The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-11-15
The Iron Interests.

A very important statement in regard 10
American iron interests comes to lis through |
the London correspondent of the New York |
Times. It is to the effect that the capital |
lists who have been operating the iron bust
ness in England are turning their attention
of a Yorkshire firm of iron-workers have re-
moved their headquarters to the United
States, satisfied that the discovery of iron
ore and coal in this country to the great ex-
tent that has already been ascertained, is
destined to revolutionize the iron trade of
the world. The writer had crossed the At
lantic with a mining engineer who was re-
turning to England with numerous speci-
mems of hematite ore found in Virginia, and
the opinion was expressed that the steel
manufactures OF America were destined
to extinguish English trade with the United
States in that particular department. The
total iron and steel products exported from
Great Britain in 1878, compared with those
exported last year, show a reduction in
value of not less than sG5, 100000, and the
many silent blast furnaces, FORCES, and roll
ling-mills in the Cleveland, Yorkshire, Lam
cashire, Staffordshire, and Welsh districts,
bear melancholy testimony to the apparent
drug of these staple branches. 1t is esti-
mated that in consequence of the unprece-
dented stagnation in the principa. trades OF
Sheffield alone during the past four years,
the migration Of artisans from that town has
reduced the parliamentary list by 5000.
The correspondent continues One OF the
difficulties in regard to the manufacture OF
iron in America has been the wide distance
between the iron and the coal. 10 work
iron proftably, you want your coal for blast
ing close by your iron; and this difficulty is
being overcome in America by recent dis
.eOveries of iron and coal in close proximity.
1t does not alter the situation that the age
of iron is coming to an end by the progress
made in the manufacture of steel; for the
came minerals are required for steel as for
iron. The United States in the past were
the great buyers of everything made out of
iron; while in the present day they are not
only manufacturing for themselves, but they
are finding the raw material at their own
doors. This, coupled with the prohibitory
tariff enforced against English goods in Am
erica, Russia, and other countries, cannot
fail to have a permanent depressing influ-
ence upon English trade. Not that the
English man himself will suffer much. He
will carry his skill, his energy and his
knowledge elsewhere. Depression in Great
Britain means development and prosperity
in new countries.
The fact that English capital and skill
are looking to America fer employment in
the manufacture of iron and steel, leads to
the inquiry-whcrc will they locate? Look
ing at the iron districts of Pennsylvania and
Ohio, we find the furnaces closed, the mills
silent and business suspended, results
brought about by the same causes which
have unsettled and dissatisfied those in
England. The object in changing the
theatre of operation is to secure more remu-
aerativc returns, and it is naturally sug-
gested that they will locate where these
can be the better assured. This conced-
ed, then the future of Virginia is propitious.
There can be no question but that the con-
stituents that enter into the manufacture OF
iron and steel can be found in greater abun-
dance and closer proximity than anywhere
on the globe. Not only in Augusta, Allie
ghany and Highland, but in the adjacent
counties of West Virginia, and also all along
the James River region, the finest ores are
to be found, and recent developments give
the assurance that anthracite coal in album
lant quantity has beer discovered in North
mountain, in Augusta and Rockingham
counties. Information received within the
past few days assures lis that near Rawley
Springs, has been opened what proves to be
continuation of the vein developed at Dora
mines. eighteen miles distant, and that all
the indications go to prove that it is con-
dnuous deposit of fine quality and abundant
quantity of anthracite coal.
While those who profess to understand the
geological evidences which sustain the con-
clusion of the existence of large bodies of
coal, are confident that the North mountain
fields will develop in great quantities. and
wealth, yet the utilization of the iron ores.
about which there is no question, is not en-
tirely dependent upon the realization of the
full expectations in regard to the coal. The
coke, adapted to the same uses, and manu-
factured at LowmOor, ON the Chesapeake
and Ohio road, is equal to any furnished in
Pennsylvania, and therefore the necessary
tnel will rot be wanting, whatever may be
the ultimate development of the coal fields.
Not only this, but the value of the iron
deposits is not confined to the manufacture
OF pig. The shipment of ores to the Ohio
Valley, to feed the furnaces already in ope-
ration there, and which ale supplied, to
great extent, with ores from different mines
at much greater cost than would attend the
supplies from the various fields in Virginia.
must, therefore, be the source of vast reve-
nues, and an element in the progress and
development of the mineral interests of this
section of great Importance
The revival of interest in and attention to
the iron business in Virginia, and especially
this section, must have a good effect upon
the projected lines OF internal improvements,
and especially the Valley road, from Staun-
ton South. It is important that there shall
be competition in freights in order to slim
ulate the operations at the mines. With the
Valley road penetrating to its terminal point,
1t would occasion the development of the
iron beds in the southern part of Augusta
and northern part OF Rockbridge, where vast
quantities of the best quality are known to
exist, Staunton would be the point of COM
petition of freights for the raw material, and
the activity thus created would direct atten-
ton to other enterprises connected with the
iron business, including the establishment OF
furnaces and other industries. g. .4
The movement of English as well as
Northern capital heretofore invested in the
Iron Trade, because of its non productive
ness where now employed, is certain to find
its way to Virginia, when the advantages
here presented are known. The facilities
and proximity to market, the abundance Of
the ores and coal, the comparatively small
most nf livino the cheanuess of labor the