Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1850-05-23
AMERICAN AND ENGLISH IRON

We would call the attention of our readers 10
The article from "'rhe Rail Road Journal Of
18th. May, 1850, on the iron manufactures in
Pittsburgh If the iron for the Virginia and Ten
nesSee Rail Road Company, had been manufac.
tured at tins place-as in our humble opinion il
should have been-it would in all probability,
have formed the foundation upon which in a
few years very extensive business would have
been erected The blast furnaces, which would
have been built in Montgomery, Pulaski, Wythc,
Smyth and Washington, would, in few wears,
have equaled IN number and Importance those
OF CLARION, Venango, Mercer and Butler counties.
IN northern and western Pennsylvania. Twenty
years ago. Pittsburgh had but ono Rolling Mill /;
she has now thirteen, consuming annually, with
those in the immediate vicinity, 10000 tons of
pig iron, and adding five millions per annum TO
the trade of that city.
II Lynchburg could enlarge her business one
quarter OF one million annually for the next four
years, Qhls much the manufacture OF the iron
here Tor our Rail Road would surely have done J
would II not have greatly relieved our citizens in
the accomplishment of the great enterprise in
which they have embarked, with Eberai,y unSur-
passed by any town in the Union with the same or
any thing like the same amount of population =
NhIle we will ever commend, IN the highest
terms, the noble and enlightened generosity
winch prompted our citizens TO make the efforts
they have made, to secure the construction of the
Virginia and Tennessee Rail Road and while
we would not be understood as complaining ofthe
decision Of our Board of intelligent and excellent
Rall Road Directors made at their last meeting
TO purchase part of the iron for the road from
England, we cannot, as the conductors of press
devoted TO the development of all the sources Of
latent wealth with which our country obounds,
torbear from placing before our readers such facts
as come TO our knowledge, and which, in our
opinion tend directly TO sustain the views always
maintained by Us and by all the advocates Of the
rail road that II shouH be Iirgiaid road, naade
mHh Virginia tabGr and capitaI and om of FIR
ginid MATERIAL We cannot consent to lose sight
OF this great object for any mere temporary adj
vantage, either to save few dollars or to please
any person, however much he may deserve our
respect and confidence as an enlightened and
public spirited citizen.
The following is the article we have alluded to:
IRON MANUFACTUkE IN PITTSBURGH.
The Pittsburgh Board of Trade in circular recently
issued by it, states that in that city and lis immediate vi
ctny there thirteen rolling mills, beside five
others within the compass of fifty miles the actual pro-
duct Of which, is. say 10000 tons Maeable iron metal
yielding say with III labor employed, about 100000
per anaum. There also sixty loundncs and engine
shops, consuming some 20 900 tons pig metal and
Yielding, with The labor employed, about $4,000 0OO.-
18th great many glass factories there also six large
cotton laclofes together with other kinds OF manuacu
rlng establishments In this city, producing articles Of
not less than $1,000 600 more. which with say 5000
900 annually paid for labor in the establishments will
. make $4,000 900 The number Of blast furnaces in
Clarion, Venango Mercer Butler, and other counties in
northern and western Pennsylvania is one hundred
and fifty. sending 10 his market about one hundred
thousand tons Of metal and valued between Two AMI three
m Hons Of dollars.
There is now annually exported r. the counties oil
W esmoreland, Faselte and Washnnton on the Monon-
gahela Improvement, about 5000 900 bushels of coal
producing in all about 100000 There are also about
IL 000 900 bushels annually consumed in our manufacu
ring establishments in this city and vicinity, valued at
bout half million Of dollars, and all dependent upon the
Pittsburgh banks for their accommodations To sum IN
the WHOLE the increase Of business in all the various
branches within the past ten years. has been less Than
800 per cent and depends upon banking capital of less
than three millions of dollars, when in 1888 the banking
capital and circulation were near eight Millions and
then considered sufficient for the actual business OIL