The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-10
Steel Corporation Investiga-
ton Formally Begins Here
on Behalf of Govern
ment Suit
MILTON SMITHS AID
IN GETTING FIRST
STEEL PLANT BUILT
Recent Purchase of Valuable Ores
Given as Proof the Steel Cor
poration Did Not Secure
Monopoly

James Bowron, president of the Gulf
States Steel company, and one of the best
informed industrial men of this state
was the first witness yesterday i'm the
case of the government against the United
States Steel corporation. He remained
on the stand throughout the day excepting
for half hour, when Mertland al
Hedges of Chattanooga, a consumer of
iron products, as well as steel, was ex-
anined Mr.. Bowron then resumed and
when his examination was concluded ad
Journment was taken until this morning
at 1890
Mr Bowron told remarkably inter-
esting story. He related the truth about
the early days. He told of Birmingham
weathering the storm: of her trial and
travail. He spoke of the hardships of the
clustering difficulties of Birmingham until
the Steel corporation came here and began
to make products economically and sell
them fairly.
May Be Recalled
He told of the wonders performed in bet
terments by the Tennessee Coal Iron and
railroad company. And by accident he
let drop remark after adjournment of
the advances in living conditions, attrib-
uting 1t all to George G. Crawford, presi-
dent and Frank II. Crockard, vice presi-
dent of the Tennessee Coal Iron and Rail-
road company.
That remark will result perhaps in his
being recalled today to relate the story of
that work.
1t was fascinating narrative that Mr.
bowron told. He held the interest of
even the officials accustomed as they are
now to stories of wonderful things per-
formed in the industrial world.
After the hearing there was a constant
stream of congratulations piled upon Mr..
Bowron for his wonderful knowledge of
intricate details connected with Birmins-
ham which had enabled Examiner John
Arthur Brown of Philadelphia Mr.. Col
ton, special assistant to the Attorney Gen
eral, and Mr.. Reed for the Steel corpora
uon, to obtain such a clear insight into
the operations of the corporation here.
Not MetropOlistic in Tendency
Ma Bowron said the purchase By the
corporation of the Tennessee Coal Iron
and Railroad company was not monopolis-
tic In tendency He said that any concern
with sufficient money could acquire the
hhest KIND of ore and other raw ma
terials to start a steel plant here. He
told of the fairness of the comnany. of
the kindness and charity of that concern
When troubles came upon competitors
lie said that when his plants were about
TO be closed down by reason of breakages
the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad
company came to his rescue, although a
competitor He said If this had not been
Done his competition with the Tennessee
Coal Iron and Railroad company would
have been removed for some weeks
lie said the company was not unfair in
It's competition, that one was always able
to tell where they stood as to prices and
that he found the company infinitely fair
in all respects.
The testimony of Mr. Bowron in part
follows:
@. How long have you lived here? A.
Since March L. 1895.
q. Prior to that time where did you
live2 A. From 1874 to 1877 in England, and
from 1877 to 1882 in South Pittsburg, Tenn,
and from 1882 to 1895 in Nashville
q. Commencing with 1877, when you
came to this country what was your oc-
curation? A. 1 came to this country in
1ST1 as the general manager, which, under
English nomenclature, really meant prac-
tically president and general manager of
an English company known as the South
ern States Coal, Iron and Land COM
pany. The principal business of that COM
pany was mining coal, making coke, pro-
duong pig iron, manufacturing foundry
prcoCcts and railroad cars, and incl
centally, building AMI developing the
town of South Pttsburg.
Q. That company made no steel, did it?
A. None whatever.
Early Companies
@. Where were its blast furnaces? A. At
Pittsburg. Tenn. ! passed into the Of
flee of treasurer of the Tennessee Coal,
Iron and Railroad company on or about
February ], 1882. The Pratt Coal and Iron
comNany embraced a part of the coal
MINES forming the property of the Pratt
Coai and Coke company. the Alice fur
races, forIFerly the property of the Alice
Furnace Company, and the Lynn Iron
works, which had been separate corpo-
ration, all of them being in or immedi-
ately adjacent to the city of Birming-
ham.
Q. Prior to 1886, how many furnaces did
the Tennessee company operate in the
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