Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1853-02-17
Annual


~
1853 I33l4 1900
We estimate the mileage opened the present
year, to be- 3,o75i which certainly is MOI above
the mark. Assuming favorable condition Of
The money market, the mileage opened in 10
81 will be al least , 500 miles On the lsl
day of anuery, 1855, therefore, or a little less
than two years from this time, there will be
10000 miles Of railroad in operation IN the
United States. II The meantime large a
mount of double track Will be lad say from
500 10 1000 mios
Al the present weight used. il requires about
100 600 ions of rails 10 every 900 miles of
new road. Upon all The railroads in the Uni-
ted States, therefore. there will be laid on The
first day Of Jan, 1855. over 2, 100000 tons oil
railroad iron.
But the amount thai goes into rails makes
but small portion Of tie aggregate Tor which
railroads create demand ond consumption
The Consumption conscquen, upon, aud lmmo
dialely following the construction of ltoads
IS probably three times greater than the quinn.
MY used for rail. Should this estimate prove
correct, it will be seen that the dcmandf1r rails
will bear but small proportion to dat for 9th
or objects.
How is this demand 10 be suppledi Large.
~ by our own works, no doubt. We shall a l.
so be compelled To obtain extensive supple
from the foreign mixer.
We state these facts as means offormiug al
correct estimate to the future. From the
data given parties must and will mike such
figures, as will sui themselves, as to the pros
pectlye price Of rails
We presume the make IN tins country, as
well as in great Britain, lbe rapidly ncrras.
ed to supply the immense demand which II
inevitable
The foregoing caculltous arc suggestive of
"A good time coming" TO The IRON interest of
Virginia. Not only for railroad purposes but
foralmost every conceivable object, ofpractcaI
utility and for many Of mere ornament, ron |
has become Indispensable Is it not strange
that with this lmitless demand, SO little, CON |
paratively, should he produced in Virginia
where the ore is 50 abundant. There is scarce.
ly mountain county in Virginia that does not
possess ii in greater or less proportions. We
hope 10 see the production multiplying in cor
respondence with tho increasing demand.
But our particular purpose in publishing the
above article was to call the attention ol the
citizens of Lynchburg TO it, and to suggest the
enterprise of establishing here manufacture
of malleable iron. fit should be though that
the demand for railroad iron would not now
Justify the erection of works for ts fabrication
1t is perfectly certain, that the consumption
created by, and nsequent upon the construc
ton OF three lines of railroad, 10 and from this
city, would give ample employment for at
least one rolling mill of ordinary size. Bun
we are by no means satisfied, that yeiy large
amount of railroad iron will not be required
before our line of railway TO Tennessee is fin.
ished. If we are correctly informed. bur LIT.
tie more than half the quantity required to lay
the single track, TO the slate line, has been pnr.
chased. II this be trne, from SIX 10 seven
thousand tons more must be had for that Oh.
Ject alone. As soon as the single track is in
use, u double track will be more needed than
the single track is now, and very soon there.
after, many lateral roads will be constructed.
from the main line, to the great mineral depos.
it's of South western Virginia and East Ten.
nessee. If we desire to enjoy the advantages
which must flow from producing the iron re
CURED for the railroad between this and Knox.
vile. and the development of industry result.
ing from them, we should step ahead of others
who are already connecting schemes for its
manufacture. Lynchburg has the ono great
essential, capital in abundance, for such an en-
terprise. Will she use il for that object, or will
she continue to furnish capital to the enter
pr'slng people Of other citiesl It is for those
VINO own this capital to decree.
"A correspondent of the Southside Democrat
writing from Washington gives it as the be.
lief there, that Cen