The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-11-19
ham Furnace PasteIs VIII Be Feal
LOCAL INDUSTRIES
 UNDER FULL STEAM
 FOR CLOSE OF YEAR
Wire Mills Weeks Behind in Orders, and Other Metal Products Seem to Be
 Booming

pOOliitllS
 In contrast with this time last year, when basic industries had just be- gun to feel the rebound from the low point reached in July, 1921, almost all the iron and steel works now within six weeks of the new year and less than month from inventory period are under a full head of steam.
 Iron furnaces are producing more iron than at any prior time this year and more than a 100 per cent over production al this time last year. This production is in response to sales on books for iron wanted now.
 Steel works have been at high point since June with unified ton- mage of the Steel corporation (Ten- nessee Coal and Iron company and American Steel and Wire company. growing month by month. Wire mills are several weeks behind in orders, reflex of the cotton money already in hand and that still com ing.
 Stove and radiator plants reported the biggest of all prior months in October and a continuance of de- mand requiring full operations with overtime in numbers of departments. Sash and door firms, printing firms, grate makers, concrete and chemical product makers and host of small CT industries have reported the briskest fall in their history.
 Good Wholesale Business
 Leading wholesalers agree that business has been excellent since June. They lay emphasis on collec- tons which are up to the handle. One wholesale dry goods merchant said that he had been doing a busi- ness equal to the maximum of the in- Hated war period for three months up to November and that there had been no change in November up to date.
 Soil pipe, basic industry. has eased off SD far as new business Is concerned. but 1t had long period of maximum production at good prices and the building prospect for 1923 Is forecast of another big soil pipe season.
 The pressure pipe makers have orders calling for full turn of opera tions for remainder of the ssear~and prices are GlFn1,
 Forecast for 1923
 While 1922 has given a good ac- count of itself in the way of indus trial recovery. the first half of 1923 will be repiete with industrial achievement. especially in the way of expansion on lines that are proven successes Among the principal plants to be completed in the first haI of a fheEps
 Fifty per cent addition to the Ala hama By-products company.
 Million barrel mill of the Phoenix Portland Cement company.
 Million barrel mill of the Phoenix Portland Cement company.
 Large pipe shop of the McWane Cast Iron Pipe company.
 Extension of gas mains from the Alabama By-Product company to manufacturing plants in East Bir- mingham, furnishing them with gas for power purposes.
 Completion of Mitchell dam, which will add 100 per cent to Alabama's available water power supply.
 Gas range adjunct of the Birming- ham Stove and Range company.
 Merchant bar mill of the Tennessee company at Fairfield.
 Steel foundry of the Tennessee company at Fairfield and remodeled steel foundry at Ensley.
 Dig Improvements
 Building of the permanent state highway is to make progress. work to continue at Woodrow Wilson dam. work is to be begun on the dams on the Tallapoosa river. work Is to start on the port Improvements at Mo bile.
 t.,f1 1f al h have been built in Jefferson county connecting the city with outlying districts this year and many more miles of such construction are under way or in contemplation.
 Civic Assets
 The Masonic temple. the high school. the market house and the auditorium are among the civic improvements coming fin the next year.
 Indications point to an unusually short inventory period around the Christmas holidays. after which bus mess now bling up for 1923 will go ahead tat a good pace. The huge de- mand for iron and steel on part of the railroads means busy times in the furnaces. steel mills. ear shops and repair shops of the district for months to come. The rail mill has orders calling for full turn far into 1923
 s Items of Interest
 An Alabama life insurance com pany has acquired a handsome home ef it's own. The stockholders of the Jefferson county bank have their building back and the property has been refinanced. A Canadian life in- surance company has made Birming- ham southern headquarters. The Chamber of Commerce has assumed the dignity attaching to it as community clearing house by acquir- ing its own home.
 Building activity is continuing at a good pace with new years record being held up. Bank clearings broke all prior records in September, did 1t again in October and seem headed fn h ioh