Carson daily appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1873-1877, 1873-09-20
ENGLISH AND AMERICAN IRON
PRODUCTION.

As pertinent to the consideration
of the probable diversion of ad'
ditional capitol toward the direction
of the iron interests of the United
States las consequence of the dis.
covery that our factors, even in the
present comparatively crude condi
ton of their facilities for making
iron goods can successfully compete
with the great English factories we
reproduce the following from the
New York Tribune of Sept 10:
The British Iron and Steel Institute.
an association of iron makers, furnace
men, and inventors, of which Mr.. Bes-
semer is an officer and ex-President, and
which is now presided over by Mr.. ].
Lothian Beel, held its last annual meet
ing ut Liege, in Belgium, and the de-
tailed reports Of its proceedings show
that there is an unusual interest in the
iron industry at this time. 1t is an IN
rovation for SO influential and dignited
body to convene in foreign territory;
but it is even more significant to find in
the proceedings that an invitation from
the American Iron and Steele Institute,
through its President, to hold its next
annual session (l874) in Philadelphia
has been accepted. 1t must be obvious
to the dullest that, by some cause or
other, America is becoming one of the
great iron-making powers of the world.
We trust that when this assemblage
meets in Philadelphia and is comparing
notes with our own iron-makers there
NAV result q mutual benefit from the
communion. England is ransacking the
hills of Spain, Norway and Sweden for
ores. to be carried to the furnaces on the
Tyne, Tees, and Clyde, exporting the
rolled iron to all parts OF the world in
some cases to be laid over ore beds and
coal mines richer than her own. She
seems likely to lose some Of her advan-
tages in cheap labor, perhaps forever.
Dear fuel and dear iron in England give
America an opportunity we never have
yet had. Cheap capitol we have not;
but the bounty of nature has SO placed
our ore beds and coal mines that they
are easier got at, and more cheaply
brought one to the other than those OF
England. Now, why would it not be
well to call the attention of these Eng
lish workers in iron to the immense ad-
yantages Of our natural resources III raw
materials, with a view to transfer OF
part of their capitol to our more promis-
ing fields? Labor will be snre to fellow
capitol. In New-York State, Pennsylva-
MIA, Virginia, West Virginia, Ken
lucky, Missouri, Michigan and New
jersey are vast deposits of iron ores.
In most of these States coal IS
also to be found near the ore.
In Virginia and West Virginia, there is
trustworthy evidence that there are on
one flank Of the AIeghanies deposits OF
iron ore rising into cliffs rs feet high,
easily loaded into cars while on the
other flank. in the Kanawha Valley, are
the richest coal seams in the world, en-
bracing varieties of fuel, one of which
can be used in the furnace IN Its raw
state. while the others are serviceable
for steam-generation. gas, and genera
purposes. These ore beds are now con
nected by the Chesapeake and Ohio
Railroad. line of low grades, and ad-
mirably fitted for large mineral traffic,
commanding as it does both Eastern and
w eSlGTE LudIhclS. "A tAOuooAA
might safely be erected along the west
ernmost 300 miles of this road without
fear of successful competition by either
foreign or domestic makers. Ut the
dozen now at work along the road nearly
all are charging; three new ones are
going up, and sites for others have been
chosen. Over 10000 acres of ore lands
have changed hands within a few
months and of coal lands, further west,
over 14O, 600 acres have changed owners ;
nearly dozen new mines being started
or contemplated in this coal field alone.
These are but slight indications of the
great stimulating wave which is about
to expand our mineral and mining in
terests immensely.
The great questions engaging the at
tention of the British and Belgian oper-
ators seem to be, Where to find cheaper
raw materials ;>and how to work them
up cheaper than at present." We in
America can point, next year, triumph |
antly to our hills and to the fertile fields |
of the Great West beyond, and say to
these capitalists, There IRE your ever
lasting storehouses of ores and fuel and
there are the ever teeming granaries of |
food plant here your furnaces. mills,
and FORCES we will pay you well for the |