The Washington herald., 1922-08-21
coal PRODUCTION
Is INCREASING IN
NONUNION AREAS
Abundant Labor in Ala.
bama Fields, Obstacle
Being Lack of Cars.

BIRMINGHAM. Aug. 2o.-Twenty-
two blast furnaces in Alabama are
active with output of over zoe. 900
tons of pig iron month: one addj-
tional furnace is preparing to blow
in and another is being put in con-
dition for fires to be lit IL the mar
ket continues to absorb the Alabama
iron. Rumors are prevalent that the
old oxmoor furnace, pioneer in IRON
making about Birmingham, will be
put in blast should present conditions
and prices show sufficient indications
of continuing.
Pig iron producers are very cheer
full over present business and pros
poets. Sales are being made for de-
livery during the fourth Quarter NJ
The year. and while the price for No.
foundry has been fairly stable at
$20 per ton. some contracts have
been taken for early delivery at a
higher price. Strong demand has
about depleted accumulated stocks
and the yards are almost clear.
Several producers report inquiries
for 1923, and the consensus of
opinion is that the price will be $40
minimum, and more than likely
from so cents to 81 more on the
first quarter OF the new year.
shipments Hampered by Strike.
The railroad situation has in the
last few days inteYfered material
ly with shipments. but local and
neighborhood industries in the Rir-
minGham district are large takers
OF pig. and as their operations have
been almost uniformly 100 per cent
for the last month, with a number
OF large users putting on night
shifts as well as capacity operation
during the day, the situation as to
disposal of output has not reached
the point where 1t is giving iron
makers any great concern.
Even should railway transporta-
tion be still more restricted, there
is still the Warrior River. with its
barge lines to Mobile. where distrt-
button coastwise to both coasts has
been utilized in obtaining mark cts
for Birmingham made iron pipe,
rails, structural steel, wire. bolts.
rivets, angle bars and plates and the
like. AS long as the export market
continues strong and products made
from pig iron can obtain wide
distribution by water out of Mobile,
also coastwise. the industrial situa-
tion here will continue without any
great amount of damages by shut
ting off rail shipments in certain
directions.
Coal Output Increasing.
On the production of coal in
creasing disturbances on the rail-
roads have a more direct effect
The output of Alabama bituminous
mines last week was very close to
100000 tons, a figure which has
been maintained for some time.
with steady increase. II sufficient
cars could be obtained il Is be-
lieved production could easily be
increas sed to 100000 tons week.
Several new mines are opening in
Walker County and two or three in
jefferson. Plenty of labor is avail
able. and the sole question is that
Of cars.
There is no labor trouble in the
Alabama mining district. Two
years ago the United Mine Workers
made a determined effort to union
ize all the mines Of Alabama and
d S'Tlhc- trON. N1IbN prompt
ly assured the operators Of protec-
tion. and At the first sign of dis
order called out the troops. and
gave 100 ner cent protection. The
operators operated: the strike con-
tinued for nine months. and finally
petered out when the United Mine
Workers notified the hapless strik-
ers that over $4,000. 900 had been
spent by the organization feeding
them and there was nothing more
coming. There have been peace
and open shop operation ever since.
and during the present nationwide
coal strike Alabama coal has been
going to Central Western points
and the Mississippi Valley in stead
lily increasing volume each week
with shipments via barge down the
Warrior TO Mobile and New Orleans
for bunker purposes and other
uses. The water movement of coal
has been steady and taxing the
capacity Of equipment