The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-26
HOADLEY HERE ON
 INSPECTION TRIP
Finds All the Properties In Ex-
 CeIIent Shape
VISITS TUSCALOOSA TODAY
President of Alabama Consolidated Says They Have by No Means Abandoned Plans for Building
 Finishing Plants Here.

Joseph H. Hoadley of New York; presi- dent of the Alabama Consolidated Coal and Iron company, arrived in Birming- ham yesterday at noon and will remain in the district until Tuesday night or Wednesday. He is accompanied from New York by W H. Knight, his chief en- gineer.
 The Alabama Consoidated's operating headquarters are in Birmingham, but it's iron plants are at Gadsden and at Irona- ton, two large furnaces being at Gadsden and two smaller ones at Ironaton. Mr Hoadley and MT. Knight reached Gads- den Friday morning, where they were met by Vice President and General Man ager Guy R. Johnson. After making a thorough inspection of the Gadsden plant the party proceeded by the way of Annis- ton to Ironaton and spent Saturday thereabouts, looking over furnaces and ore mines.
 Shortly after reaching Birmingham MT Hoadley and his official associates made trip to Gate City and spent several hours in inspecting the companys prop erty in that neighborhood. They will go early this morning to Tuscaloosa county, where the company has coal mines. They will spend the entire day there returning to Birmingham in time for supper. They will visit Lewisburg Tuesday and there complete the inspection.
 MT. Hoadley said last night q am greatly pleased with what 1 have seen of our properties. 1 find the furnaces in splendid condition. All four of them are running and are making high records.
 When l came to this district not quite two years ago it was my first visit. l had large holdings here three years be- fore I ever saw any of our property. I thought well of the Alabama Consolidated from the reports had received, but there is nothing like seeing with ones own eyes. When l came, therefore, and looked over our rich resources l was more than satisfied Ever since then I have been an enthusiastic prophet of the Birming- ham district Since my former visit the company has spent a great deal of money here in improvements. That money has been well invested, for our properties are now in condition to yield fine returns. In examining our brown ore Saturday I mar veled at It's vast extent and richness. Its value is simply incalculable
 ''The iron market is firm and I look for another active buying movement in November. Notwithstanding the indus trial depression that followed the panic there has been a good demand for iron and our company has sold it's output at top prices.''
 When asked if it were true as re- ported that the Alabama Consolidated was projecting a steel plant at Gadsden, MT Hoadley replied in the affirmative. "Our large furnaces being at Gadsden, that is the logical place for our steel mill but in the immediate Birmingham district the company will have one or more large manufacturing plants" said Mr Hoadley. As I announced when in Birmingham before it is my purpose to build locomotives here. l have no idea of changing my plans in that re- spect. I expect eventually to erect var ious finishing plants here-industries that will give employment to mechanics of the highest skill"
 Mir. -Hoadley, as is well known, is an expert in locomotive building. He is pres ident of the International Power com pany which is understood to be closely related to the American Locomotive com pany and friend pleasantly remarked ; "Hoadley is a mechanical genius but if he has one hobby above another it is locomotives and he will never rest untii he erects locomotive works at Birming- ham,"