Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-04-27
THE SOUTH TO BECOME THE
IL IRON MART OF THE
WORLD.

AD
GREAT IRON MART OF THE
WORLD.
Commenting on the recent shipments
to England of Alabama and Georgia
pig-iron, adverted to in these columns
over q week ago, the United States
Economist says it has been the opinion
Of American iron masters fCr some
time past that iron ore was destined to
become n important article Of COM
rec between the United States and
G.eat Britain. This view was based
on the superior mineral wealth Of this
country, and also on the surface
character Of the ores, which
requires comparatively little mining.
But the shipments from Rome,
Ga, indicate that the time has
come a little sooner, and ina somewhat
different shape than was expected. It
viii be found on examination, however,
that the shipments are from the short
est or most direct line from the area Of
production. At present transportation
from the Pennsylvania iron fields Is too
much IN the hands Of mOnopohsts, and
is too costly TO permit 1t TO be seriously
thought Of. The remarks of the Econ.
oalist upon the important results fore
Swallowed by this initial movement, are
50 apt and just that we trauscribe them
entire:
The shipments already made consist
Of ni- non from Alabama and Georgia,
constituting a portion Of what is prob
ably the cheapest and richest mineral
deposits IN the world. From
Tennessee t. Alabama iron ore
may be obtained with comparative
II little labor and capital, and the only
wonder IS that the attention Of capital
ISIS had not long since been directed 10
*. But the country was almost sealed
NJ to enterprise before the war, and 1t
is only since the recovery Of produce
that it, importance has been fully de-
manstrated. 1t may not be generally
known that during the last few years
large amounts Of Northern capital,
and tine largest proportion from this
-ity. have been invested IN Southwest
- mines. In this connection we may
mention the names Of Moses Taylor,
VIM. B. Astor, John Jacob AstOr,
Thomas Dickson, AID Leroy Cannon
amoug the heaviest investors. Proba-
bly, suII larger investments have been
made on account Of English capitalists.
The merchants and capitalists who
invested their money IA these under
takings did not intend that II should
De Idle, and It is not improbable that
the shipments of iron above alluded to
NAV be the first fruits of the far great
eli tide that Is to come. Once establish
the tact that raw iron can be produced
IN this country as CEgaply rs 1t can be
produced In England, and we shall see
the mineral regions Of the Southwest
converted into the centres Of IN
dustry.
But, apart even from all considera-
lions Of rivalry with England, we still
have IN the mineral resources Of the
Southwest the bases of most flourish
ing industries, and of a mighty com
merce. On the Kanawha mountains,
on the line Of the Chesapeake and Ohio
railroad, the iron ore may be detached
by c.owbars, and placed on the rail
road cars for transportation. 10 Is
nearly the same in the long mineral
belt, extending through Tennessee be-
yOnd Chattanooga mountains to the
southern spur of the A~lleghanics.
The supply seems well-nigh ~incXhaUsU-
ible. 1t will be hundreds of years be-
fore It viii become necessary TO resort
to the deep mining the same as IN Eng
land. With such advantages the
United States should become the chief
iron producing country IN the world.
/. All that Is required to accomplish this
destiny Is the removal Of the burdens
on labor which render this the dearest
producing country in the world.
with a moderately liberal commercial
policy on the part Of Congress, we
should soon recover the markets IL
South and Central America, and also
in the West Indies.
1t only remains TO notice the faclL-
ties for transportation between the
Southwestern coal and iron fields and
the seabcard. The Chesapeake and
Ohio Railroad viii be completed TO
Norfolk within a short time, thus af-
f5rGing q magnificent outlet for the
mineral resources Of the Virginias. In
Tennessee and the States further south
the existing facilities are ample, and
viii become still more So on the COM
pletioE Of Capt. Fades jetty improve
ments at the mouth Of the Mississippi.
IN this view Charleston, Savannah, |
New Orleans, and even st. Louis viii
become, if there is any truth in the al
legged economic relations between pro-
Cucers and consumers, the Southwest
seems destined, at no distant period, |
10 res0und to the hum Of important IN,
dUstrIes.