The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-06
1enn.-RepubIic Companies Have
NowUnder Way Development
Work Costing S8,OOO,O00
SPEND $5,O00,O0O ON
ENSLEY PLANTS ALONE
Great Stir All Along the Line-The
Capacity of Steel Plant Being
Doubled, But Improve
ments Never Stop.

Everybody hereabouts has become IA
miar with the fact that the Tennessee
Republic companies are pushing their de-
velopment work in the Birmingham dis
trct steadily and that the work now
in progress means large outlay of
q correct idea of the broad and solid lines
ON which the improvements are going
forward, one must take a day off and look
over the field.
Start at the mines, where development
Is in progress to increase the production
of raw material, which increase in turn
Is necessary to obtain a larger output of
iron and steel; and then draw up at the
Ensley furnaces and steel mill, where the
greatest energy is concentrated and the
largest amount of money is being spent
The new interests owning the Tennessee
Republic came into possession of their
properties about one year ago. John A.
Topping accepted the presidency of the
Republic Iron and Steel eomany in Jan
uary of last year, and the chairmanshp
of tho Tennessee company last spring.
In March the new directors, including
John w. Gates, L. c. Hanna, e. w. Ogle-
bay and Grant b. Schey, came to Bir-
mingham and spent a week in inspecting
their properties in the district and laying
plans for improvements and expansion.
The Alabama properties of the Republic
were merged, not actually but for oper-
/ ating purposes practically, into the Ten
| nessee company. And in the early sum-
| mer +. H. Crockard, man of technical
| training and large operating experience,
came to Birmingham as vice president
and general manager of both the Ten
nessee and the Alabama end of the Re-
public. A reorganization of the official
staff soon followed, and no time was lost
in taking up the work of development
that had been planned.
Promise and FulfiIIment.
1t will be remembered that when the
directors, after having looked over the
Tennessee Republic lands and plants, were
, about to return east, they held a meet
ing and authorized Mr. Topping to pre-
pare alstatement for the press as to the
general intention of the new owners in
the matter of improvements. The state
ment that was given out was at once
brief, conservative and business like.
There was nothing of exaggeration about
it., but, on the contrary, it had the true
and honest ring.
Mr.. Topping said in substance that the
men in control of the two companies were
well pleased with the Birmingham dis
trct; that they would develop their prop
critics on a large scale; that they would
begin at the foundation and increase their
coal and ore production. and that they
were determined to make their plants
! here the most modern and profitable in
the world.
Prophets of Birmingham naturally ac-
cepted what the directors had to say
about their purpose to spend millions of
dollars here. Why shouldn't they spend
it? The district was rich in raw material,
the new interests were practical and sue
cessful men and they had unlimited capt
tai at their command. From a common
sense point of view it was logical for the
directors to do exactly what they said
they had planned to do But skeptlcal
people said wait and see.
Well since the first announcement re-
garding expenditures was made only nine
months have passed by and today the
public had ocular demonstration of how
abundantly the promises of development
are being carried out.
Millions at Ensley.
At Ensley alone the work under way
and which will be completed within about
a year and a half is costing in round
numbers $5,0OOO0O.
At the mines expansion and improve
ments in progress mean an outlay of large
sums, while at the Republics blast fur
nace at Thnmas iInnrnNements will be