The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-10-13
CONTRAST WITH
Sc YEARS AGO Is
SOURCEOF PRIDE
Dreams Of 1888 Being
Realized In Districts
Constant Expansion
(Continued from Page One)

Continued from Page Onel
The steel corporation through its sub
sidiary company, the Tennessee Coal,
Iron and Railroad company, has done
and will continue to do everything in
its power to develop the river to serve
Birmingham. The port of Birmingham
is owned by Birmingham stockholders
who periodically raised sufficient funds
to make the port reality. The United
States Inland Waterways board is
managing the port at this time, with
advisory board.
How Start Was Make
Birmingham started her career as a
producer Of coal and pig iron. The
former Is here in abundance and the
output this year win be about 22,0O0,-
600 tons, it is believed. Coal mining in
this district is becoming more efficient
every day and as time passes 1t is
believed the production will be even
greater. The relations existing be-
tween employe and employer are whole
some. There have been installed in Bir-
mingham tipples, washers and mining
equipment, second TO none in this c0un
try As an example, the Edgewater OPP
erations of the Tennessee company are
said to be the best in the south and
among the best in America. The pro-
lection given to men who produce the
coal is constantly before the opera
tors and the Joseph A. Holmes safety
council, has no units more active than
those in Birmingham. First aid work
is constantly underway and only re-
Gently field meet was held in Bir-
mingham in which over $50 miners par
ticipated including many women.
The red ore deposits here are prin-
cipally on Red Mountain and it is
stated that man has yet to find place
in the world, where iron or steel can
be made more cheaply than in Bir-
mingham. The close proximity Of the
coal and ore to the plants give Bir-
mingham an exceptional operating adj
vantage.
Still At Ensley
From iron production the district
gradually evolved into the manufac-
ture Of steel at Ensley. 1t was Pasehal
Shook, g. b. Mccormack, James Bow
ron, Erksine Ramsay, III. L. De Bar
deleben (deceased) and associates who
first produced steel at Ensley. The
event was hailed with unmeasured de-
light and much was made over, the
first days run. Later on the plant
was given additions and gradually the
production grew. Not however with
out the trials and travail which go with
all experiments and accomplishment
Now the Ensley steel rail made by the
Bessemer process, with local ore, lime
stone and necessary mixtures, has q
reputation that begins at home and
extends as far as the flowery king
dom of Japan. 1t is Ensley rails over
which the Mikado rides to his summer
palace and over his empire.
There followed the acquisition of the
Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad
company by the steel corporation in
that eventful panic of 190607 Ehen the
late ]. p Morgan asked the late Pres
ident Roosevelt, for permission to take
over the company and end the panic
which had gripped America. The cor
poration officers met George u. Craw'
ford here The train was switched be-
hind the open hearth and maps were
studied for several days. Since that
time the Steel corporation has spent
millions lettering its properties, in
creasing its output, protecting its EN-
plOyes and contributing to the onward
march. 1t is now engaged in the con-
structiOn of several new plants at Fair
tleiQ ana OeSsemeE WHICH Will luEihef
diversity its products.
The progress of coal production and
Of iron and steel making has not gone
ahead alone. The development of coke
making from the old bee hive and
wastefuI process to that of coke pro-
dueed by the Hopper by-product plan,
the creation of fabrieating plants, nut
and bolt works, and other industrial re-
quirements has gone forward close to
the head of the procession.
Coke making in Birmingham has
grown enormously. The Tennessee
company, the Woodward. Semet- Solvay
company, the SlOss Sheffield Steel and
Iron, Republic, the By-products cor
poration of Morris Bush and Horace
Hammond, have paved the way. The