The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-07-12

ton this month has bean improved
some already. one furnace having been
blown in and two others win BE- max
ing iron before the end OF another
fortnight.
Numerous kilograms, letters and
other missives are being received BY
Alabama iron manufacturers making
Inquiry as to the iron market condi-
tions, asking about the quotations ana
as to how delivery can be made. While
many Of these inquiries are not re-
sulting In business, much demand fol-
lows and the books Of the concerns
In this district are slowly takipg on
orders. The inquiries In the main are
not from spectators or men who are
asking just to worry the manufActur-
ers but from consumers and others
who are In line to transact busfness.
For that reason II IL believed that be-
fore the fourth quarter Of the year
shall have started. Southern pig iron
will have come into its own not only
as to demand but ~ to pricea BE-
fore October. predictions are now made.
the price Of pig iron In this territory
viii have gone up TO t14 or SIS per
ton. No. foundry. II not higher.
The statement II made on good au-
Ahority that one Of the largest iron
manufacturing companies In the South
has sold more foundry iron ahead than
their probable make will be for the
balance Of the year. This win neoes-.
state the blowing In Of all furnaoes
this company has that are not now
making iron.
T. W. Guthrie. president Of tho Re-
public Iron and Steel Company, the
largest bar iron manufacturing con-
Germ in the world, was IN the Birming-
har 80 fnt A,,~l - ~~t o. a.
looking over properties Of the COM
pany here. Three blast furnaces be-
longing to this company are located at
Thomas, four miles from Birmingham.
two Of which are In full motion. the
third one having recently been blown
out for repairs. A rolling mill IN the
city and one at Gate City. four miles
northeast Of thu city. also beionx TO
this company. Mr.. Guthrie spoke en-
couraginRly Of the iron market condi-
tions and the prospects. He says that
the future prospects are very bright
and there are no reasons why the de-
mand for iron. should not continue to
grow and that general conditions con-
tinue to. improve, Southern irons. he
said, was coming fast into its own and
was finding demand In all parts Of
the country.
The preparations on the part Of the
Southern Iron and Steel Company. sue
cessor to the Southern Steel Company,
bankrupt. 10 resume operations At It's
various plants throughout this section
Of the country. are not tagging. A
force Of men win start In Monday at
Ensiey on the steel rod wire and nail
mills and within two weeks there will
have been considerable cleaning up.
Some additions will have to be made
to the plant.
During the coming week men VIII
be put to work at Gadsdsn at the fur
mace and steel plant of the same COM
pany. the intentions being to have
the steel plant ready for operation at
least Mt the same time az the steel
ROD. wire ana nail mills are ready,
II not before then. An ofiicial Of the
success in purchasing steel bfiiets
from other companies II Il was pro-
posed TO start the steel rod, wire and
nail mills first. For that reason the
company expects to get its steel plant
ready about the same time. The
Southern Iron and Steel Company has
mines, furnaces. coke ovens. steel
plants and rod. wire and nail mills in
Tennessee. Georgia and Alabama. with
the larger proportion OF their works
within a radius Of sixty miles Of Bir-'
iningham. Some controversy is now
on with the state OF Alabama, Cunt
versity) as 90 some coal lands In the
lower part OF JEFFERSON county. lands
Of the company ana Of the State dove
failing one another. Efforts are being
made to get out Of the tangie without
any great litigation. This 10 about all
the legal troubles that now beset the
company, as far as can be learned,
save that which was Appealed when
the Southern Steel Company bank
ruptcy proceedings were on.
More orders for steel rail are being
received for steel rail and the plant OF
Company. Omitted States Steel Corpo-
ration), at Ensley. near here. con-
tinues In steady operation. Very lit
tie information is obtainab1e at the Of
fee Of the company here but II 10 I'M
| derstood that the prospects are bright
for steady operation right along in
those departments which are now go
ing. Steel rail and billets are being
handled at the plant about as quickly
az they are being produced.
Cast iron pipe plants In the Birm-
ingham district have many orders on
hand and in sight ana there 10 a full
operation with plenty Of labor being
employed.
The labor question promises to cause
some concern In the near future. AL
though at present there are Thousands
Of hands wanting work Efforts are
being made to get experienced ore
miners in the southern part of JefYer-
son county. the Tennessee Company
trying 20 put back men who formerly
were in their employ on the Jobs that
are now to be offered. Two thousand
men who formerly dug coal In this
State are waiting for a full resumption
OF operations in Alabama. This is
practically promised before another
two months have passed.