The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-05-16
STEEL CAR WORKS
AT FA|RF IELD TO
BEGIN OPERATION
of Industrial Condi-
tons In Birmingham District
Disclose Encouraging
FeatureS-River Line
Makes Good
ny r. F. JOHN sTON

The new pressed steel car works of
the Chickasaw Shipbuilding and Car
company at Fairfield will begin oper-
ations June /.
1t was expected to start today, but
piece of machinery was delayed.
The works will turn out Is to 25
standard steel freight car per diem
and the plant will begin with orders
for 900 cars, 800 for the Steel Cor
poration and 900 for the Louisville
and Nashville.
The iron market is more spotted than
it has been since the slowing down
process began. Prevailing business for
small lots for prompt movement is done
at 2S, but 100 tons have been sold to
a sanitary manufacturing interest at So
and sales have been made of somewhat
smaller lots, in which sacrifice of the
silicon differentials read to an even lower
base.
Each maker appears to have his own
system of differentials. Saturday car
lot of silicon 2.25 to 2.75 silicon sold for
$24. That is the LIS to 2.25 silicon base
of $23 with 81 differential
The 1,200 tons may have been sold on
a $23 base, but with sacrifice of the
silicon ditferentials, would easily READ
back to 81.
Iron production is confined to one foua-
dry stack each of the Woodward, Sloss-
Sheffield and Alabama companies and to
ave of the Tennessee company and one
of the Gulf States Steel on basic. No
charcoal iron is being made. This is
quoted at $50.
Steel mill operations will be greater
this week than for several. The CUR
states Steel has resumed at it's open
hearth furnaces. The Tennessee COM
pany is operating guide and bar mills at
Bessemer, blooming and rail mills at
Ensley and the Chickasaw Shipbuildmg
and Car company is operating the car
and ship material plants at Fairfield
The plate mill at Fairfield is doing a
few odds and ends.
Three thousand tons of steel rails for
Manchuria are to be moved down the
Warrior river this week in barges for
New Orleans. The towboats will take
them to Mobile and the self-propellers
will carry the barges on to New Orleans.
This is the first big movement of steel
to New Orleans by the river. The barge
line will also carry heavy tonnage OF
steel plates to Mobile for export.
FOUNDRY COKE
Foundry coke remains quite active and
has called for the firing of numbers OF
additional ovens. The Alabama company
is putting in 20 more ovens and the
Alabama By-Products increased its &C
tive capacity 10 days ago. The general
base is ST.
The water and gas pipe business of the
past week was small Trade seems to he
an,
time the $50 base has been purely nomi-
nal. 1t is regarded certain that the
new base will be below $50 for the large
size. With lower iron base of $45
would be expected.
An important transaction occurred on
Thursday of the past week, when the
stockholders of the Alabama Power com
pany authorized bond issue of $1,000
900 with the construction of Mitchell
river in view.
The new bonds are expected to draw
Is to 7 per cent interest, as the directors
may decide. The company has asked
permit to build the dam and is waiting
on grant of the permit by the federal
water power commission. The dam will
generate 100000 hydroelectric horsepower,
doubling the company's present capacity.
Relief was felt when it became assured
that Secretary Weeks will give the War
rior a chance to make good before asking
that the federal government withdraw
its support The river line earned net
of $4,000 in April, and it is this first
appearance of an entry on the credit
side Of the ledger that led to the secre-
tary's modification of views.
RIVER LINE EARNING
Freight for Birmingham and Tusca-
loosa merchants via the Mallory line
from New York and interior eastern
points is coming up the river this week
and other cargoes are following. This
business bids fair to. grow as the season
advances and fall supplies are ordered
First goods from the Pacific coast to
come up the river will reach Mobile dur
ing the week via the canal and will be
at once transferred to river barges for
port of Birmingham The rate by steamer
and barge lines is 40 to 50 per cent under
the all-rail rate.
The Selma City is about to leave Mo
bile with cargo of 1000 tons of Biz
mingham rails and plates for the orient.
The Admission City, latest ship from the
Chickasaw yards at Mobile, will soon
load for Pacific coast with birmingham
steel and iron products and such other
commodities as are offered by the ship
ping public. This ship will make all the
Pacific coast points, going as far north