The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-05-02
THE DISPATCH !.
MONDAY MoRNrNe ..,.a.... ............MAY .. lsss.

MONDAY MoRNINo.~....... .........MAY :. isos.
Tnr NEW IRON FURNACES AT wEsrHAM.
pur,us ne pAst two monshs, active operations
have been Ia progress AZ wessham, on the 'ine o.
the J. n. q K Canal, Ave miles above Riehmona'
IA the srscs,oa Of extensive iron works, tor tne
purpose OF smelling the iron ores OF tne 's'"e'
River. With coal nom oar Richmond Geld.
Messrv. Jordan, VIM 4 Co, the enterpris'ne
~.,t,.r,en Who are thus the nrst TO commence .
rsv ara On the development Of virginia's wealth,
h.va ,urchssed a desirable and most available ste
ana vatsr mower from the Canal Company, woicn
cannot oe excelled, II equaiied, In natural sdvsn'
70 facilitate this great and worthy enterprise
A large force OF laborcrs, miners, maaons, stone
cutters &C., ere employed at the furnace site ana
on the line Of the canal, 10 erecting the works ~
Westhau, aud In raisipg ore at various porn"
nloue the navigation. Many new and exhaus"sss
deoosits Of rich and valuable ores have been ae'e,
oped iu Fiuvanna, Buckingham, Amherst be",o'o'
Rockbridee and other counties on the wafer nus
all Of which can be brought to the Guy VI s"oee
furnaces Ia the most available manner. oo.'se.
b.. 49, .c,.raa into With Gen. J. j. Werth, Agent
,f,n. c.,hon Hi, Coal Mines, for 500 tons OF coal
..r -.sh ON The most liberal terms. This coal has
h.cn ,horoushly proved by practical results, to De
N. he~t ookeine coal In this country, and 10 saio
To be emIuently adapted for the production OF pig
metal.
The Mes,rs. Jordan, VIM Co., expect to blow
In their ret furnace 10 october next, aud propose
10 makea considerable quantity of iron this year,
or at the rate of 200 tons per week. THIS furnace
will be 10 feet 10 diameter at the bosh, and about
30 feet high and will b built the most approved
plans now in uss 10 this country or in Europe.
westham was the site Of the old State arsenal or
magazine, which wss destroyed by the traitor Ar
mold 10 1881, together with large number OF cam
non and other munitions Of war. The cannon foun'
dry and the arsenal, or armory for the production
of small arms, were demolished, aud since, nothing
bat email brick magazine remains to identity the
place, though many cannon balls and other reiic'
of the manufacturing skill Of our ancestors, may
stu be found at Wessham. We hope, however
Westham will again raise like the Pbeuix from
her ashes and the fires Of Vulcan again cast Their
lurid glare ovsr-the roaring and mighty waters o.
onr neb,e Povhatan, which shall initiate q new
spirit OF industry and enterprise. to our citizens
and wake mp Richmond to her true position
amongst the foremost cities of the Union. II viii
help to bring out the vast mineral wealth OF ouI
stats. and we hope be the means Of advancing our
long deferred hope Of connecting the Underwater
cities with the incomprshensible and unlimited
West, the only speedy and certain way OF real
izing the most sanguine anticipation Of the mos
enthusiastic lover Of his country.
Col. B. J. Jordan and s. H. De Bow, Jr., the En-
sineer and Geologist, are the parties In charge o
the erection Of these works, and to those gentlemen
are due the merits of initiating this new enterprise
which we may truly say, is big with greater i'm
portance TO the city Of Richmond and the best in
tsresss Of Virginia, than any event which ha
trsnspired for Q long period.