The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-08-06
IMMIGRANTS DROWNED
 IN MARINE DISASTER

The furnace yards are not very nap oily located at present. that is with iron that could be taken to fill orders stipulating immediate delivery. There is but little trouble being experienced in the way of raw material The la- bor question is the nut to crack, how ever, and especially around iron and steel plants Is there a sore need for more help. Common labor is being paid better In this district than ever be- fore and still there Is not near enough help.
 Two furnaces in the Birnlingham dis trict are about ready for operation. The torch, will be applied in the near fu- ture. 1t is believed. Every ton of iron that could be manufactured can be dis posed of and with that belief pregnant effort is being made to improve the
 make just as quickly as possible.
 The iron situation in Alabama never was in more satisfactory condition. Good prices obtain for the product, the demand is steady and the prospects are very bright.
 As stated above labor is very scarce Around ore mines and at the furnaces the situation is quite acute. Some of the old furnace hands are bit dis contented and the new labor is hard to get and cannot be trained into the work as fast as might be desired. Hence tnis question ts onS oA sVAhS annVy ance
 The quotations for pig iron are look ing up and therefore conditions throughout the district are becoming exceedingly interesting. With No. 2 foundry selling at $14 and quick deliv- cry, small let orders bringing sl4.50 per ton the manufacturers could hardly ask for much more. Tn steel circles there is no end to the activity.
 nk EsAU U6.zen MrA Efrww are all doing nicely. The Empire Plow Company is making preparations to start up their works at Ensley in the near future. The woodworking de- partment in this industry will go on again tomorrow while the steel depart ment will not be ready for operation for about four weeks. The market is very healthy for this concern, however and a prosperous season is looked for.
 In steel rod, wire and nails there is a steady demand. The meeting of the directors of the Southern Steel Com pany, to be held September 1st, at which an increase in the capital stock of the corporation from sixteen to twenty one million dollars will be con- sidered, will be most important In addition to acquiring the properties f of the Lacey Buck Iron Company and | the Chattanooga Iron Company and | other companies, the construction oi I some large plants in Gadsden are in-
 tended, if present negotiations go | through.
 The Southern Steel Company ex. poets to start up their furnace at I Gadsden again within a couple of
 weeks. Basic Iron is now being man. l ufactured for the company by the Ala.
 bama Consolidated Coal and Iror | Company.
 No time is being lost by the con 1 tractors who are digging excavations i for the big steel plant at Ensiey fol 1 the Tennessee Coal Iron and Railroad ! Company, and within another thre | months 1t Is expected some hard worl ] will be under way for the foundations ] No small part of a big steel plan | goes under ground. Inasmueh as thu l plant now under construction is to b' one of the most modern and up-to l date plants the foundations will b' | extraordinarily solid. The best ol | material has been ordered for this l plant. Much labor will be employed | Tn erecting the new steel plant out side of the skilled labor which If necessary on such a plant,
 The plant of Payne and Joubert, To-
 cated at East Birmingham. will with | in a few weeks be in full operation | The machinery is fast being adjusted l and the output will be increased right along, Being a branch. practi' | cally, of the company's industry 1T | New Orleans, this new plant will hav' | prosperous times.
 | The pudding departments are stil lonely in operation at the rolling milli | in the Birmingham district. It Il | expected. however. that the finishing
 department will be started up shortly l giving employment to several hun | dred men. There Is a good demand | for finished iron and steel.