Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-01-04
IRON AND COAL

The weakness of France, compared with Great
Britain, consists IN its deficiency in iron and coal
but for this deficiency the mechanical development
Of France would have rivalled that Of England, and
besides being the most warlke power on the globe,
France would also have been, like England, the
weathiest. There are few who appreciate the tran
scendent importance which mon has attained to in
modern times. That nation which possesses the
greatest resources for the manufacture of this ma
terial may be said to be the wealthiest and most
powerful. That nation which possesses the largest
quantities of the best iron ore, and the most con-
venient beds of coal suitable for its manufacture
can be safely pronounced the most powerful nation
IN proportion to population. We overestimate the
importance and value Of cotton when give it su-
periority iron and coal. Gold is fourth-rate
commodity in the staples Of country compared
with these black minerals.
The power of Great Britain rests upon her iron
manufactures and coal beds. 1t was her early de-
veOpment of these Incompatible resources which
placed her far in the van of EatIons, in respect
to wealth and political control She could not have
subsidized all Europe for twenty years, and great
portion Of Europe, from tue whereof the memory
of man runneth not to the contrary, but for the
control of capital and trade and the resources Of
profit, which her manufactures gave her; and the
basis of all her manufacturing and mechanical
wealth is that grim substratum of iron and coal.
- The power Of the North rests this day upon its
unparalleled resources in iron and coal II required
many years for the development Of them, during
which period that section remained secondary to
! England in manufactures and commerce. But lat
terly these interests have received most rapid and
prodigious development and to-day the North is
the admitted rival of Great Britain in all depart
ments Of national wealth and power dependent upon
these resources. The danger Of the South from the
North at this moment consists solely in the supe-
rorty of the North over her in its resources of iron
and coal .- ,..a-s .s .- - NJ
IL g in nj 49, o,,J
distinguish the modes in which iron has become
the very sinews of national power and the token of
national wealth. If you wish to find the greatest
and most prosperous cities in the world, look for
those which are most intimately connected with
I iron and coal New York Boston, Philadelphia
Baltimore, Pittsburg, Cincinnati and Richmond are
striking examples upon this continent; London, and
almost every city in Il gland on the other
= The Southern States are in more danger Of ais
| tress this hour from deficiency in iron than in all
other commodities whatever. And yet Virginia and
portions of Tennessee and North Alabama are pecu
liarly prolific Of iron ore. Most of the FORCES in
Virginia afford abundance of the best iron, but
are dependent exclusively upon wood for smelling
| it few years ago, there were fifteen or twenty
| FORCES in full BLAST in the Commonwealth But
they could not be carried on with wood as fuel
| while the prices remained low and of late years.
since the depression of prices all but four five
had ceased to operate. Probably no country in the
world aboundsl so richly in iron as Virginia but
IN large portion of the State the noncontiguty Of
coal, and the necessity of employing wood alone
Agreatly interferes with mining and manufacturing
the metal. .:'s,ta' - '.-f s > ...
Yet there are two regions of country in the South
ern States in which abundant supplies of the species
of coal suitable for the manufacture of iron exist in
positions accessible to beds Of iron ore The safety
of the South requires early steps to be taken by the
Eonfederate GOV erpment to bring the resources of
those districts into requiston. One Of the regions
alluded TO Is the extreme South western corner of
Virginia. embracing the counties of Scott and Lee,
and parts OF Russell and Wise, where there are
klarge beds Of anthracite coal. The other portion
stretches. southwest of this some hundred or more
y miles, reaching into North Alabama. sts q
Until the resources Of the South in iron and coal
are developed, we cannot pretend to. be ciassed
d among the great powers Of the earth Richmond
should box win great care into the subject for her
prospects as firstclass city depest absslutelys-
on their. deyelopement The Confederate govern
ment should look after these interests for the ques-
ton Of Independence may soon become no other
than the question of an abundant supply of iron
and coal.-Richmond Dispatch