The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-12-16

about e0o,00o tons of pig iron or forty per cent of the whole manufactures annually is melted and used within the district. This ratio is undoubtedly on the increase all the time. Moreover, about S00,000 tons are annually used by the foundriee and machine shops while the same amount is consumed by the steel plants. the pudding turn- aces and rolling mills.
 To this phase of it's development the introduction of new enterprises the Birmingham District is devoting It's particular attention and energy. The Accomplishments already are such as to bring Q feeling of pride to the dia- trict. The iron melting industries m the district are led by the making OF cast iron water pipes and gas pipes. Soil pipes and pipe fittings are pro- duced in considerable quantities. More over, one sixth of the sugar house machinery used in the United States is made in the Birmingham district.
 Eafors Low Freight Rates.
 No small contribution to the general prosperity of the Birmingham district has been made by the railroads which have made sacrifices towards the up building of the coal and iron indus tries-sacrIfices which in the long run have brought their own rewards in Increased business. The mineral dis trIcts of the State enjoy lower rate on iron ore and other raw material than any section of the United States
 For instance, in Birmingham the freight cost on all raw material to make a ton of pig iron Is only from forty to sixty cents, while the cost or the same raw material to make a ton of pig Iron in the Pennsylvania manu. facturer is from $2.25 to S2.s0. Ot course a part of this marked difference is due to the shorter haul necessary but the larger part of 1t Is due to the lower rates granted in the Alabama mineral districts on raw minerals.
 In his speech during the recent cam paign Congressman Bankhead, speak ing of the development brought about by the close proximity of Iron ore, coal and limestone to each other was ac- .customed to point out to his audience that inc total tonnage of the Birining- ham district of Alabama alone was equal to the combined tonnage Of Great Britain, that is, England, Scot land Ireland and Wales This of course refers to weight and not to value.
 The rapid way in which the Alabama furnaces are being modernized IS itseLt d sufficient indication of the prosperity and great future of the iron making industry in this State. At Bnsley. where are located the great steel plant of the Tennessee Coal and Iron Com many. the six huge furnaces are right now undergoing a complete remodel, ing. The old furnaces were good enough in their day and their day was a dozen years ago when iron making became an industry that demanded some consideration. But now iron mak' ing has become so great in Alabama that the movement has been inaugural ed to make the Alabama furnaces equal to the best and most modern that Pennsylvania can show.
 The work has been on some time now and two of the finest furnaces in the United States have at Ensley. taken the place of two of the older in- stitutions. The labor of removing the other furnaces and substituting for them the modern labor saving furD- aees is going steadily on.
 Improvement fin Furnaces.
 The chief advantage of the modern furnaces is first. a largely increased output and second, a great saving in Iabor. A crew of three men in one of the departments of the modern furn- aces can do the work which formerly