The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-14
BUSH RETURNS HOPEFUL
 OF ALABAMA'S CHANGES
 TO GET BIG ARMOR PLANT
State Will Be Given Every Opportunity to Present Its Claims Also Thinks Alabama Goal May Yet Be Used in
 Uncle Sam's Navy

plant While no particular plaee is held
 in mind in Washington, the idea seems to
 prevail that since practically every mu-
 milton plant in the country is located
 near the Atlantic coast. it would be a
 good idea to locate this one in some other
 part of the country am inclined to
 think that this district would certainly
 stand an excellent chance of securing the plant"
 USE OF ALABAMA COAL
 Regarding the chances of getting the government to use Alabama coal, Mr. Bush was by no means willing to admit
 that the fight had been lost That question has not yet been settled, but
 we are certainly not wiling to admit that we have been defeated" he said. T con ferred with Admiral McGowan and other officers of tine government who have this matter in charge. Up to the pres- 1 ent time, we have not been able to ac- complish much, but our case is being handled by a number of the leading senators and congressman, and [ think we will yet get the matter adjusted so that Alabama coal can be used by the government
 Much has been said about the pres | sure test and the inability of Alabama coal to stand this test An erroneous idea seems to prevail regarding that point This pressure test relates to the use of the coal under conditions of a forced draft This test will show Ala
 bama coal of more volatile nature than the other coals now used by the government, but that can be offset, | think In the first place, the forced draft, under which the pressure test would be 1 detrimental, is used only on rare occa- sions in time of emergency Under these conditions, the result would simply be | A A1.t4 ,1n1 T1f1re rapidly than the other coals. Being more volatile, the extreme draft would cause | the gases to be sent through the boilers I more rapidly than they could be con- | sumed, thus causing a waste. But since | these conditions occur but rarely, such | as when a vessel is making forced run,
 or trying to escape from an enemy, the waste would be almost inconsiderable
 am hopeful that :n spite of this test, we will yet be able to sell Alabama coal I to the government. We certainly have not given up the t1ght yet"
 BIG MEN PRESENT
 : MT. Bush was enthusiastic over the
 meeting of the United States Chamber of Commerce, which was attended by a number of Birmingham men. "The United States Chamber of Commerce is 1 a wonderful organization, said MT. Bush ''The meeting was most remark
 able, and was attended by over 800 ot ] the leading men of the nation. and bS representative men from Porto Rico 1 Hawaii, and other places. never saw ] a convention where such large mum Der of the delegates attended every
 meeting There was not session of the convention which was not highly profit | able and important.
 T am convinced that this organlza'
 ton is destined to become one of the most important factors in the business ! and economic life of the nation One of it 1 main purposes is to have great questions
 settled by Congress without regard tc
 politics. and only after a careful con- ] sideration of the merits of the case ant
 the economic results. Through this or ganization, representing more than SO 1 Chambers of Commerce in all the large cities and towns of the country, Congress
 can get an expression of the sentimen of the leading business interests of tn
 nation. It Is destined to play an impor \ tant part in. the future growth and de velopment of the United States.