Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-03-17
OUR RICHES.
OUTSIDERS BEGINNING TO GLANCE
THIS WAY.
SOME INTERESTING STATISTICS.
w EST VIRGINIA.


PITTSBURGH, March l6.-The Engin
eers' Society held a meeting Tuesds.
evening, the especial object being Il
discuss the proposed railroad into tn,
mineral regions OF Virginia and Wes
Virginia. After the preliminary bust
ness a paper was read by Mr.. Reuber
Miller, giving the result OF bis observs
tions OF the richness of minerals in tn,
Virginias, and strongly urging the takin,
OF speedy measures to open the regior
by q railroad from Pittsburgh through it
Among the features OF the paper wal
the following in reference to the cost o
getting ores to Pittsburgh:
To transport coke to this city we ar,
required to pay uniform tax OF two
cents per tone per mile, while from thu
city TO Chicago the rate on the same
material is only about three-fourths OF q
cent per ton per mile. Or, 10 give 1t in
tons, cay 81 As per ton to Pittsburgh and
81 66 per ton TO Chicago and - 81 pei
ton TO st. Louis. To transport ore from
Cleveland to Pittsburgh we pay 500
per ton for $50 miles. Now how does
this affect us? In Chicago ore, although
rumor says it is now being passed
through to Pittsburgh at lower figure,
which costs us Sl2 can be laid down for
IS, and allowing tons Of ore and ] |
tons of coke 10 the ton OF pig, Chicago
gets for less than so what costs US over
SCI. We must try and convince our
railroad friends that there must be a
change in the direction OF cheaper
freights, and at the same time We may
be compelled TO arrange for continuous
rail delivery for portion, at least, OF
our supply OF fine ore, ana not permit
the supply OF such necessary product
to he entirely dependent on Jack Frost.
In the last report OF the Pennsylvania
Railroad | find that the average earn
ings of the ?. X. L. and branches shows
IS cents per ton per mile for all classes
OF freight. That on the i. < J.. r. is
much lower. but let US take this. which
has allowed full payment OF all fixed
charges, and plenty left for payment,
and good dividend for sinking fund.
Ore, which is loaded by the shipper and
unloaded by the consignee-which can
be carried on the cheapest class OF cars,
is no, liable to depreciation from being
wet, nor can it well be stolen en- route
should be carried at profit of three.
quarters OF cent per gross ton per mile
The transportation OF Lake Superior ore
bv continuous rail service should enable
shippers 10 put down ore in this city at
80 so, allowing 81 80 per ton {. o. b., but
this is entirely too high a price.
Con. 2sIaiIve Cost.
Next let US turn our eyes towards the
splendid deposits OF Missouri, and see
what may be done there. Allow the
same price + o. b., and with transpOrta'
ton for 700 miles at three-iourth cents
per ton per mile, We have cost OF $40
per ton OF ore in Pittsburgh, and have
been told within a few days by persons
indirectly connected with railroad mot
the p. r. K. that an effort will be made
to do this work at less price than this.
Here. then, is closer approximation to
our proposed figures.
However, let us take look at what is
done in foreign ore for our instruction
only, in as much as many OF US wish to
use foreign material when we have 40
much at home. In late English pub
lication We find page l3l-iron.
This price, I. o. b., is given as %
francs, and is lower price than ! have
known Of late, although III June, 1879,
during which year over a million tons
were exported, the price stood at 5s. Cd.
per ton, and in December OF the same
wear advanced 10 l2s. 81. Take, how
ever, the estimate OF los. per ton, I. o. b.,
and l2s. for transport, and this fine ore
can be laid down at the seaboard at
s6O7, or duty paid at S7.25, and trans
ported here to cost little more than
$1,000. This, then, although better than
present Michigan prices, will not do for
US to rely upon.
Another Feature,
Another feature in the transportation
question is to bc considered. In ordin-
arv seasons our railroad friends tell us
that there is an excess in east.bound
over west.bound freights, such as are,
at very small profit.
This fact would encourage us to work
toward the seaboard for source OF sup.
plv, and il would seem 10 point in the
direction OF Baltimore or the James
river. either TO Eastern Pennsylvania
and Marysnd or to Virginia.
Mr.. Weeks in his psper presents 10
us an account OF some OF the most vau-
able deposits which can be reached from
Pittsburgh by a road Of say 300 miles.
The Developments OF this trac. may not
be as full as We would like, nor may the
extent OF the deposits be as well defined
as is necessary for the cold calculations
of capitalists, but with snch prospect 1t
is certainly we'll worth while for us TO
extend the field OF our examinations
and make sure what is now shown TO be
probable.
This part OF the discussion will leave
for those now present with US tonight
and who are we'll fitted 10 teach US what
is proper for US TO do.
The gentleman closed his paper with
a comparison OF figures, showing that
with a supply OF ore from deposit three
hundred miles and a supply OF coke
furnished at a proper transportation
charge would put ore and fuel used 10 a
ton oi pig, and now costing s2l.32, at
sl2 81.
Mr.. B. F. Jones said it was highly es-
sential that Pittsburgh should have
cheaper ores. There is little doubt that
the place from which cheaper ores OF a
good quality are to come is in the valley Of
the James. The building OF q railroad
is the first essential in getting at these
supplies. Such a railroad could easily
be made profitable. There would be
enough local traffic 10 make the road a
paving one in a short time, aside from
the through traffic.
Anew Rosd Proposed
Attorney General White, of West
Virginia. was called upon. II said be
was not an engineer and no. much Of a
mineralogist. He didn't know much
about ores, but be had q word to ssy.
Not long since he assisted Henry o.
Davis, L. S. Senator IRON West Vir.
ginia, and his son-in law, CT New York
10 get q charter from the State Of Wes'
Virginia for railroad which il is pro
posed TO build from Pittsburgh through
West Virginia to connect will
the Richmond and Allegheny railroad
ut Clifton Forge, and thus make connec
ton With the whole southern country
The men back Of this scheme are no
mere schemers, but they are busdnea