Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1879-12-13
Shenandoah Iron Works.

SCIll(lN Z VI lllC IL Oi w WINS
in Page county, Va, We take from the
Old Commonwealth, of Harrisonburg,
written by the editor after visit 10 that
place:
SHENANDOAH IRON WORKS,
in Page county, but stones throw be-
vond the Rockingham and Just inside of
the Page count, line. These works are
stated TO be located about 22 miles from
this place, but we incline 10 the belief
that % miles would be nearer the mark.
The lands belonging to this property,
we have learned, embrace about $4,000
acres, lying in both Page and Rocking
ham counties, and the quality of iron
ore upon this immense tract or tracts Is
! bcyond computation. Certainly there
is enough TO last for generations, even
if the furnaces were worked continuous
" and without interruption. la fact we
cannot imagine how its value could be
estimated, tor ii appears TO us TO be be
vond limit. From descriptive pamph
lets at hand we learn, that "the large
ore bed in the Blue Ridge, on the East
side of the Shenandoah River, about
a.halt mile mile from the Furnace, has
been worked for more than a quarter of
a century, and yet it would seem that
a mere beginning has been made TO
work up the vast supply Of iron ore
which nature, in spirit of boundless
liberaltv has laNiShed upon THIS spot.
Among the mountains, on the west side
=. H., ,.,;,, &c iron pr. orn
reported at l6 miles long TEcy are
considered to be among the very best
ores in Virginia, aud from them the
best quality Of blooms made in the
United States are produced, the iron
from these works bringing always the
highest price iu the market, because OF
lis excellence.
The capacity OF the furnaces is about
5000 tons OF pig metal annually, and at
the forge about 1900 TO 1000 tons of
blooms. The ore, owing TO the close
proximity aud abundance, is mined
cheaply, and the number of persons en-
ploycd in all the various operations OF
the extensive property is very large,
probably 800 or more. The amount in
vested is between Sj00,0O0 and $780,
600, and the system employed in this
vast industry, is such that at n glance,or
/ in a moment, the cost of everything,
down 10 the most trifiing minutia, is
| readily told, and all balanced to far
thing.
Hon. Wm. Mines, Jr., is the mana
] t,b S.,,,orlnob Irnn ~ prla nrnn
erty, and resides upon 1t. lie is also
| President of the Shenandoah Valley
| Railroad Company, which enterprise hc
is pushing along with al indomitable
will. He is a gentleman of ability aud
energy, and of great beneyoence and
large public spirit Besides he is man
of unq fashionable integrity aud unbcnd-
inc frmness,and any enterprise OF which
he is the head is highly favored in Sc
curing his services. The means oftrans-
portation are so uncertain aud inefficient
from these works that the completion
of the Shenandoah Valley Railroad is
an imperative necessity, and once It's
track reaches that point doubtless tho
capacity Of the works will be enlarged
or new furnaces built, together with adj
ditional forges and possibly rolling mills,
10 make bar iron ready for market. In
the management of this vast business,
Mr. MiIues is ably assisted by Mr.. J. j.
llouck. who is a partner we believe with
him in some parts Of the business, il not
in ALL Rev. ]. L. Deacon pfcsides in
the Office, where he has such assistance
as required from Mr. Mines SOM. Mr..
Johns, fatherin-law Of Doth Mr. Mines
and Mr.. Houck, exercises a sort OF gen.
eral supervision among the stock aud
teamslcrs, and go there when you may,
you will hnd nearly everybody with
work 10 do and busy in his respective
department Mr. Yocum superiniends
the coallng, which is important, for it
requires about $4,000 bushels vi char
coal per week to keep up the fires. They
have their own water works and reser-
voir which supplies the nccessay water
for the use Of the works, and have a ca
pacity six times the requirement.
The Shenandoah Iron Works proper
comprises a considerable village, includ.
ing the mansion houses, store-housc,
parsonage, church, school house, the
dwellings Of the operatives, the build
ings necessary for storage, the numer
/ Gus stables for the stock, etc. a large
congregation always assemblies at the
handsome little church, which has been
erected by the energetic proprietorr,
every Sunday 10 hear the sacred Word
proclaimed, and on Wednesday even.
ings at prayer meetings, and many chill
dren congregate az Sunday school. Rev.
a. Poe Boude is the preaclicrin- charge,
and We are pleased TO say very mach
beloved by his congregation, who sec 10
it that the preacher lacks no earthly
comfort 10 their power TO bestow. To
us the love existing between preacher
and people was one Of the sweetest and
most beautiful things We saw there, and
which manifested itself aud shone ont
respondent upon all occasions. These
are all active, busy people but they
never forget their duty, and The social
character Of each aud all is pleasing aud
delightful. Every one passes for what
he is, and hence every one tries 10 be as
good as he can. When this is the case
in any community there is sure 10 be
a high moral tone prevailing, and We
are pleased To say this is peculiarly the
case at Shenandoah Iron Works. Just
here We may digress 10 repeat our CRATE
iul thanks To Rev. Mr.. Bonde aud bis
ef..l.