Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-10-15

thus find it will require % 900 tons OF iron per yeel
to keep our roads in operation exclusive OF the COD
structon Of new roads, which should under libere
and enlightened policy, require % O00 more, unit
every part of the State Is opened to enterprise and
| development. In addition TO this, the whole Of The
great Southwest, and much Of the South, could be
supplied with iron from our works; but we do not
wish to base cur estimates on any calculation out
side of the State. On the 10000 tons of iron re-
qured for repairs and construction. by producing il
s2,00OOOU per snnum.
RAILROAD lRON-CAN 1T BE PRODUCED
AT HOME WITH ECONOMY, FOR THE RE-
PAIRS AND CONSTRUCTION OF VIRGIL
MAN ROADS7
In our previous article on this subject we were
forced to break of at the most interesting point but
in looking over that article We are dsplessed at the
word. in which we have expressed ourselves, since
We did not express our convictions as We feel them.
ltappasrs to Us, We ought to convince every man in
Virginia OF the utter folly of draining the State Of its
currency for iron to construct its publo improve
ments, when We hsvea super abundance OF the crude
material on every hand; and, II we could only fnd
language in which 10 convey our conviction; il
could only And argument to illustrate forci-
bly, to the mind, whether practically acquainted with
the matter or not those great facts which stand ou,
plain TO our view. like ourselves, all would ssy"Vir
gnisn iron should make Virglnisn roads," and if our
Legislature would could psss lsw to that effect,
there would be no trouble in putting il into operation
We would coon 6nd the currency which ia now lesv-
ing u.s. arrested. and capital retained at home 10
circulate among US the result Of which every in
tsrest Throughout, the State would feel, in the most
favorable manner. We can complain of the inter-
meddling policy Of Eugaud, or the Northern States,
and yet We do not hesitate to impovsrsh ourselves
of millions. to strengthen the power of our rivsls,
who, more practical than ourselves. and more Gun
ming, too, would persuade us that We had better buy
of them than manufacture; yet 30 would Cur own
| merchants cay to their customers. We can only
compare, however, such Transaction to the idea OF
England going to France for her iron, or the South
going to the North for cotton.
| In our previous article We did not question the
economy as far the difference in cost ia concerned,
of manufacturing our rail road iron at home. We
pnly considered it In practical light, without refer
-nce to cost as we consider it would be practically
o-tter to pay $40 or $50 per ton at home than 40
road iron can be manufactured 10 this State cheap
as foreign iron can be delivered under ordinary or-
cumstances. We can demonstrate that the aotusl
cost per ton would be less at home for Virginia iron
han for that which We import-wilh this important
fact still in our favor that our own iron would be ~,
If not 30 per cent. better than the English; and We
must add, in this connection, also, another evident
conclusion in our favor The manufacturers of Eng-
| land have arrived at that degree of development,
with the assistance Of capital and experience, and
trade of 5000 200 of tons per snnum, beyond which
they cannot advance. They will never be able to
make iron cheaper or cheap as they have made it:
thsir mines becoming deeper and deeper, and the
raw material more expensive to obtain. On the con.
trsry every year. after the commencement would add
| to our facilities and decrease the cost OF our home
manufacturer aud the time would eventually arrive
when We should be able to compete with England On
her own ground, even if labor here should be double
what il ia there, snce tons OF raw material here
would be equal 10 l0 or - tons there, on account
of the great difference in the quality Of the ore.i
consequently, the difference in the cost Of fuel, for
smelling, would be than equal to the difference
in labor; most Of yield So per cent, theirs
only 80 per cent, Of metal Yet, If We never make
commencement we ahal never arrivo at that perfeo.
lion. A beginning Is to be made and the sooner we
make the better and no better opportunity can
offer than now.
Our rail roads will soon want 10000 tons of rail
per annum, to keep them in running order, indepeD
dent of the grsa, quantity that will yet be required
10 complete those which are commenced and project
d., constituting nearly l0OO miles, and requiring moi
esa than 100 900 tons or 10000 tons per if in
shed in ten years time This smount OF iron, O,OOl
.ons will cost but little less than 1000 900 of dollar
per annum, if imported and about the same IT made
at home under experienced management and at prsc'
cal localities But if imported. We must pay the gold
for it, which would be exported, and, therefore. VI
should be minus the amount Of s cost; our circu
ating medium, the true standard OF our available
wealth, would be reduced in proportion. If, on th
contrary. the above amount of iron be made at hon
from our own material and by the labor Of our peo
pe whether native or foreign, If residing in the State
even II costing the same amount more, wealth
would not be decreased, since the nancy would et
circulate at home among our people, just the same
If IL were never used for the purpose designated
while the facilities rendered by our roads and i'm
provemens, would be even greater than they can b
or are under the expectation Of currency for tn
same purpose If it s constitutional for the State
construct public improvements, in the shape of ra
roads aud canals for the development of her ntern'
resources, as we'll as her external trade. we osnuo
see Why 1t should not be constitutional as well q
practical for her TO furnish the mstera for their
strucon. II she buys the material ont Of the State.
certainly impoverishes the State to the amount pai'
hut if she makes the material or buys IL at home,
would neither impov erish the State nor diminish be
+ ability to buy or 70 make more.
There are several available localities in Virgini
where iron can be made with economy. and where
would be convenient for use. We shall not for tn
present, auds to the West or the Northwest. zinc
neither of those regions would be available for tn
rail roads of the east or the South. West, to whc
| our attention is now directed.
The best location, under present circumstances,
Central" where the Virginia and Tennessee Raj
road crosses the New River. First, because h
actual cost of Transporting iron from Norfolk to h
r point, for our South Western roads, would be owe
{ Eve dollars per ton. Secondly because here prt
visions and sl the nece.saries of life, for men an
e stock, are chesp and plentiful. Thirdly. here "
: 6nd all the raw matsrial-ores coal and Limestone
for the production of iron, rich, plentiful and in co
g proximity to each other. And. fourthly. ne ha'
8 here an abundant and eminsnty available vat
g power. We cannot now 60 into all the details
iron manufacturing, or comparison OF the cost b.
h twesn this and the Northern and English manufs
lures, but We can say that other locality presen
e greater advantages. At Central between Eve ar
n six toms Of raw material will produce ton Of p
!. iron while the average quantity of raw materi
used in England is not less than ten tons and is fir
b quently eleven and twelve tons. The iron orss
the New Rver will yisld fifty per cent of metal c
an average, while the English ores do not yield mo
/ than thirty per cent, and frequently not mo-
q than twenty Ave; consequently more coal and lin