The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-10-16
GREATEST MEET
OF INSTITUTE,
VISITORS SAY
Birmingham Bids Fare
well To 13Oth Meeting
OF Engineers
CONTINUED From Page ~

trict. The party was taken through
the wood working department where the
boards are put together to form the
wooden part of the cars, the frame shop,
where the steel frame are welded, the
various shops where the nuts and bolts
are made and where the sides and UNI
derframes are prepared for assembly for
the final output.
The painting department, where the
cars are painted by sprays, held the at
tention of the members of the party.
The statement was made by some of the
visitors that the continuous process OF
manufacture as operated at the car
shops reminded them of the Ford works
in Detroit. Not one idle man was to
be noted in the operations. The plant
was, declared more impressive of eff
ficiency than any yet visited by the
engineering experts.
Officials of the Fairfield works,
headed by Wade oldham, general SUI
perintendent, and including Max Mel
Ion, superintendent of construction /;
Henry Martin, secretary to Mr.. Old
ham; II. r. White, superintendent of
the merchant mill o. V. Thornton, SUI
perintendent of the bar mill; j. w.
King, superintendent of the structural
min, and John Wren, chief of police
for the Fairfield works, were on hand
when the special train reached Fair
field They Immediately melted into the
crowd and assisted in plotting the 2T1
visitors from one point to another. The
plans were so well worked out that
there was no delay of any kind.
New Construction Seen
The spectators were interested also
in observing that the Tennessee Coal,
Iron and Railroad company is engaged
in the construction of several addition
al mills, as well as the open hearth fur
naces that are underway on the east
end of the plant. Many questions were
asked about the new construction and
the visitors seemed to think that the
activities of the company in construct
ing new plants indicate that one-half
-the story has not Been told concerning
the developments atthe Fairfield works,
The visitors were able to obtain fine
idea of the Importance of high line
which is being built to Red Mountain.
The line starts at Fairfield.
The special train in being trans
ferred to the Louisville and Nashville
tracks was backed near the nursery
and greenhouses of the Tennessee COM
pany at Rutledge springs. The visi-
tors were surprised to know that the
company grow its own plants and flow
ers which are used to beautify the
homes of its employees and to make at
tFaetive the plants scattered in all parts
Of this district. The growing plants
are handled by experts.
After leaving the Fairfield works the
special was taken through Ensley, the
Finley yards of the Southern railway,
and to the PHOENIX plant at Boyles.
There the party was joined by several
additional guests. The cement COM
pany had placed tables on the lawn
where n luncheon was served for the
party by walters from Birmingham.
Welcomed At Plant
The party was welcomed to the plant
by General Sales Manager McCurdy.
MIR. McCurdy introduced Superintendent
Horn and Mr.. Walker of the sales de-
partmenr, explaining that\ Mr.. Horn
had given the company cement in Il
days after breaking ground at the plant
and that Mr.. Walker was responsible
in the main for the luncheon prepared
for them. President William Kelly of
sthe institute recalled to the engineers
the fact that the nOn-metallic part of
the district was just as important as
other sections and he felt that the trip
would be completely rounded out by
the visit to the Phoenix plant The
party was taken in charge by company
guides and piIoted to the quarry where
the limestone is taken to the crude
crushers and from there on through the
process of making cement. To many
of the visitors, including local indus
trial leaders, the trip through the plant
was a revelation.
The making of cement has attained
immense proportions in this district
in the past few years and many local
men, found the trip through the Phoe-
nix plant even more enjoyable than
they expected. ..,...s.
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Do you need efficient, Industrious