The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-05-01

is that from lean ore q far purer steel can be
made than our Bessemer works are now
turning out. In the experimental tests, the
pig iron contained an average Of Ia per cent.
Of phosphorus, and the resulting product
only OOPS per cent. or about one-fourth Of
that which is allowed in specifications for
rails. This dephosphorizing is accomplished
so cheaply, that it is claimed Bessemer can be
manufactured at about the same cost as iron.
The discovery of the process has created
great excitement among the iron men OF
Europe. aud the richest and most extensive
manufacturing firm of the world has been
more than satisfied with the experiments.
This firm, Messrs. Bolckow, Vaughan &
Co., have immense deposits of ore III
Middleboro, England. The proximity OF
the ore, coal and ilux enables them to sue.
cessfully compete with manufactures where
the ore is much richer, but where the ma.
terials necessary to its utilization are farther
removed. OF late years, however, the in.
creased demand for steel rail and the belief
that hematite ore was essential to its manu-
facture, caused comparatively gloomy out.
look for this firm, but the discovery above
alluded to has dispelled all doubt, and faith
in its practlcability has been shown in the
most unquestionable manner. Messrs
Bolckow, Vaughan & Co. were the owners
of 20 blast furnaces, and after haying made
numerous tests of the new process, were SC
well satisfied with the result, that they pur-
chased eight additional furnaces, worth ST.
100000, and now the proprietors Of the most
gigantic iron mandatory on the face of the
earth. And it is this concern that has testi-
fed in unmistakable terms to the entire sue
cess OF the dephosphorizing process.
What effect this important metallurgical
discovery will exert in this country it is not
difficult to determine. Manufacturers OF
steel will no longer be dependent upon Lake
Superior and foreign ores, and the question
will be not so much as to the quality of the
ore, as its quantity and proximity to coal and
limestone. The growing popularity of the
Bessemer rail and the fact that it is super
seding iron on all Of thej important railroads
Of the country, will necessitate its manu-.
facture upon more extended scale. The
demand thus created will cause practical
men of means to seek those localities where
the raw materials which enter into the man.
ufacture OF steel are most abundant and
closely connected. When such an inquiry
| is made no section OF the continent will be
able to compete with Virginia and West
Virginia. 1t is demonstrated, II not an
admitted, fact that in these two States the
raw materials are deposited in greater quaint
tiles and closer proximity than can elsewhere
be found. It is known that iron can be
manufactured here cheaper Tran in any 9th
err section of the Union, but it has beer
claimed that these ores were too phosphoretit
to be used for Bessemer, and that the ten
dency of the trade of the future being
strongly in favor of the better manufac-
tured article, would necessarily prevent the
establishment of extensive works where the
products would rot meet the new demand
| This last argument against the recognition
of the claims of Virginia and West Virgins
is now no longer tenable, and the superior
must ere long be widely if not universally
acknowledged. Where the ore, fuel and fluz
are closely joined, there will be the iron cen
tres of the country.
| What the country needs now is rest. The
| people are becoming tired of the constant
turmoil to which they have been subjected
| by reason of political agitations, and are
anxiously longing to be let severely alone
that they may turn their attention to bust
ness matters. We want less of Republican
ism and less OF Democracy, and more homes
purpose and endeavor in the every day at
fairs of life. This thing Of keeping the
whole country in perplexity and strife fol-
the qualification of few selfish political as
pirants has become simply intolerable, AMI
but for the ceaseless activity and enterprise
| of Americans must have proven disastrou;
in the extreme. This extra session of Con
gress has already cost the country over g
| quarter of million dollars, and all that ha;
been accomplished had far better been left
undone. The whole time has been consum
ed in elimination and recrimination; g
widening of the chasm which honest mer
have for fifteen long years been striving to
bridge, and the eng endering of bitterness:
between sections with common interests
and equally ambitious for the common good
Representatives delegated to discharge
great public duties, have used their positions
for purely personal ends, reckless alike Of
! the trust reposed in them, and Indifferent to
the harm which must result to their constit-
uents. Almost one half of the time which
belongs alone to the people, and for which
they roundly pay, has been employed in
personal explanations by members, while pc.
litical schemes and the discussion and enact.
ment of laws which canno. fail to exercise
an injurious effect upon the business and
destiny of the country have demanded al
| most every day that remained.
How much longer are the people to submit
to this dereliction on the part OF their ser.
wants? How many hundreds of thousands
more must be taken from legitimate bust.
ness and appropriated to the uses of those
who are the positive enemies of the country's
veal? Truly we are paying dearly for the
privilege OF being misrepresented, and those
who have betrayed the trusts reposed in
them should be held to a strict accountable
ty.
If by possibility legislation of all kinds
and political contests could be dispensed
with for the next ten years to come, and all
the energies and efforts of the people direct
ed to building up waste places and crushing
out politicians, an era of prosperity would
indeed dawn. We have been and are now
governed entirely too much, ard what is
needed is fewer laws and more laborers, less
Congressional jobbing and more work in
the active channels of trade; men must free
themselves from the excitement of elections,
and devote their cool judgments to the bust
ness of their callings. This is beginning to
be felt now by the people all over the coun-
try and they are acting accordingly.