The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-22
CATLETT'S PRAISE FOR BIRMINGHAM Eminent GeOlogist Writes of His Recent Visit THE VALUE OF CEMENT Believes There Will Be in Future No Large General Increase in
 the Production of
 Pig Iron
THE VALUE OF CEMENT

Charles Catlett, known as great eeologist, is more familiar with the min eral wealth of Alabama than any other map of his profession. perhaps. During the past 12 or 15 years, he has made many examinations of ore and coal lands In the Birmingham district. Besides being a geologist and mineralist MT. Catlett IS an expert on coke making. And altogether he is generally accepted as the highest authority on certain phases of the indus trial situation here.
 He was in Birmingham recently, ana on returning to his home at stanton, Va. gave out the following interview which appears in the current issue of the Balti- more Manufacturers Record:
 'The expression growing by leaps and bounds is more properly applicable % Birmingham than any city with which am acauainted' says MT. Catlett. Tn times of greater or less depression In the iron industry, upon which that city IS so largely dependent, there are pauses when 1t seems to stand still and gloom overspreads the minds of its inhabitants. When the turn comes its rush forward Is
  1zes that the pause but permitted it to gather new strength.
 "It is delight at present to talk to Birmingham man. He oozes enthusiasm at every pore. And as the enthusiasm or a city. and the energy of a city Is the sum total of the enthusiasm and energy of its inhabitants, I expect to see that al- xendy great city do much greater things n the next two or three years. These achievements will be in the line of finished products and in the utilization of the by products and the by-power, which is now roing largely to waste from the cokins of coal, and from the introduction ol cheap electric power, from the grea' hvdro-electrical development. that vii 1,iclxen into renewed activity everythins it touches.
 .I don't believe there will be in the flu ture any large increase in the pig iror production over the past, except as the ex' tension of local and nearby finishing mills will make such increase necessary. looks to me as if it will not be long befors the iron manufacturers of the south cease 10 be haulers of wood and drawers oi water for the foundries and manufactur- CTS of distant sections.
 .'The great industrial expansion pre- ceding the panic of 1907 was only possible fin virtue of the wonderful properties oi Portland cement which permitted the rapid construction of the foundations SC essential for all industrial operations. we are up against the same proposition again. The use of large quantities oi Portland cement means the laying oi foundations and the beginning of things which ultimately will be large factors 1T Industrial life and in the production oi traffic. Above everything else. 1t is great ly to be deplored if plans for development should be hampered in their incipiency bv the difficulty of the delivery of the Foundations.
 "If it is possible for the railroad to put cement on rush orders at this time anc expedite it's prompt delivery they will df more than in any other single way to build up their future traffic.
 "Of course, additional cement plant: win in time be installed. but it Is very ouestionahle in view of the slowness witt which such plants reach a state of profita 1,le production, whether new mills will en Ger thc market in time to meet the re n,,irements incidental to this initial rush hui may rather serve by their output tt depress and subdivide the falling marke available at the time when they come int ylay. The principal thing is to use ever, efrort to proomte the rapid delivery O cement from the existing mills to the in dustrial operations which need the ce n.ent before they can make the initia start"
 MIR. sHERROD, MANAGER OF OUT RENTAL DEPARTMENT, GETS TENANT FOR YOU RIGHT NOW TRy HIM. M'DAvID, MEYER, COLD