The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-28
Inquiries For Sites On Larger Scale Than
 Ever Before SHARP REDUCTION IN WIRE PRODUCTS Big Fabrication Plant AL ready Is Assured For
 Birmingham PITTSBURG LOSES
 DOMINANT PLACE Gary And Calumet District Along With Birmingham To Reap Increasing Benefits

Developments during the past week ln- dicate strongly that the action of the United States Steel corporation in abol- ishing the practice of quoting Pittsburg plus. is bringing about unusually ini- portant changes in all steel centers.
 The statement was made here Satur- day, that several of the largest real estate concerns have been approached with inquiries for factory sites, and the most conservative opinion seems to be that Birmingham is on the verge of q wave of small industrial building, per haps never approached before in this part of the south. The announcement has been made that at least three plants are planning locations here, one of them being a fabricating plant, to be owned by English interests, to build which will involve over $1 ,500,0 900. 9th CTS involving sums within that radius are also under process of negotiation.
 Steel buyers in Birmingham give diff ferent versions of the practical appli- cation of the Pittsburg decision, al- though there is a general agreement, that persons away from Birmingham, who were reluctant to make any start until the mooted question was an- | swered, will hesitate no longer, to con- struct mills in this section. Locally, steel users, it is said, have received the co-operation of steel makers here in whatever business they wished to land. They seem to think that as the atmos- phere of doubt as to the Pittsburg price has been effectively eliminated outsid- CTS, skilled in the cration of finished | products will feel at least more at l1h- erty to come here than has been the case in the past.
 Adjusting Price Structure
 The various associated companies of the Steel corporation are engaged at this time in building up their price structure from the ground, following the abandonment of the Pittsburg basis. There will elapse several weeks before the technicians of the companies and sales staffs can announce their prices. It is stated that much study must of necessity be given the new practice be- fore the buyers will know at what prices they may secure steel and it's products.
 In the meantime at least one com pany of the steel corporation has agreed upon its prices and that is the Amer ican Steel and Wire company. A sched- ule of wire products has been an- nounced with five passing points,. prices depending upon the territory in; which the buyer is located. Locally no an nouncement has been made at the Amer ican Steel and Wire company. However the statement was made in Fairfield that the schedule indicates sharp re- ductions in wire product within the trading territory of the Birmingham district. It is also stated that the ether wire producers of this district must at Fairfield. This the Gulf States says it will do.
 Birmingham industrial leaders are as one in the opinion that this district is headed straight toward an industrial expansion of unprecedented breadth. This is traceable not only to the clar- flying effect of the corporation decis- ion not to contest the trade commits sion, but to the other natural and val uable advantages prevailing in this dis trict.
 Early Adjustment Seen There is in all parts of the country feeling that the situation will adjust itself soon, from the state of confusion even now existing, as the price struc- ture is created, which will bring to this entire country period of great indus trial expansion. This is feeling is most noticeable in the Calumet region, where | it is stated the Jones LOughlin interest have secured site of imense propor- tions and plan to construct there mill costing $50,000,000 and employ 15,OOO men. The leaders of that section trace that decision of one of the biggest in- dependents to the Pittsburg plus decis- l ion.
 Chicago claims that when business gets under way again the elimination of the Pittsburg rate will cause be- tween forty and fifty fabricating plants to remove from Pittsburg to Chicago. In this district the opinion is enter tained that if such situatiCh pre- vails and encourages Chicago, Birming- ham is far more apt to benefit by sim liar exodus from Pittsburg by reason of the admitted fact that Birmingham possesses distinct advantages over the Windy section. Locally there have been during the past week inquiries made with all possible discretion which influences the belief that the Pittsburg exodus is a serious eventuality and that Birmingham will benefit directly therefrOm, as inquiries now suggest.
 Realizing Diversity
 The diversification of Birmingham products has long been the uppermost thought in the minds of the builders of Birmingham and this is coming to pass along with the changes resulting from the settlement of the price question. Indication of this is to be seen in the announcement of the Tennessee com pany that it will provide for the man. ufacture of cotton ties at Bessemer. It is believed that to this will be added from time to time other finished prod ucts which coupled with the work of the independents will give to Birmingham a cycle of finished articles, in Keeping with the ambition of local manufac- turers which has long been entertained.