The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-16
Birnningham's Movement to Further Encourage and
 Foster Small Industries
By '. A. DYER

! There are two things absolutely necessary in the encouragement anC fostering of small industries if there is to be expected substantial and worth while business namely reason able living conditions, so as to make working conditions inviting to de 1 pendable and efficient labor; and low | freight rates into and out of d dis trict so that the manufacturer or pro- ducer will be put on reasonable basis i with his competitors on the outside. In the past Birmingham has been | lacking in both-and it has been only within the past 60 days that there has been manifested a real get-together and working spirit in the civic bodies, corporations and individuals for the readjustment and betterment of both. There has been elected at the head of the Chamber of Commerce Mir. Nor ris w. Bush, a man who, by train ing and experience in the iron and steel industries of the district, is cer- tainly in position to appreciate the nee essity for and requisites of the forces that go to make up a truly diversified industrial section, and once | firmly in the saddle there can be eN pected telling results at his hands. To substantiate Brminghams shortcom-
 
 ing conditions and freight rates, the writer will relate an interesting con- verSation which he overheard not Ions since between two of Birmingham's prominent and influential citizens. The story effects the conditions bet ter than they could be theoretically pictured.
 During 1915 one of the large indus trial companies of the district had oc- cason to figure with several import ant contractors for the fabrication and supplying of @ large tonnage af tank steel Interests in Birmingham, Chat tanooga Nashville, Memphis, Atlanta and Newman were invited to submit figures While there is not pound of pig iron produced in any Of above cities except Birmingham and Chat tanooga-and steel of quantity only manufactured in Birmingham-ye the interests of Birmin gham were the highest bidders,
 This state of affairs led the head Of the purchasing concern to make some investigations into the why's and wherefores of conditions that should cause such a wide variance in price. Some of the foreign interests were asked that if they were in position to so far underbid Birmingham inter- ests why would it not prove pet ter investment to move their shops or establish a new one in Birmingham in order to be on the ground where Iron and steel are manufactured?
 The reply was made that if Birming. ham even enjoyed freight rates com mensurate with the localities where their plants are now located, the mat ter of living conditions alone would be unattractive and detrimental; that by reason of having satisfied labor, liv- ing under cheaper and comfortable circumstances they could really pay Birmingham freights and then under bid Birmingham merchants.
 There is no denying the fact that con dtions have not been of an ideallstc ma ture, but the splendid welfare work being WE ged and carried on by the Tennessee Coal Iron and Railroad company, and the American Cast Iron Pipe company IS setting a pace for better working con- ditions that is bound to be fruitful and of lasting and substantial benefit. The Jemison Real Estate and Insurance com pany is also considering plans for the