Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-12-11

DY IL. Inc L. w. ~ ID. running SOUTH
is in close proximity to the neutral Identities
By these roads, we are placed in easy and
cheap communication with a large variety OF
ores, and every grade OF limestone, and large
deposits Of kaolin are thus furnished outlet to
tide water to meet the Woodbridge clays of New
Jersey, which, properly mixed form the finest
material for fire brick for furnace purposes.
Our river, whitened with the sails OF returning
coal vessels, places us in cheap communication
with all navigable points, North and South,
bearing to our wharves the hematites OF the
South, containing 10 to 10 per cent. more OF
iron than the same character Of ores from our
inland regions
The oxides and magnatites from North Caro-
lima exist in endless varieties, and rival the
famed ores of Ohamplan and Superior. These,
with the ores of Lake Ohamplain, Adirondack and
Northern New Jersey, are within easy reach OF
tide-water, aud can be conveyed to us at such
low rates as will always insure our receiving
those developed along the lines Of our three
railroads mentioned upon very reasonable terms.
With the more extensive use OF steam colliers.
the prospect Of continuance of low rates of
freight is tiattering. By them we may draw our
supply from the South Atlantic aud Gulf State
which, as we have stated, abound in ores of an
endless variety and Of superior quality. These
coiers will seek the ore for return freight, in
stead of coming back in water ballast, as now
provided our receiving grounds at our furnaces
are conviently situated upon the shores OF the
| main artery Of commercial traffic.
With these extensive fields to draw from, the
may bbloCt buCn ores ms Will
| the minimum amount of lux, effecting saving
| Of one-haf the limestone, or other lux, used,
| and insuring, AZ the product OF the furnace, No.
/ foundry iron.
With such facilities of transportation, located,
as suggested on the banks of the Delaware (the
natural terminus of inland Railroads) our
ores will be delivered to us at from 81 TO 50 per
ton less than inland furnaces now command like
Qualities for which would insure to a moderate
| sized furnace, averaging yield Of 200 tons per
vino of frOm %D1 flDO tn E6O OOO
| year, being good interest on your Investment.
| Ii desiring to make forge irons, the tap cinder
| and scale from your rolling mills would furnish
one-fourth ihe stock requisite. The savings
thereby effected would Justify the starting OF
Properly located, the Stag which has become
| a serious expense to many furnaces to find de-
posit for, would command premium here to
| reclaim the hundreds OF acres of low land
surrounding our CITY, We already consume
foundry iron sufficient to use the yield of large
| furnace and by the time they could be con-
structed the requirements OF the mills would
exceed the product of three large furnaces.
Looking across the ocean, we hnd those To-
cations commanding communication with it,
without breaking bulk, are now proftably draw
| ing their supplies from the distant shores of
| Spain and Africa. Ores frem Africa have, with
| in a few days, been offered delivered in Pitts
| burg, at less cost per cent. of yield than Lake
| Superior ores. upon which they largely rely.
| These, of COURSE could be put upon our wharyes
| at a much less rate.
/ With the wonderful developments Of new ore
fields in this country, old localities which were
/ formerly unsurpassed, are now superseded by
those commanding the best facilities OF trans
| portaton. New manufacturing centres are
| now established upon tide water, and in less
| than another decade the inland furnaces will be
excelled by those more favorably situated in the
/ midst of the market upon the shores of our
| rivers. With the depletion of coal aud ores and
| the advance OF labor abroad, the manufacturing
Al..a
/ country to meet the demands. With a growing
scarcity Of timber, iron and steel are entering
| largely into everything. With 10000 miles Of
| railway to be maintained and 5000 miles annu-
| ally building, and in the structure OF bridges,
| buildings. ocean and other steamers, barges,
boats, aud endless smaller articles, its use is
| daily increasing.
The stock of raw irons is uncomfortable the
| world over, and though the statistical reports
| of the last decade, show an increase in the Uni
tedBtates in the manufacture Of pig iron, for
| last year over that OF the first, of one and a
quarter million Of TONS we still do not furnish
| sufficient for our own demands. 1t takes long
time to build modern furnace, open mines and
deliver materials, and though those now build
ing will as estimated, increase our yield 100000
tons yearly, the increase of consumption will
more than keep pace with the supplies.
The localities naturally adapted to the bust
ness are comparatively few the capital required
ia very great, and to be successful, we must put
ourselves in position to make as good an arti-
Gle, and sell as cheaply, as any other can or will
With a central situation upon the great distribu-
ting and receiving avenues (Which can never
be controlled by one monopoly commanding
| every variety of coal, ore and limestone, with
both natural and artificial advantages in a
marked degree with q healthy locality, cheap
| provisions, abundance of labor, growing mar
| ket wonderful facilities of transportation an6
with unlimited supplies Of every variety, naughi
but practical skill combined with energetic cap
ital are required to make the business eminently
successful and the city of Wilmington, one OF
the greatest furnace centres of our country.
Upon the conclusion of Mr.. Sellers remarks
the Chairman invited those present to join il
the discussion of the subject. Mr.. Geo. G. Lob
ds was particularly called upon.
Mr. Lobdell, Tin this and subsequent remarks,
l said he would take stock in the right kind of I
furnace it would take $250,000 to built
and provide working capital he had no douo'
of the availability of this location for fur
mace; in reference to the ores OF North Car
olina, of which he might be expected to speak
they were very abundant, and very free from
both sulphur and phosphosrus, high.
matter in the manufacture of steel. He though
= the time not far distant when this region woul
4 be largely supplied by North Carolina ores.
Mr.. Sellers said that in recent visit t
4 | North Carolina. after consultation with tn
railroad officials, he concluded that they woul
carry ores at 4 cents per ton per mile by thl
o carriage by rail- very large region Of ores coul
be opened, and the product delivered at Newbern
u Norfolk, or Richmond From these ports freight
lle can be had cheapy-Richmond $3.50 a ton
70 Norfolk, probably as low as 81. This will plaC
I ores here at rates cheaper than the interior fu
D. nances are obliged to pay. North Carolina ore
J. will mostly yield 10 per cent. of metal; Penn
u hematites will not average over 40.
10 MIR. Lobdell said we have choice Of coal
ia here at Wilmington; we may get supplies frol
81 the LehIgh, Schuylkill. Broad Top, or Cumbe
70 land regions, (some one also suggested Il
O. Richmond, Va, mInes) at equally low rate
g. He thought II question whether bituminoI
d. coal was not best for iron smelling.
After these remarks, the thanks of the Boa
al were returned to Mr.. Sellers for his Address, ar
T. a copy requested for publication.
le on moIion of Mr.. Stone, George g. Lobde
D. George r. Townsend, and L. T. Warner, il
n. were appointed a Committee to press forwal
IN the erection of furnace in Wilmington.
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