The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-12-28
Year,s RecorIl Good.

Summing up the results of the year
 as to steel pig iron. coal and coke,
 the record does not show up so badly
 in Alabama considering that in addi- ton to the severe depression that was felt throughout the country and es- pecially in the industrial regions Of
 the country there was a hard strike among the. coal miners in which the furnace companies decided to make a
 fight to the finish and won out. The make of pig iron will not fall so far short of the output in 1907 when the highest production in the history Of the industry was attained. The make in 1907 went to something over 1.6OO.- 900 tons while with the last month of the year estimated, the production in Alabama this year will go to 1,404.- 65S tons at least. The coal -produc- tion In Alabama in 1907 went above fourteen million tons It should go this year to between eleven and twelve million tons. The coke production will approach the three million tons. The steel production will not show up as we'll as it did in 1907 for the reason that the Southern Steel Company has been in financial troubles and the plants were shut down and then the Tennessee Coal. Iron & Railroad Com pany's plant at Ensley has not been pushing as hard through the entire year as it has in the last few weeks.
 The new year starts in with every thing In an anticipation that nothing but good feeling could be express ed. The demand for pig iron prom ises to take a, fresh start at once. the prices will advance and the railroads will be called upon to make not only quick but heavy deliveries right from the start of the new year. There Is large tonnage of iron to be moved out during the first two months of the coming year. The iron on the yards of the furnaces in the immedi- ate Birmingham district is product that was sold several months ago when conditions were. quiet. though 1t was stipulated in the sales that there was to be no moving of the iron un- til 1909. Inasmuch as the company which purch assd the iron has sue ceedeG. So 1t Is reported, in having disposed of the product, there Is to be a delivery just as quickly as It can be- accompltshe ed. There is no appre- hensIon that during the coming twelve months there will be an accumula- ton of the product. The furnace companies are expecting the railroads to do their share towards making prompt deliveries, The new year. will be entered with all companies prac- tlcally up in their deliveries. The home consumption will be protected.
 In Ensley. the steel center of the Birmingham district, a most interest ing rumor has been revived, that of an early resumption of operations by the Southern Steel Company. includ- ing blast iron furnaces in Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee. steel plants in Alabama with coal and ore mines in Alabama and Georgia.
 The coal operations fin this State are due to take on an aetivs operation af- ter the first of the coming month. There is need for a good quantity of the product, 1t Is stated. and not only will the present mines be given more labor but mines which have been idle for some time are to be started up There Is no change In the coke situa-- ton. Every eftort is being made to keep mp the production and there is need for all that can be manufac- tured-