Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-12-28


IF the ores of Buckingham were made use OF,
N m;x with those of the Blue Ridge, the iron
might be reduced in cost, since the transporta-
ton from Buckingham would not exceed one
dollar per ton, or seventy-fve cents less than
the cost from the Valley. But we do not think
the Buckingham ores as rich as those OF Bote-
tourt and Rockbridge; therefore, the difference
in cost would not be material on ton OF IRON
The same nav be said Of the ores OF this re-
zion. If we mix fifty per cent. hematlte with
forty per cent. specular, and thirty per cent
carbonate ores, VIC have an average OF forty
ner cent, ores. which will require two and
half tons to produce one Of metal and
corresponding amount of coke, therefore, we
can use the rich ores Of the mountains, with
about as much economy as we can those OF the
coal region or mixture of the whole At the
first glance, it may appear great distance 10
transnort ore from the mountains to Richmond;
hut when we consider that this ore is remarka-
blv rich, and that it is brought towards the
market instead of from it, we cannot avoid CON-
ing to the most favorable conclusions.
a great many wonderful improvements have
hecn effected in the arts Of mining and manu-
featuring during the last 10 or 20 years, all OF
which might be introduced in new establish
ments with great economy. We have here the
raw material and the best offaciltics for power
and TRANSFORMATION, and there can be no reason
why we cannot manufacturer iron just as cheap
as It is made in any part Of the North, under
the most favorable circumstances. Our OLD
iron masters of the mountains have had large
experience as far as economy is concerned, but
! If the best practical aid is required, there
are hundreds who would be glad to engage
their services at reasonable rates. II we
can make iron here as cheap as it can be made
in other parts of this country, which we can,
with few exceptions, the cost OF transportaa..
ton will be in our favor, which is no small
item. Thus, if we make our iron at an actual
cost Of $l5 per ton, we can afford to sell IL 10
the manufacturers of Richmond for 800 per
ton. which is even lower than the cost of the
most common anthracite iron. Anthracite iron,
delivered in Richmond, ranges from $23 to
| EOS per ton, and charcoal iron from WI 70
1874 per ton. For all common purposes, the
coke iron-which is between the two-is
equally as good as the charcoal, and better
than the anthracite iron. Under such circum.
stances the city of Richmond would have ad-
yantages which no other city in the Union pos
sesses for manufacturing purposes. The coke, IN
the first place. can and may take precedence Of
anthracite, even for foundry purposes, since we
all know that coed coke is better for the cupao
than the former, and it can and should be de,
liyered in Richmond much cheaper than the
Northern coal Our mechanics have room and
facilities, if properly employed and encouraged,
to produce million dollars worth of machinery
and iron work per annu,n, and could increase,
to an almost unlimited extent if provided with
good iron at reasonable rates. They nave
already made good name and opened out
splendid field for their enterprise and industry
in the South, even as far as Brazil. what Is
there then to prevent us from extending our
operations and becoming what We should be,
great manufacturing people? The State has
spent within the last ten years nearly twenty
millions of dollars for railroad iron, and even now
is spending it at the rate of millions for foreign
iron. why cannot money be kept at home
to build up and extend this business' Had
half Of the amount which has been expended
for foreign iron, been paid to our own manu-.
fscturers, or for our own iron, is it not evident
that our manufacturing industry would have
been aourishing ere this' We can mine and