The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-08-16
THE IRON INTEREST.
Advance I'm the Price OF the Raw
80 Material.

t-ss MAIcff0f.
THE TREDEGAR. GETTING UNDER WEIGH
AGAIN-coNTRhCT FOR BUILDING ONE
| HUNDRED BoE-CARs-A CONyALESCING
PATIENT-ExTRAoEDIN DEMAND
| FOR STATIONARY ENGINEs-OUR MANU-
FACIURERs CROWDED WITH ORDERS,
AND SOME OF THEM WORKING EXTRA
HoURs-THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS GOOD
r. TIMES.
Our foundrymen aud other workers in iron
think they see the silver lining beyond the
dark cloud. Business begins TO brighten.
| Iron. after going below what was regarded
rs " bottom prices" is advancing. Orders
! are coming in liberally, and the prospects,
after six years OF frightful inactivity, are
encouraging. General Joseph r. Ander-
SON. whose long experience and undoubted
sagacity qualities him for expressing an
| opinion, said yesterday: Think times are
| in our line. "A rapid change is not proba.
l.ble, or really desiruble, but think it likely
| that it will be what is better-steady. The
| Improvement, to be substantial, should be
gradual" ...-
Such is the opinion Of the majority OF
our iron-men. They are beginning to talk
cheerfulIy, and have reason for their faith
| in returning prosperity. In the last ten
DAYS or two weeks merchant bar-iron has
gone up from to 22-10 cents per pound,
and The advance in pig-irOn has been from
| 81. so to 81 on the ion; other irons In pro-
portion. These figures are considerable in
view Of the downward tendency WHICH iron
had for years,
s.. .... TREDEGAR COMPANY.
The recent satisfactory settlement OF the
Tredegar Company with their creditors
marks new era in their history. They have
contributed much to the prosperity OF the
city, and if the signs of the times arc not
false their future will be az glorious rs the
past. In Il short time, according to tic Or
der OF the court, the works will be passed
from the hands OF the receiver into those OF
the old company.
The business for months past has in
great part been railroad.spikes and fasten-
ings.
But they have recently entered into con-
tract to build one hundred boN-cars for the
South Carolina railroad, and they hope
that is the beginning of the revival in this
branch, which was prior to the panic very
successful, and gave employment to hun
drcds Of men. :.
General Anderson hopes much from the
westward extension Of the chesapeake and
Ohio railroad. There is at this time great
activity in railroad-building in the North
west, and that also promises well for our
manufacturers OF railroad supplies.
The General has gone to work with
vigor which is aS pleasant rs it is promising
to the public interest.
METROPOLITAN IRONWoRKs.
Mccsrs. William E. Tanner & Co. report
that they are crowded with work. The
Colonel has laid aside his senotoriaI toga,
and is deeply immersed in the question how
to supply their orders for stationary en-
gines. He was found yesterday talking
slpam-cngine" to a SouthSide gentleman
more earnestly than ever he discussed poll
ties: and in CONSCIENCE, his partner. Mr..
Newton, had to submit to the reportorial
questioning. For weeks orders have been
rushing in upon them, until they have not
only had to increase their force, but in some
departments work oNer-llon :Bpslnes5 is
intiec,f Very 'BfIsK WIFI THenI.
Here, as elsewhere, North Carolina is
found to be 4 splendid customer. She
wants engines for saw-mlIs and cotton-sins.
Other southern States, too, buy llberaily.
As yet the profit is not large, owing to ac-
tive competition. but that will come around
right after little time.
RICHMOND IRON-wORKS.
Mr. Joseph Hall, the head Of this concern,
and a. cear-headed businessman, said: :"
am satisfied that there is prosperity IN the
country, but it has not yet reached us. But
it is on its way, Pve no Doubt" These
works have no speciality. They have had
several Government contracts, and are
ready for others. They are now mostly
jobbiny. They have just completed lot
Of beautiful iron columns for Ford's Hotel.
The roof of the present porch IS to be re-
moved and TWO or three stories placed over
the porch. resting upon these columns.
That will not only vastly improve the build
ing. but add several very handsome and
desirable rooms. The machinery for the
finished yesterday.
TALBOT Il SONS.
Forty-one years ago Mr.. Talbot, head OF
the present firm, began business in 4 modest
way on q part OF the lot now covered by
bis immense establishment, which occupies
nearly all the space between the Sas-works
and Seventeenth street and the railroad
allcy aud Cary street. The business is
prosperous. Very few Of our citizens have
any Idea OF the extent OF their works, or
SlfaG VI HStS
are but a few larger in this section Of the
country. Very recently large brick addl-
ton has been put to the main building, and
greater enlargement will shortly be neccs-
sarv. Said Mr.. Charles II. Talbot yester-
day: "Our business was never better. We
have about all we can do with full
| force" North Carolina is their best Gus
toner, but they often send engines and
other machinery rs far south as Louisiana.
They believe that the future is promising,
and in enlaIging and putting UP fine new
machinery, as they have Just done, show a
| commendable enterprise aud spirit.
ETTEEGER & EDMOND.
This firm has not yet felt the turn OF the
tide as greatly as Messrs. Tanner and Tai
bott, owing in part to the fact that they de-
pend TO q considerable extent on the tobacco
business. But they take n cheerful view
aud look forward to better times.
| In brief, our iron manufacturers are highly
encouraged. They are employing a greater
number of hands than before for years, and
as business increases will cali in more.
Every dollar they bring here adds to the
general prosperity; the revival in their
business will in consequence be matter for
public rejoicing. .
POLICE MATrERs.-The Henrico county
grand jury, through Mr.. Thomas Wharton,
| foreman, yesterday made the following pre-
sentiments John James (coiored), for prac-
,.k1,