ems ley It is q well known fact that this steel pant-backed by the resources of the company which owns it-promises such success for the future that 1t attract ed prominent capitalists to this section who have bought control of this company and it appears that the press of our city, and the people, hailed with great pleasure the coming of these capitalists