The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-07-08
For the Good of
 the Community

mlngnam QlSCflct during the past year to mar the symmetry of it's progress.
 hi fact, outside the coal shortage every thing has been, going in the opposite direc- tion.
 Steel fabrication at large and with special reference to shipbuilding has been placed on broad, continuous permanent and growing basis
 By-product energy has grown from 847 to LII ovens consuming 6,000000 tons. of coal and producing 4,500,0OO tons of coke per annum with the immense values of by-products thrown in for good measure.
 The Warrior has gotten all it asks and export of coal is guaranteed stability by the 50,000-ton coal terminals to be built at Mobile
 Unlimited development of water power and opening up the navigable reaches of inland waterways have been enabled by the water bill
 state permanent highway system was placed on the map of Alabama when the S25, 5,O0O,000 road bond issue was voted.
 The program will be completed in Mo- vember when Alabamians vote the state port aid amendment which will make of Mobile for Alabamians what state aid made of the port of New Orleans for citi- zehs of Louisiana.
 Farmers, short of hired labor, bent their eyes closer to their lands and gave them ownership cultivation A gloomy spring has been translated into promis- ing midsummer.
 It we pay S8 for coal in Birmingham they pay $16 for coal in Pittsburgh which is similarly situated with reference to coal. The government is paying SIS for spot coal for it's ships.
 The coal production is 65 1000 tons weekly ahead of this time last year. That there is a coal famine but emphasizes the industrial activity that makes the produc- tlon scant one
 The turn of the half year brought forth a distinct emphasis of the recently inter- rupted lron-buying movement Sales of 2,O00-ton lots were made in a number of instances during the first few days of July and the purchases were for fourth quar- ter as we'll as spot delivery.
 When iron melters are willing to pay SAP for pig iron either for present or for ward melting confidence in the stability of the iron and steel trades is of double. visage.
 The June production of pig iron. con- sldering that it was 30-day month, Was largest of the year. It was 50 per cent ahead of that of June, l919
 The half-year production of Alabama pig iron was "A per cent over the first half of 1919 and points to 2,500,000 tons for the year.
 This time last year we had 16 active furnaces; this time this year there are 27.
 This time last year iron was selling at SEA; this time this year the uniform Bir- mingham basis is SAP.
 The retail merchants got busy early in May and began real turnover of goods. The public appreciated the price conces- slons. Result, May and June business in the department stores went from 25 to 50 per cent ahead of 1919.
 Further result If the merchants made smaller margin of profit, they relieved their shelves of merchandise, made good at the banks and placed themselves in strong position for autumn.
 How Birmingham weathered some strikes and altogether escaped others is trite; so trite that it is a countrywide real ization.
 Radicalism has found no nurture here. Tho h1ook man 60oc not lxv,0xxy xYxbo4