The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-02-17
JYNCHRURS

TIE "BOOM" IN THE SOUrHwEST-H HOW 1T Is
SPREADING-EON. ZINC. AND COAL-FIvE
FURNACES STARTED AND Ten MORE TO BE
STARTED-NAREOW GAUGE RAILROAD-HOW
IT OPERATES, SC, &C.
Especial Correspondence Of Richmond Dispatch J
February 16, 1880.
To-day there is on exhibition here the
first slab Of "spelter" made at the Bertha
Zinc-Works, al Martins Station, Pulaski
county, on the Virginia and Tennessee rail-
road. II is a beau iful specimen Of that
valuable metal. The operations OF this
company have heen something OF marvel
Of energy and pushing activity. Last sum-
mCr they purchased for $4,000 the zinc
mines, located about twelve miles from
Martins. Previously the ore had been
mined by the Virginia owners and shipped
north, where It's rich quality attracted
attention. The new owners determined to
erect smelling works at Martins, and in
this short time have put up live furnaces,
now in successful operation. In just eigh-
iy.siX working days from the time ground
was broken they produced the slab OF
"speIter" now before me! The yield, |
believe, Is about two tons Of metal per fur
mace per day. The ore has TO be wag0ned
The distance named, and the company have
had as many as forty-hve wagons engaged
in hauling. II is in contemplation, how
ever. TO build Il railroad TO the mines, and
the programme, | am told, is TO extend il
on TO the Ore Knob Of North Carolina,
which will afford transportation TO the cop
per mines and other industries OF that re-
gon.
One beneficial effect Of the starting OF
these Zinc-wOrkS Is that they have become
the best customer OF the Altoona coal mines,
near by. They consume fifteen tons Of that
coal day. The coal mines are nine miles
from the station, and are reached by q mar
row.gauge railroad, built by the coal COM
psny, which performs IFS part admirably.
have passed over il, and can speak from per-
Sonal observation. 1t Is well and substan.
tally built, and its hauling capacities are
very great. as the grade is in favor Of the
tonnage. The cost. think, was only about
$1,000 a mile, including ten or twelve
bridges. The success and cheapneSs OF this
road Is evidence Of how easily now isolated
portions OF the State may be opened up TO
trade and commerce, and all portions OF
virginia benefited thereby.
The Altoona coal Is nearly pure anthra-
cite, and abounds in vast quantities. The
company are mining rapidly, aud expect to
supply large trade from Lynchburg to
Bristol, Tenn. Mr.. George W. Palmer, OF
Saltvllie. is the president and largest stock
Doldtr OF The company, and Mr.. Patterson,
OF Phlladelphia, Is the seen etary and treasu-
fef. With two or three exceptions the
olaer stockholders are all Virginians. The
miners are Welchmen, and theiI neat and |
happy homes afiJrd "A pleasant spectacle up
IN The very heart Of the mountains.
IDese TWO enterprises--the coal and the |
Zlnc-haye impaired great activity TO the !
settlement OF Martins Station and The re-
g'On roundabout, and are making them |
selves felt most advantageOusly.
Tue headquarters OF the zinc company |
1ie al Plymouib, Mass, and the officers are
oi'Ver Ide>, president; Jason w. Mxter,
treasurer and general manager; T.. l..
hees, secretary; aud Thomas Jones, super-
inteodent Of works.
VALE speaking OF the Southwest | will
note tDe additional facts that the Brown
nliI furnace, OF Wythe county, will 90 into
olast IN lew days under a lease OF Hen
ufieks Brothers, OF New York. They have
s sso bought the zine property in that county
snu contemplate erecting works i'm the
sraing. The Lobdel Car~Wheel Company
a. p'epsrlng 10 put the Walton and Fame
'",oaces In blast al once.
car. Graham, Robinson. and Nc.
hIa'. ock WIN have their three furnaces in {
n ns's 10 March. A party OF capitalists are [
rslv'pecling Tor location for two ten.ton ,
A.s ~. -, furnaces. The owners OF the Rad
' aa' ofks In Pulaski are having their fur J.
|, ~ put IN order, aud will probably have n
~ -, o'ast az soon US practicable. Il
ih';se are some OF the evidences of how \
We f'iDeral boom" Is spreading and !,
yelling In that rich and favored region
se southwestern portion Of Virginia. They 81
'oio Ne largely added 10 II necessary. II
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