The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-13

B Ahe greater the quantity ana variety OI home-manufactured products the more gen. eral will be the tradeat-home practice. It has been only few years since a large per centage of the people of Birmingham did much of their trading elsewhere. Many com plaints were made of this practice, and time and again there were campaigns to encourage its abandonment. Some justified or excused their outside trading on the ground that the local market frequently could not supply their needs. This was gradually remedied by the increase in variety of stocks carried by local merchants until Birmingham established a reputation as q satisfactory shopping point not only for residents, but for an extensive and steadily expanding outside area.
 Not only as a distributing point has Bir- mingham made notable progress; but within the last few years it has become a center of diversified industry. For many years pro- duction of raw materials constituted the chief industrial activities of this district. Millions of tons of basic products were sent away to be turned into finished products to come back later to the markets of this terri tory at high transportation rates both ways and at large distribution costs There was much talk of keeping this money at home through the establishment of diversified in dustries to use local raw materials. No body doubted the wisdom and opportunities. But the process was slow, and not until recent years did the finished-products and by-prOducts opportunities begin to be utilized. ysNow this district is making notable prog ress in the field of diversified manufacturing, and promises to become one of the largest centers of the country in quality and variety of finished products. A recent careful sur vey by the Chamber of Commerce disclosed that Birmingham has 563 manufacturing en- terprises an increase of 266 over the census of 1921, little short of one hundred per cent. There are 239 mining enterprises as com pared with 145 three years ago. In the va rious plants 1,64O products of widely varied character are manufactured They range from powder puffs for women to heavy cast ings and machinery. Diverse household ar ticles are included in this vast scope of man. ufacturing. New plants to turn out addi- tional products are constantly being estab- lished.
 The average Birmingham citizen would be surprised to read the list of different things manufactured in this district. They in- clude even kites, toys, airplanes, sporting goods, and many kinds of relishes dressings paints, varnishings and chemicals Not only does this expansion in diversified products : crcdLe duulJIOHdl ueIlstnu IOr ulHHy DdSlc terials and by-products of the district, and thereby increase employment and pay rolls, but they afford large economies in transpor- tation and distribution costs open new mar kets for Birmingham goods and bring much outside money to this community. They make possible a big favorable balance of trade, which, after all. is the foundation of progress and prosperity.
 aufo al early future operations. One large manufac- turing industry frequently makes possible sev- eral smaller ones which utilize the larger plants products or wastes as materials. Eventually, and at no distant day, the Bir- mingham district will be one of the world 8 notable centers of diversified industries. The materials, labor conditions. marketing terri tory, transportation facilities and all the opportunities are here in abundant and in viting assembly, only awaiting proper grasp of local and outside enterprise.