The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-28
.SU|NNERaVV|LL SCI:
GREATER ACTIVITY
Promise Of Considerable Advance
iii Building and Industrial En-
tcrprisc i'll the South.
MORE FURNAC Es IN OPERATION
Twenty in tic Birmingham Dis
trict, Where Only Sixteen
a Month Ago.

Especial to The Times Dispatch.I
BALTIMORE, MD. June 27.-
Gradual revival from the inactivit,
following tho financial depression oil
the winter finds the South entering
upon a summer that promises to re.
cord considerable advance in building
and industrial enterprise. according tc
the manufacturers Record. For In
stance. while there seems to be nc
disposition in the Birmingham Ala
district to blow in fresh furnaces ex-
cept as pressing necessity may demand
there are now in that district twenty
operating furnaces against sixteen
only thirty days ago. In that quarter
is looked for daily an announcement
OF details OF a 100000 water-pipe
plant. an option has been secured and
others are being examined for steel
structural works. an old rolling mill
and pipe works. seventeen miles from
Birmingham. Will be converted into
hoop and cotton-tie mill, and the
visit, of a president Of a Pittsburg con-
Germ, controlling about twenty subsidi-
airy plants making fire-brick and other
refractories. is connected with d re-
port that his company is to establish
plant In the district.
Ground has been broken for $780,.
600 plant TO make frogs and switches
and other railroad sundries at Bir-
mingham. The site has twelve acres
and when in operation the plant will
employ 200 men.
Augusta, Ga, expects to get busy
shortly upon the construction of d
City Hall, to cost probably $500. 900
before 1t has been completed. In that
city, too. work is being pushed upon a
$4,000 bank building, which will mean
four modern structures of the kind Ia
n row, and upon business buildings and
residences, while large amount OF
street paving and other municipal
work is under way.
OIL md Gas interests.
Charleston. the capital of West Vir-
ginia. is becoming one Of the most i'm
portant centres of oil and gas inter.
ests. OIL developments of the past
year in field a few miles north OF
the city brought In many men from
different parts of the country. Re-
Gently pool has been struck about
sixteen miles south and twenty wells
have already been drilled not one of
them dry.
Within two years the city has voted
100000 for sewer constructions and is
now about to act upon plan to spend
100000 for street improvements. Sat
tsfactory progress is being made upon
the construction of the big bridge to
connect Charleston and South Charles
ton, and in the latter place industries,
attracted by natural gas advantages,
are now In full operation. and one of
them is already completing an addition.
1T is expected that plant to manu-
-facture pipe wrenches will be added
shortly TO the local industries.
Z /. In Texas and Louisiana the past week
has witnessed the greatest interest in
visit OF government engineers inves-
.tigating the route of the proposed wa
sterway touching all the main streams
In the two States between the Missis-
sippi and the Rio Grandc, and not en-.
,tirely disconnected With that project,
Is the drainage work under way in
turning vast areas Of wet prairie land
Into gertile. cultivate acres.