The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-08
Loss to Company Will Amount
 to About S60,000
lNCENDIARY IN ORIGIN
Industry is On a Big Revival in Cal houn County.-Busness Men of Anniston Express Themselves
 On Good Roads.

morning, the plant of the Central Foun- dry company was partially destroyed at loss of $50,O00 or $60,OO0, and 25O men were thrown out of employment The foundry is a complete loss, but the ma chine shop, the carpenter shop the pat tern house and the stock shed were saved with but slight damage. Manager E. P. Cooper stated this morning that R. R. Russ of New York, superintendent of the operating department, is expected tomor- row from New York, and the plant will likely be rebuilt at once.
 The Central Foundry company has plants at Medina, N. Y. Newark, N J.; Landsdale. Pa; Baltimore, Md; Vim cennes, Ind; South Pittsburg, Tenn; Bes- semer and Anniston They also have a warehouse in Chicago and a shipping of flee in San Francisco. They are now building new furnace at Holt, near Tus- caloosa, where they own the Central Iron and Coal company and the local plant has been making material for the new furnace. which will likely be affected by the Anniston fire. Of all the plants Of the company, however, it is said that the one in Anniston has the best record It has capacity of 75 tons per day and the 250 men receive daily pay of 5000. Since the plant was established about 10 years ago it has never been shut down, and has never missed pay day. It is said that it has the best record of any plant in the country from the standpoint of the quail ity of the output. and the small percent age of loss in manufacture, facts which strengthen the belief that 1t will be inn mediately rebuilt. Another favorable fact is that they now have orders on hand suf- f1cient to run for some. time.
 The fire today originated in the old cu- pola, where there has not been a fire for five years, and it is this fact which es- tablishes the incendiary theory No cause is known, however which would lead any one to such an act
 c. R. Schmidt vice president and gen eral manager of the Central Foundry company with headquarters at New York, has been notified of the fire and Manager Cooper expects to soon receive instruc- tions from him for future guidance.
 Activity in Industries.
 A special from Piedmont says that the ice factory which was projected in that city some time ago Is now a certainty and will in all probability be in opera tion in time to take care of the early spring and summer trade.
 This little town is on a genuine boom. It is said that the turpentine plants, the mines, the cotton mills and other in dustries are being operated at their full capacity; building is being undertaken on large scale and there is now move ment on foot looking to the establishment of a cotton seed oil mill with fer tilizer mixing outfit in connection.
 The 1ast-named movement is being head ed by w. H. Pinson of Atlanta, who has interested T. c. Cowan, P. c. Roberts and others in the organization of a stock com- pany for the purpose of erecting the plant and putting the industry in operation. It Is estimated that this will take about $60,000, and 1t is hoped to raise most of the money in Piedmont, selling the balance to farmers and others in contiguous terri tory.
 This activity at Piedmont is only a part of the wave which is sweeping over the county. At Jacksonville the cotton mills are in full operation, as are other indus tries, two brick business houses are being erected in the business section on Main street, the water works system has been enlarged and rendered more efficient, sev- eral residences have been constructed and other items of an industrial nature are reported
 In Anniston the same condition prevails Every industry is active, the people are optimistic, and the Star recently has pub lished at various intervals building mo- tices, in both business and residence sec-
  of over $100,O00, while about $100,OOO more has been expended by the city in street and sidewalk paving during the past year.
 With the return of prosperity the agita- tion for good roads has been renewed. It now seems certain that the commissioners will at an early date call an election for the issuance of bonds for this purpose and from statements made already by number of influential citizens in all parts of the county 1t seems certain that the election will carry.
 Bonds For Roads.
 On the question of issuing bonds to build good roads in Calhoun county number of citizens have been interviewed. As much as possible men of different call ings and interests have been seen, and there seems to be but one sentiment among the people-that is, that good roads will add more to the advancement of the county than anything else within the ca pacity of the people to do, and the issue of bonds for the purpose furnishes the means to accomplish 1t.
 Judge John Pelham was asked to ex- press himself on the subject, and he did so in the following language:
 As I understand the proposition, it means to issue bonds to the amount of $l50,000 or $200,000 for the purpose of inn proving the public roads of the county and under the law these bonds cannot be sold for less than their par value or draw greater interest than per cent, and if the money derived from the sale of such bonds is judiciously expended in building good roads, I am in favor of it.
 "The interest on $200,000 in road bonds would amount to only S12,0Oo per annum, and just think of the advantage to Cal. houn county from such expenditure. Be- sides Calhoun county is fast becoming one of the most important counties in the state, standing now forth or fifth in taxable values, and there is nothing that will increase tax values more rapidly than a system of good roads. True. we can get along as we have done here tofore, with bad roads and worse, but the civic pride and prosperity of the county, together with its standing in the state, justifies the effort to improve con ditions; and, in addition to this, such a move will have the very desirable effect of bringing to the county of a class of citizens much to be desired. Yes, I heartily favor the step"
 Mayor-elect Gives Views.
 Dr. Wykle said:
 "I am for anything that will better conditions While I think the issuing of bonds is business that should be cau- %to int a 1