The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-04-15
Citizens Meeting.
REPORTS OF THE COMMITTEES.
REMARKS OF MAI. HorcHKIss.

REMARKS OF MAI. HOTCHKISS.
An adjourned meeting of the citizens, for the
purpose of taking such steps as might be advi-
sable for the establishment OF manufacturing
enterprises in Stanton, was held in the Town
Hall on last Thursday night.
On motion of Col. Hartman, Hon. N. K.
Trout was called to the chair and the editors
of the city papers present, requested to act as
Secretaries.
The meeting being called to order, Judge
Sheffey read the report Of the committee ap-
pointed to ascertain the probable cost OF the
erection of blast furnace, &C., which was as
follows:
SrAUNToN, VIRGINIA,
April s, 1875.
The committee appointed under Resoln-
ton I, adopted by meeting held to organize
manufacturing enterprises in the city OF Staun-
ton, respectfully report
That they have examined with care the adj
vantages presented by Staunton for the To-
cation and profit ,ble operation 'of blast fur
mace, for the manufacture of iron; the pro5a-
BILE cost of the same, and the probable number
Of operatives to whom it would give employ
ment.''
1t is well understood that four essentials de-
termne the practicability, cost, and profit OF
iron production They are ::
LIST. Ores-quality and cost
2nd. FluX- y s s.
3rd. Fuel g - IS
4t,. Labor and incidentals,
Transportation is embraced under each Of
these headings, and is generally tie most inn
portant consi. Grafton Of all.
Let us consider Staunton with reference to
these essentials.
= 1nAr ,.,,:,
this part of their nquirics,y otlr committee have
been favored with access to the analyses and
books Of several of the furnaces now in opera
ton Oh the line of the Chesapeake and Ohio Rail
Road, not far from Staunton.
The iron ores within easy and cheap access
OF Staunton are the spccular and hematities Of
Augusta county; the magnetites east OF the
Blue Ridge, and the hematites and fossil ore:
of Allegheny county. These ores range from
up to IS per cent metallic iron with traces OF
phosphorus occasionally rising to one-half Of
one per cent in the richer fossils and hena-
tites.
The Quinnimont Furnace, in Fayette county,
West Virginia, 1855 miles west of Staunton.
works prsiitably ores hauled OH rail from Fish
ersville, 6 miles east Of Staunton and from
Waynesboro u miles east OF Staunton. Beyond
Staunton the nearest ores to Quiilnimont, wiz
Clifton Forge and I4owmoor) are still &C miles
nearer to Staunton than to Quinnimoiit.. The
Importance of this advantage i'll location will
be better understood from the statement that q
tons OF raw ore and about ton Of limestone are
transported to Quinnimont, to make there l
ton Of iron from l-5 to l ID tons OF coke. AT
Staunton but 2-10 to - tons Of coke would
be transported to the ore AID limestone
The ores referred to, thus far, lie on CT near
the line OF the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad,
including III addition to the ores east of Staun-
ton, the we'll known Elizabeth, Esteline, Pam
ther Gap, Wilson and Preston and other Rock
bridge and Bath ores west. But ores equally
valuable and probably i'll greater abundance,
lie upon the slopes of the Valley railroad loca-
ted upon both sides Of Staunton and within a
radius OF Is mi1es.f
Nearly all Of the ores mentioned upon both
lines have been we'll tested for all grades OF
iron-gun, foundry and forge. With proper Sc
lect!ons and mixtures, these ores yield the
best OF iron; and your committee have no real
son to doubt that good steel irons may be made
from the magnetic and specular ores referred
to- not to mention others which are nearer to
Staunton than any other industrial centres. In
addition to the statement already made, that
the Fishersville ores are hauled by Staunton l75
miles westward to Quinnimont, it may be no.
ted that they are also transportt d over lao miles
eastward to the Powhlttan Furnace ne:
Richmond. 8
The cost OF ores along the line OF the Chesa.
peake and Ohio railroad shipped to- the QUINN,
mont furnace i'll no case exceeds 80 per ton
OF 2240 pounds, delivered on cars, and some
deliveries are made as low as Is cents to 81 OF
on cars. The same ores can be delivered al
present prices in q furnace stock house in
staunten at froal sl,25 TO 80 per ton Ct 224(
pounds.