The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-03-19

THE lKuS AND GuAL BELL,
This place lies across the path OF the
great coal and iron belt that begins in
Northern Pennsylvania and ends in
Alabama, a distance Of nine hundred miles.
Here the veins that are small when they
besia in the Keystone State, widen out
until they attain their most valuable pro-
portions. They are thickest in Alabama,
but more silicious than in Tennessee.
The iron ore found here is ofthe same
class as that so well known 10 the iron
masters Of Pennsylvania, the fossiliferous
red hematite. Here, however, the veins
are from four TO FIVE feet thick
instead Of from one to two. The
coal measures and limestone rock
are so easy OF access as 10 make
the manufacture Of iron easy and very
lucrative. Brown hematites are also found
here, but the great supply Of ore is OF the
red, and from the same vein that supplies
the furnaces OF Pennsylvania. The coal is
also easier Of access than the iron, and Of
such quality that it is often used in the
furnaces for smelling ores without coking.
The Tennessee River at various points cuts
the coal measures, and 1t can be mined
from a dead level without going below the
surface. The coal field OF Middle Tennes-
see Is larger than that OF any other South
ern State, although that OF Alabama nearly
approaches it in value and extent,
General John T. Wilder, who was a
Union officer OF distinction, is the pioneer
OF the iron industries Of this region, and
therefore excellent authority upon them.
He came into Chattanooga during the war,
and Immediately after the conflict
selected II, after investigation, as the best
place in the South for the manufacture OF
iron. He built the lockwood furnace,
some hundred miles above here, on the
Cincinnati Southern Railroad. Il 10 the
hest blast furnace erected in this region,
and he has done more with his few North.
ern associates to develop the iron indus
tries OF this section than any other man.
Speaking OF the development Of the iron
business here, he said:
1--WE have made Iron fos nine dollars
and q half ton, counting everything en-:
terinp into tho cost Of production, and
some are now making II for less than four.
teen n0IIAIh. y ueW lnIAaSn 10 uelnk pu't
here with capacity Of one hundted tong .
day, and they expect TO make their iron tor
twelve dollars a ton, and believe they will
do 4. Wecan make It here and pay 0 big
freipht Oh It to the North and make money
when every Northern blastfurnaceis forced
10 shut dowr for the want Of q paying
price for their products. We can make
Iron 90 cheap as i can be made a. any place
in the country, Tor We haye all the lggFe'
dients in the palm Of opr hands. For
wear after the war travelled Rinost cog
Nantly to find a location where all the ele,
mants for the manufacture u iron could be
easiest seSpfed. After this careful inyesti,
CATION, l settled here and seventeen years
experience has convinced hIe that | made
the right selection. Our coal and limestone
a. SSIl rs the ore, Is right at our hands
Our ore ylaldS us from so to SO pei
cent Of pure Iron, and we cut the
vein from four to fYe Ieet Thick
AFERTILR VALLEY.
Chattanooga is the paalral center O
trade for the valley OF East TeuReaass, on,
Of the richest in the whole country. It'll