The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-12
IRON MOVEMENT IS
OFF BY 5000 TONS
Lack of Cars Big Handicap in
December
$4,000 TONS ON THE YARDS
Railroads Seem to Be Getting Things
In Better Shape and the New
Year Promises Better
Service.
$4,000 TONS ON THE YARDS

Year Promises Better
Service.
Iron men estimate that the movement
of pig iron last month was fully 5000 tons
less than it was the previous month, and
about 10000 less than in December, 1905.
While no figures are obtainable, the iron
men generally have the matter down to
pretty fair estimate and the figures given
are probably not more than 500 tons off
The car shortage this month is partly
responsible for the conditions, accentu-
ated, of course, by the lack of motive
power on two or three of the railroads. 1t
was hard to get raw material with which
to operate the furnaces, and hard to get
equipment to move the iron after 1t was
made.
1t was estimated yesterday by one Of
the operators that there was at least TO-
600 tons of pig on the yards in the Biz
mingham district, the result of the in
ability of the railroads to move 1t. 1t
was stated that most of this iron was
sold and that the customers of the pro-
ducing companies were anxious to get 1t
delivered.
There seems to be some prospect of I'M
provement in the car situation. The Frisco
and the Louisville and Nashville have
been in pretty fair shape for some time,
the Central of Georgia has received the
first of a large consignment of cars and
locomotives which enables that road to
move large quantity of freight
The Southern railway is making strenu-
Gus effort to improve conditions. which
are admitted to be very bad. Mr. AclSert.
third vice president and general manager.
stated yesterday that he had ordered a
number of engines to the Birmingham dl-
vision to help relieve the situation.
the Manufacturers Record, was then
introduced by President Jemison.
Mr.. Edmonds said in part:
"Of the marvellous resources In iron
and coal of this district, 1t is useless
to speak, for the world now fully real
ICES the wonderful advantages of Blrm-
ingham in this respect
IF we would measure something OF the
future of this section we can best do 1t
by studying what Pennsylvania has ac-
eompllshed, for Pennsylvania with far
less iron ore than Alabama, mining only
about one-seventh as much as this state,
bringing the millions of tons of ore which
are used in Its furnaces 1000 and 5000
miles, has, within the last twenty-five
years developed its iron business from one
and one-half million tons in 1880. to twelve
million tons at present. Based on coal
and iron as a foundation to Its
chief industrial interests, Pennsyl-
wanna, though smaller than Alabama. has
about two billions of dollars capital In
vested in manufacturing. or three hum
dred millions more capital in manufacture
ing than the fourteen southern states, and
yet Alabama has the natural resources
in iron and coal to more than double
the marvellous iron and steel develop
ment of Pennsylvania
Marvellous Expansion in Wealth.
This city is today making almost ex-
actly the same amount of iron that Penn
sylvania made twenty-five years ago, and
when we bear In mind the rapid ex-
pansion now taking place in the consump-
ton of iron and Steel and the fact that
the twenty-five million tons which this
country now Is producing must unques-
tionably be increased within ten years to
fifty million tons. we are forced to the
conclusion that there is no substantial
reason why Alabama should not be able
to accomplish in its iron development
as much during the next twelve or fifteen
years as Pennsylvania has accomplished
in the last twenty-five years. To do
this would bring about such a marvellous
expansion of wealth as has been created
in Pittsburg and the other great iron and
steel centers of that state
"Limtless are the possibilities of this
district, but to coal and iron Alabama is
oh n add ifg prpqf nTOduCtiOn of fOt-
ton sufficient to supply one-half as many
spindles as the entire south has In opera
ton. These great raw materials of iron
and coal and cotton are the foundation
of the greatest industries in the world
and with the developments now under
way we can scarcely comprehend the
rapidity of the growth of this section.
an, glad, however, Mr.. Harding has
lust emphasized, Birmingham takes no
narrow view of its situation, and regards
the riches of these regions as not for itself
alone, but as a heritage for the people
of the whole south. 1t is not only in Ala
bama but in every part of the entire
south, where the Great Creator has Gre
ated more natural advantages than He
has given In any other spot on earth.
Simply Begun to Grow.
''Put we see the wonderful development
in progress expansion in trade and in
population is everywhere in this southern
country, and the development of Birming-
ham and the development of the whole
south are but part Of that wonderful
worldwide expansion which has created
such a very expanding market for iron
and steel and cotton goods. We have SIM
ply begun to grow All that the south
has done is to get ready for the future.
The predictions of those who for the last
twenty years or more have been proclaim
ing the resources of the south are being
fulfilled. and the world now recognizes
that nowhere else an earth are there
being found such natural advantages and
such assurances of boundless prosperity
and progress as in this section
Mr.. Ednonds address was very enthus-