The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-06-23
RAILWAY VISIT
 BELIEVED SIGN
 OF DEVELOPMENT
Far Reaching Effects May Grow Out Of
 Frisco Inspection

Visit of four Frisco railroad chiefs here during the past week was a propitious one for the district. Osten- sibly it turned out to- fulfill the an nounced mission, the purpose of form ing personal contacts with industrial leaders, but it is intimated that it will mean far more than that in the future.
 Such tour of the moguls of the road might not be considered unusual since the new yards of the road in East Thomas have only recently been com pleted, but in view of the fact that the visit comes two weeks following one by H. E. Hutchinson, vice president in charge of operations, and immediately upon the return of the general manager of this division from an inspection trip through the southeastern territory, it is believed to mean something more than a friendly call"
 Information collected by these six men will mean some radical develop ments by the line in this district, it is said by we'll posted observers. It is further averred that a plan is under way whereby the Frisco will obtain a route placing them in direct touch with the coast.
 However, nothing of exceptional na- ture is predicted in the very close fu- ture. Officials state that like all other big business the road is moving for ward cautiously in this, the ''presid@u- tial year." Business conditions 2 held to be fundamentally sound, but | under the wet blanket of political af- fairs and the rankings left by Con- gress, it is said, doubtful whether any really big projects will be launched before 1925. Earnings of the road are stated to rank fairly close up to last years figures.
 Labor Situation
 Characteristics of general business are reflected in part in the district The employment situation lis not alto gether noteworthy but outside labor will absorb most of the surplus arising in this district. Steady progression of building activities here will counter act much of the effect which might be caused in the curtailment of operations by some plants.
 Some increase in inquiries is found in the pig iron market, although this is said to be scarcely large enough to cause producers to deviate from their plans which schedule the blowing out of few more furnaces. So far but two have been forced into idleness by the antipathy of the market and this is considered remarkable in the light of the rather widespread effect the slump in prices and demand has caused throughout the north.
 Little improvement is in evidence in coal production, although opera tors are confidently expecting some new busi- ness around the corner" Whatever depression has accumulated in this in- dustrial phase will be blasted in short order by the approach of the fall months.
 Structural steel plants are held at a good pace of activity due largely to the building programs mapped out in various southern states. Orders are apparently taking good care of the coke productions with an amount of tonnage still to be filled on old contracts.
 The real estate market in Birming- ham continues to act regardless of all past precedent. Usually the summer season means practically cessation of selling but at present, with June well advanced, little dullness has crept into the picture. Operators admit that trade has slackened slightly from the peak months of April and May, but there is, nevertheless, belief that ac- tivity is going to continue in a fairly strenuous fashion through the sum mer and make the year record-mak- CT for the business.
 During the week nearly half a mill lion dollars worth of sales were re- ported and although this does not mean that the period so saw the completion of all these trades, they were closed with in the comparative short period of about three weeks.
 There is also, according to traders, still some live fire works to come.
 Put A little salt in the water when