The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-17
WIRE MILL IS NO!
PRODUCING FOR
THE MARKET. YET
Machinery Is Being Sub
jected to Severe Tests.
Await Orders From
President Palmer

Although the American Steel and Wire
company plant at Fairfield has not turned
out any products yet, il is stated from
sources authoritative that wire products
will he rolled during the coming few
weeks. The plan', stated some weeks
ago. has hcen undergoing the severe tests
TO which the machinery of all Steel cor
poratlon units is subjected and in the
first test it is stated some wire was turned
over. However. IL is stated that no orders
have been filled yet none have heen re-
ceived and it has not been determined
when operations will start
1t is announced shat superintendent
Charles Lutz does not intend to begin
operators until President Palmer gives
the word from headquarters. The latter
official Will not give any orders for this
plant, it ls stated, until the machinery
has been thoroughly tested. Up until this
time no orders have been given, and 1t is
presumed that the wire that was part of
the test was used up as mcmentos for
friends of the plant. which is i custom
when new plants are being tested.
The offielalsSof the American Steel and
Wire company in this city are just or
eager to begin work at Fairfield as the
most ardent booster and optlmist of Bir-
illllSiiain IT WIS stated yesterday lnat
the fact that the plant is not running
should not be taken as an Indication that
the situation is becoming any worse On
the contrary the most hopeful opinions
are entertained IS to the eventual begin
ming of operations at Fairfield.
1t was lumored yesterday that the Of
ficers of the wire plant were not in
clined 10 make any wire until spring,
but would eonfine operations at
ftsf Il IN ....fl u
ducts However 1t was authoritatively
stated that all departments of the plant
would be placed IN operation when 1t is
started II is planned to have all the
departments in perfect shape before be-
ginning 10 turn out products for the
market.
The officials were thought at one time
to be inclined to postpone the fence pro-
ducts antil the market was in good shape
which is not the case at this time
Superintendent Lutz says that in every
way 1t would be better to start the plant
and let the people interested find out
after il Is running. He said last night
that the tests he had outlined for the
wire plant had not been concluded lie
said that no products had been made
That none would be made right now, and
that announcements otherwise were based
on instrumentation
The unwillingness of Mr.. I.utz to make
any definite statement at this time is
said to be based upon his experience of
years which has served to prepare him
for many delays and he is unwilling to
make any promises until operations are
a matter Of history Then no promises
are necessary
In connection. howeyer with the opera
tions at Ensley II is stated that the resi-
dental portion OF that suburb Is filling
UP fast. New families are coming stead.
lily to Fairfield. anG it is said now that
the city is badly in need OF additional
houses. IT is said that several individuals
are building there in order TO help the
larger companies relieve the tension