Last month the U.S. steel industry turned out more steel than ever before in its history some 6,460,000 tons, up 10% from preceding month, far above the 5,920,000 tons produced in 1929's best month. It was not enough. With defense orders piling up faster than the steel could be made, the need for expansion in basic steel capacity was obvious. Biggest expansion news last week came not from steel headquarters in Pittsburgh, but from Birmingham, Ala. There, Tennessee Coal, Iron & Railroad will spend $20-25,000,000 for new capacity.
Birmingham is almost a T. C. I. creation. When General Sherman marched...