The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-11-10
CONVINCING REASONS
Why the Purchase of the Properties of the Tennessee Company by the United States Steel Corpora ton Should be Received
 With Satisfaction.

try which will show the greatest ratio of development and growth In agri- culture, industry and commerce within the next quarter of century. The market for wire fencing has already shifted from the West and Northwest to the Southwest, and 1t is pertinent to say here that the steel mill at EnsIey has never been able to keep abreast with its orders for that product. The tonnage of Southern railroads has grown to such proportions that the double tracking of all main lines is an imperative necessity and the con- struction of additional trunk lines is almost as urgent. The growth of Southern cities and the spring-up or manufacturing plants of all kinds throughout the length and breadth of the South are calling today for great deal of structural steel, nails, roofing and kindred material. In brief, the South and Southwest offer to the steel corporation most inviting field, which 1t can work to best advantage from Birmingham. Is 1t not probable
 
 it's production of cotton ties here, and manufacture plough shares and other steel stuff used in agricultural imple-l ments, In addition to increasing it's out-l put Of rails, wire and nails?
 Southern Ports Its Foreign Outlet.
 Another convincing reason why Bir-I mingham should be regarded with favor by the steel corporation is the fact that this city is much nearer tidewater than any of the other points at which it isi now operating plants. The corporationi is paying a great deal of attention to the development of its export business. and 1t will be assisted in this by the proximity of Birmingham to the cot ton ports. A vessel cannot load to it's full carrying capacity with cotton-iti Is too light and bulky. Nearly fifty per cent of cargo value is wasted on this account, unless some heavy com modity is obtainable with which to complete the load. Pig iron and plates and rails answer this purpose best, and are given low freight rate. The for eign outlet for the corporation is clear ly through the Southern ports which are reached by rail from Birmingham. The enhancement of the importance if Birmingham by the opening of the Panama canal is so generally recog nized that I shall say nothing about that except to point out the fact that the canal will shorten the distance to the Pacific coast as well as to the far East.
 Tho Guaranty of the Corpo ration Itself.
 And finally. I say that the steel cor poration Itself Is one of our best guar antees as to the future. It has al- ways acted on a live and let live pol icy. Tho files of the trade Journals corporation has frequently strength ened the iron market by buying sur stocks of independent furnaces in riods of comparative dullness and acted in the interest of the iron and trade as 6 whole. It enjoys the will of every community In whiol operates. If for any reason. it q n not wish to undertake the manufs ure of certain thing. 1t encourages outsiders to do so and near it's plants are to be found many small industries in which it has no monetary inter- est, but which it fosters. Why. even the coal operators of the Birmingham dis trict will be benefited by the coming of the corporation. for. if it does not use all the coal which it mines it will create a wider market for coal by the general prosperity which it will cre- ate.
 "Yes the properties of the Tennes- see Company have passed into the hands of an organization which has the brains to appreciate their value and the money with which to give them the colossal development they del mand.
 "When this sale was announced said it had increased the value of my real estate fifty per cent. I repeat tha assertion with the fullest confidence.- - ->- ----- -