The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-02-06
Virginia Ores.


just as Virginia is about to enjoy Tho
benefits Of railroads leading TO her i'm
mense beds Of ore, Il Is proposed by oul
northern friends 10 drive our ores out o.
tho northern market by admitting foreign
o.cs free OF duy. OF course this PROPOSE
ton Is made In the interest OF northern
manufacturers. The railroad which Is ex'
pec,ed soon to lead from Pittsburgh 10 the
virginia mines. and which was last week
opcncd from Grafton TO Phillppi, will, Il
this measure be successful, do nothing but
point to the Chesapeake and OHIO rail-
road. II win probably never be completed
or. at any rate. rot until different policy
shall prevail.
We expect tho Republicans in the United
states senate 10 vote for admitting foreign
ores tree 81 duty. Watch them and see II
they do not. II they look al the measure,
as we do. as ono in the interest Of northern
manufacturers and opposed Ia the interest
Of southern miners, they will be sure to
support it.
This Is not new question in Virginia.
Two wears ago. when the tariff commits
sion was engaged In the work OF preparing
IT. members for reporting such changes as
% .ht to be made in the tariff laws then in
fMes, number OF Virginia gentlemen adj
dressed TO that commission an " Argument
in Favor Of Maintaining the Duty on
Foreign Iron Ores rs Measure OF
Importance in the Development OF the
Iron industries Of Virginia. We notice
the names OF number OF sound DEM
ocrats attached TO that argument, among
them those OF General WILLIAM TERRY
and General JAMES 4. WALKER. OF Wythe-
vile. We will give the list OF names
signed TO ibis argument as a" Owners OF ore
DEPOSITS. or furnaces. or both" and who
are familiar with The subject. These names
arc J. W. MCGAvOCK, Graham'S Forge;
n. T.. OGLEsBY. Wytheyille; W. o. MOORE,
Red Bluff: ID. I. GRAHAM, Cedar-Run Fur
nee: II. T.. SAMPSON, Brown Hill; JAMES
II. McGAvOCK, Max Meadows; j. a.
WALKER, Wytbcyille; j. T. HAMLET.
WyiheviIic; WILLIAM TERRY, Wytheville;
J.H. FrLT0Y. Wytheville: J. B. BARRETT,
WytheyiIc; JOHN W. ROBINSON, Graham's
Forge: Nj. Il. TATE, Glade Spring; JAMES
:. CROCKETT. Crocket's Depot; JOHN c. |
RAPER. Austinyille: {. 5. VAN LEW, Ivan
hoe Furnace; d. S. FORNEY. Allisonia;
LEE (. CALFEE, Martins; ID. +. HoUsTON,
C.ozer Steel and Iron Company, Roanoke;
and TO each Of them are attached in the
D mphlet before us the letters va"
What do these well-known Virginians
say? We quote:
1T is safe to state that the mineral re-
sources OF Virginia are Of such character
that il properly developed they would
make Virginia the mos, prosperous State
in the Union.''
Iron and coal mines are being opened,
and extensive furnaces and manufacturing
establishments with approved appliances
are being located by practical and prudent
men. No less than S5,000,000 have been
brought within the State since 1879 by
mining and manufacturing enterprises
Alone"
THE iron deposits OF Southwest Virgil
MIA are Of such extent and variety in kind
and quality that they alone are ample TO
meet the demands OF the IRON and steel
districts OF the country.
The great abundance Of superior coking
coal in the vicinity OF these deposits must
compel the establishment near the mines
Of iron furnaces and steel works. Where
iron can be made the cheapest. there these :
Industries will be established" I
In this condition Of the iron resources I
Of the State. and with this prospect, it is c
submitted that it would be unwise to re-
move the duty now existing Oh foreign
ron ores. On the contrary, as long as a
tariff for revenue, or for any other pur-
pose. is necessary in this country, there is s
every reason that the duty should be in {
creased to a reasonable amount. Where ,
we have the means OF supplying such a
necessity IL should he the policy OF the
so to develop them that they
can be relied upon at all times"
These extracts show clearly what the
owners Of ore deposits in Virginia think
OF the proposition TO admit foreign ores
free Ct duty.