Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1870-10-25
Mount Vernon Iron Works.

We had the pleasure On Friday last of an
interview with Messrs Charles FL. Ashburner
and William Keyser of Baltimore, the former
the President and the latter one Of the Direc-
tors of the Abbott Iron Company, which Com
'pany has for the past years been the owners
of the property formerly known as the Miller
Iron Works, near Meyers Cave.
This Company, by a most liberal outlay
of capital, and vigorous prosecution of the
Iron business at the point named, has done
much to add to the material prosperity of this
and the adjoining county of Rockingham, and
we feel assured that our citizens will rejoice to
know that the damages by the food at the Mt
Vernon Works were not so great as at first re-
ported. These gentlemen, who have just re-
turned from the Forge and Furnace, report
that 5000 to $500 dollars will probably cover
the loss on their buildings and Water Power,
and that 81, 500 would cover the loss of ma
terial
1t seems more than probable, in view of
the generally depressed state Of the Iron BUSH
ness throughout the country, and the difficulty
OF preparing stock, this late in the season,
with which to prosecute their business success
fully during the winter, that the Company may
decide to suspend operations at their Forge for
awhile. Their Furnace, which is working re-
markably well, producing 35 to 40 tons per
week of superior cold blast charcoal pig iron,
will be continued for some months to come.
The exact time at which work will be re-
sumed in full will depend in part upon the con-
struction of the Page Valley r. r.
On gathering from these practical Iron men
some of the statistics touching their operations
at Baltimore, we felt more than ever before
what great future awaits the development of
the mineral resources Of our Valley, and how
important it is that warm cordial greeting
should be extended to those who are able and
willing to bring their capital and experience
here to help US m developing them.
The Abbott Iron Company in their mills at
Baltimore employ 100 men-paying out for
wages in the course of year, the large sum Of
$500. 000-cousuming so. 600 tons of coal and
10000 tons Of pig and other iron-their pro-
duct amounting to S., 500, 900 per anuum, their
S"k'HSAAy USA0S 4cO tOHS VI uEISIeG l1lS Der
day, besides large amount of plate iron. which
is an important branch Of then manufacture,
and into which the Iron made at their works
10 this county enters largely
Staunton, on the completion of our Rail
communications will be most favorable point
for tho manufacture of Railroad and other Iron,
and We hope to see the day when our town
may count within her suburbs a dozen such
concerns as We have referred to. IF this ca n
be made point at which the Kanawha &C al
and our irons shall be brought together, the
future of our Town will be assured.
Mr.. Haynes, the General Mana ger OF the
Mt. Vernon Works, accompanies The two gen
tlemen mentioned to Baltimore, to decide upon
the course to be pursued By Their works in the
future
We cannot afford to lose such concerns as
this and that Of the Shenandoah Iron Works
farther down the River in which Hon. Wm.
Mines is SO largely interested.
Let Us hope that both places may be restored
speedily and continue to add their great inhu-
ence to our industrial interests.