The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-20
FIRST ELECTRICAL
 FURNACE IN SOUTH
 BUILT AT ANN|STON
Officials of Alabama Power Company and Prominent Citizens Witness
 Blowing In"

Anniston. March 1s.--(special. ) Without exception, those Annistonians who witnessed the "blowing in of tho first electrical furnace in the south which made its initial run" here Sat urday afternoon. are of the impression that the event is of wide significance, potential in its promises for the in dustrial development of this city and the south.
 Tt has not been so very long since the United States Steel corporation had it's inception around nucleus no greater than this said Lieut.. Gov. Thomas E. Kilby as the molten metal was being poured out of the furnace into the giant ladle. This marks a new era for Aniston"
 Tt is an event that should be hailed with delight, not only in Anniston, but throughout the south. Its signifi- canoe Is probably greater than any man here realizes" said w. H. Wealth. erly, president of the First National bank
 FIRST OF THREE INSTALLED
 Similar remarks were made by J. c. Sproull, vice president of the An nlston Chamber of Commerce: c. j.. Houser. president of the City Bank and Trust company; o. M Alexander. vice president of the same institution: w. W. Clark. manager of the Kilby Locomotive works. and others On be- half of those present and the people Of Anniston generally, the Anniston star sent a telegram to James Mitchell president of the Alabama Power conn pany. who heads the new industry. congratulating him on the Successful run"
 The furnace started Saturday was the first of three that will be installed at once Another will be in operation in month and third in six weeks tentative plans having been made to add several more. The furnace now in operation is six-ton Heroult and the others will be of the same size. They nave a capacity of five siX-ton heats per day, or an aggregate output for the three Of 90 tons per day when all are in operation. About 1900 kilowatts are required to run each furnace.
 The furnace from which was poured saturday the first steel melted bv electricity in a southern furnace was charged Friday and a big crowd of
 
 to see the tests As the molten metal was poured from the furnace into the grant ladle. then carried across the plant by the big crane and dumped into the receiving molds the crowd that had gathered burst into cheers.
 MEANS BIG DEVELOPMENT
 When the other two furnaces are in- stalled, the Anniston plant will be second to none in the country and the work undertaken here by MT. Mitchell, who has been financially backed by Annistonians, gives promise of great development, owing to the diminishine. available supply of high grade steel and the consequent rise in prices
 The furnace plant is located near the plant of the Anniston Ordnance company, which is making shells for the allies. and the rolling stock mill formerly operated by the Illinois Car ana Equipment company and others is now being tested out as a probable auxiliary to the steel furnaces Al ready the furnaces are using the shaw lnss and scrap from the munitions factory. If the rolling mill is start ed up the steel made in the furnaces Will be converted for importation.
 EXPERTS WITNESS TEST
 The initial run was made under the direction of Theodore Swann. vice president of the Anniston Ordnance company and sales manager for the Alabama Power company. The test was witnessed by R. Turnbull of WelIand. ont. who was associated with Dr. heroult in designing the furnace, and by Vladimir Dryssen of the Metal lurgical Technical institute of Stock holm. representing the United States Steel corporation.
 The ground on which this develop- ment is taking place is historic It was here that the Noble brothers estab- lished wheel foundry that second to the Woodstock furnaces, was a pioneer industry of Anniston. It later became the Alabama Car company and still later the Illinois Car and Equipment company, at one time the largest con cern of the kind south of the Ohio river.
 A. L. Kenyon, local manager of the Alabama Power company operations; Messrs Waterman and Sinniman of the ordnance company and other officials have co-operated with the electrical furnace people in bringing about the operation of the plant