Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-03-04
Alexandria as n site to Manufacture
Iron.

We learn upon reliable authority that this
city is attracting the attention Of capitalists as
an eligible locality to manufacture iron in It's
various forms, on account Of proximity to, and
connection by railroad, with the valuable aud
extensive iron ore deposits of Virginia, and
West Virginia-its facilities Of communication
by canal and railroad with the coal region, both
Of Cumberland, and the Kanawha; and the
limestone. essential as Aux in smelling iron
ores, being also Of easy access. All the con-
ditous required to make iron from the crude
material are therefore at hand awaiting only
the construction Of blast furnaces to put the
ball in motion; after these will follow establish
ments to refine and roll iron to supply the great
demand now existing in all parts Of the world
for this most valuable of all the metals used by
mankind The iron interests we're never more
prosperous in the United States than now, and
the consumption of ores by the old established
furnaces in Pennsylvania, and elsewhere, have
been so enormous, and reduced the supply to
such an extent, as to make it difficult to Oh
tain the raw material in sufficient quantities
necessary to maintain their works without in
curing the expense Of transportation from
very distant points 1t is known that the crude
iron ores from Lake Superior and the region
of Lake Champlain, are transported hundreds
of miles by rail to Pittsburg to supply its vast
demand.
Let us see what are the peculiar advantages
of Alexandria in this respect: First as to the
raw material. The recent opening Of the Chesa-
peake and Ohio Railroad puts Alexandria in
communication by railroad directly with the
inexhaustibe supplies of iron ores to be found
along that line west of Stanton, and extending
to the Kanawha Valley. Alexandria possesses,
as is well known, connection also through the
Manassas Branch of the O., A. i NJ. K. K.
with the extensive iron deposits brown hema-
tte) to be found adjacent to that line in War
rem, Shenandoah, Rockingham and other
counties Of the Valley Of Virginia. and recent
examination shows that along the main line of
the Orange and Alexandria Railroad in Allie
marie and Nelson counties, extensive veins OF
magnetic iron ores abound, convenient for
transportation and delivery. The authorities
of the O., a. & NJ R. r. are properly de-
sirous to promote this class of transportation, by
low rates, and secure business to their line. 1t
is believed that these ores can be brought BY
Alexandria, and transported to the furnaces at
Baltimore or Philadelphia, at profit. Why
should not Alexandria then, with all the ad-
vantagcs and facilities of position arrest this
raw material in its transit, save the additional
cost of transportation to other Cities aud IN
crease the wealth of its own community by the
large additional value to be given it by the
manipulations of skilled labour? A blast fur
mace, it is computed, can be put in operation
at cost of less than twenty-five thousand dol
lars and is estimated as furnishing an amount
of business to a community from its operation,
equivalent to an addition Of FIVE thousand In
habitants. The success OF one such establish
meut would assure the erection of more fur
naces enlist investment Of further capital in
the production of iron in our city, and create
results, the importance of which canuot be
overstated, to the general welfare and pros
perity. Iron is now king of the material world,
and those who will most promptly recognize
his supremacy AID sovereignty will best pro,
mote their own interests and prosperity.
Apart from her advantages above cuume-
rated Alexandria is located at the most de-
sirable shipping point upon the Potomac river,
and enjoys the advantages of distributing ton
mage by water, or by means of four different
lines of railway which radiate from it in differ
ent directions. 1t only requires concert Of &C
ton ofits business men, and combination to
moderate extent of the capital and enterprise
already possessed, to place Alexandria with all
these advantages at once upon the highway to
wealth aud prosperity.
I'LL c,noto hoe nassnd the bill for the relief