The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-24
HARTMAN ORDER IS CHEERING NEWS 19,000 Tons VIII Be Made At
 E1sley MILL NOW ROLLING RAILS Second Half of Year 1909 Promises to Witness Genuine Prosperity
 All Along the
 Line.
BY WILLIAM RYAN.

The fact that the Tennessee Coal Iron and Railroad company secures 19.000 tons of the Hartman rail order just appor- toned to various steel concerns is very cheering and will have a decidedly stm- ulating effect on general trade in Bir mingham. This new business for the Ten nessee company is especially significant, when it is recalled that Harrimans en- gineer was supposed to have been preiu- diced against Ensley rails because, about four years ago when the steel plant, under former administration was in its experimental stage. some imperfect rails were found in the lot bought for the liar riman lines.
 But since that time the old steel mill al Ensley has been replaced by strictly modern open hearth plant, and the of- ficials now in charge of the Tennessee company's properties are known to be among the ablest and most experienced steelmakers in the country; and, as Pres- dent George G. Crawford said recently, Rail manufacture at Ensley is past the experimental stage. Rails are made to any specification, and with the same uni- formity and excellence as In any other rail mill"
 MT Crawford and General Sales Agent Burr have been in the east for several days past, and while no authorized state ment has been given out at the headquar- ters of the Tennessee company this week, 1t is naturally surmised that those two officials found little difficulty in convinc- ing Mir Harriman's rail buyer that the Ensley product turned out today will stand any test; and that considerable rail business in addition to the 19,000-ton or der will shortly come to the Tennessee company.
 The Wall Street Journal, regarded as high authority, announced last week that a portion of the Hartman rail contracts would go to Ensley, but those familiar with the situation have been saying that the order was not likely to exceed 10000 tons. But the exact apportlonment of the Hartman business is now made public through the Iron Trade Review of Cleve- land, and a special to The Age-Herald from that paper, reporting the matter in detail states the Tennessee companys S share at 1900 tons, which may be accept ed as altogether correct
 It is seen that only 10000 tons of the Hartman order will be rolled at Gary. while 10000 tons will be rolled in the Bes- semer mill of the Illinois Steel company The Bessemer rail being a cheaper product than the open hearth variety Is supposed to account for the enormous tonnage now crowding the old Illinois Steel but it Is believed there is demand enough for the superior open hearth rail to keep the open hearth plants busy indefinitely
 The steel mill at Ensley which resumed opreations recently after a short rest Is now rolling rails and running single turn, the Tennessee company has enous1 bus mess on its books, not counting the liar riman order, to keep the plant going dur ing July and August. And with the ad- ditional tonnage now in sight 1t is safe to say that there will be no shutting down again, but on .the contrary, the outlook for increasing the rate of production seems exceedingly bright.
 The Birmingham pig iron market Is not only firm and healthy, but the month Is closing with good steady buying move ment. All the furnace. companies report active inquiries and all that are in the market are selling their make or more. Quotations continue at s11.50 to $12 on a No. 2 basis. None of the iron companies are shading prices, but on the other hand the tendency is upward. One of the con oerns that had been quoting s11.50 for some time past made sale this week at $11 .75 for No 2.
 The cast iron pipe companies In the Birmingham district are kept busy and industrial conditions generally are more and more satisfactory. The second half of 1909 promises, therefore, to witness gem uine prosperity all along the line.