The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-09-10
Earthquake Is Expected To Bring Stream Of Business Comparing With Record For Plants Of District, It Is Said TWO MILLION RAIL JOB IS BELIEVED FORERUNNER Domestic Buyers Soon To Realize Necessity For Plac- ing Requirements, Is Fore cast, Activity Resulting
ENSLEY BUREAU l THE AGE-HERALD EnaIav Alb S~r,A a

J
 The distressful misfortune that has been visited upon Japan is ex- pected to be an i'll wind that will blow to Ensley a stream of steel or- ders unparalleled in the history of the local plants. Indications point to the beginning of volume of trade here which will develop with amaz- ing rapidity. Conclusions reached by discerning business men point to the influx of domestic orders of greater volume than in years through the expectation that unless orders are booked the necessities of Japan will cause postponement of domestic requirements.
 It is the obvious thing to expect that Japan will send out an S. o, s. for steel in mighty volume. And as she has always bought in Ems ley 1t is expected that the steel workers of this section will be the men who will lay the foundations for greater Japan built on steel along the lines followed in the re- building of San Francisco.
 The rail order announced in The Age Herald Sunday morning from the Louisville and Nashville rail- road Is the beginning of the flood And while the Louisville and Nash vile was not influenced in this order by the misfortune of the Japs, yet the old reliable has maGo her reser- vations In the front row and what : ever happens to the late corners MT Mapother has placed his railroad SC that fts steel Will be deliycredf II any event.
 Domestic buyers are expected te realize at once that the requirements of Japan will tax tn capacity oi American mills. Japan has beer buying steel sheets to use in con struction to comply with recent laws passed in Tokio and since this earthquake has shown how futile are houses other than those built more substantially, and she is expected to rebuild all with the stronger ma terials. according to eastern trade journals.
 Japan Prefers EnsIey.
 There is no industrial leader who will gainsay the fact that Japan through the Imperial Railways oi Japan, has shown 8 decided and con sistent preference for steel rails rolled at Ensley. On numerous oc- casions orders have been given foI Ensley open hearth that one would have expected would have gone else whre. Shipping advantages and the superior contents of the Ensley open hearth and the close friendship that exists between prominent men of the Steel Corporation and men of like standing in Nippon has been three ot the reasons. This is expected to be followed when the Japanese recover from the catastrophe of Saturday a week ago.
 It cannot be said that Ensley needs any orders to carry through during the remainder of 1923, but with the domestic buyers coming into the market earlier than usual and witf the prospect of Japan buyers flood ing the market shortly seeking steel it is expected that the latter part oi the year will find enough orders or hand to keep the mills busy during 1924 on full time.
 Naturally this situation will bring about a high tide of business 1T other lines so that everyone in Ems ley connected with the steel industry and those merchants that depenc upon mill prosperity for their own gre looking forward to a business volume this fall and winter exceed ing any during the war time boom.