The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-22
After Undergoing Severe
Tests, Word to Start Is
Received From Pres
ident Palmer
900 MEN ARE AT WORK;
10000 TONS OF STEEL
PER MONTH TO BE USED
All Products Arc Being Made.
Palmer Said to Be on Way to
Notwithstanding of
Wire Mill Means
Much for City

The S4,000.000 American Steel and
Wire company plant at Fairfield Is
operating, and is turning out CONNER
eial products. Official announcement
to this effect has been made. Products
of all kinds that are to he made at
the Fairfield plant are being turned
out now, including nails, barbed wire
and fencing wire. Contrary to expecta-
tions the company did not confine Its
output to one line or two lines. but
starts off with all of the products being
riade.
The company has started out with
600 employees at the wire plant which
number is more probably than many of
the most optimistic thought would be
employed at the outset. It was be-
lieved that the plant would start out
with about 500 men and gradually in
crease that number until about 1000
were employed. Skilled mechanics have
been arriving here from time to time
during the past few weeks.
Use 10000 Tons Per Month
The nails, barbed wire and the fence
wire made at the plant have been
placed in the warehouses of the COM
pany and will be shipped when orders
are received. 1t is expected that the
orders for local products will come in
fast, as they are booked at the gen
eral offices, and apportioned to the
various operations by the general Of
tices. No figures at this time are avail
able to indicate the total output of
which the plant is capable, but it was
stated yesterday that the plant would
operate for awhile with 10000 tons
of steel per month which would be
increased from time to time as bust
thought best.
The official word for the starting
of the plant came from President Will
liam Palmer of the American Steel and
Wire company. lie has been constantly
in touch with the tests of the plant
here, and postpone the beginning of
operations until the plant was in first
class trim. During the tests quite
little steel was rolled through the mills,
but the making of commercial prod
ucts was not permitted until the word
was given by President Palmer That
word was awaited here with keen In
terest by local officials.
No official announcement has been
made, but ii was reported yesterday
that President Palmer of the American
Steel and Wire company was on his
way to Birmingham and would reach
here. and postponed the beginning OF
over the latest plant Of his company.
HI was here quietly about the time the
plant was being completed several months
ago.
1t is understood that selling zone has
been mapped out for the Fairfield plant
and that this territory will be covered
with travelling men and that Birmingham
will in "A measure become the principal
distributing point for the south and also
the countries in South America.
The beginning of operations OF the wire
mill is of unusual Importance here. The
making of wire products here by the
Steel corporation is the beginning Of di-
yersincation on the part of that concern.
The turning of iron and steel into the
commercial product is regarded as
vital necessity here, and the fact that the
Steel corporation starts the bail to roll
ing with this plant indicates the faith that
concern has in this district
IL is known by few persons III this
community that the Steel corporation
has at this time plans for two or three
additional plants to be located on the
property of the company near Fairfield,
and il is believed that the time is not far
distant when the stacks of the Steel cor
poration will be stretched from Pratt
| City directly down Possum valley to Bes-
semer..
Means Much for Birmingham
The beginning of work at Fairfield OF
the steel corporation wire plant, which
will run the total output of wire products
of the corporation to a high average, as
compared to the output of the independ-
ents will probably suggest to the student
of steel conditions that the Steel corpora
| ton officials have faith in the ultimate
success of their defense of the dissolution
suit. With this plant operating the com