Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1884-11-28

AOW MCOh, A., INOF ~, 1OO1s
Although it has been only nine months
since was at this big Virginia furnace.
there have been great improvements in
that time, principally at the mines.
The furnace went out of blast during
the latter part of the summer, in order to
have the usual repairs done which are
necessary every two or three years to a
furnace in full operation. The furnace
resumed operations week ago, just three
months from the time "she blew out. {"
The new Blast was set by Miss Sadie
Shedding, daughter of James Shedding,
Esq, the Superintendent. She was one of
Miss Baldw1n's pupils for the last two or
three years, and there was good deal Of
ceremony and parade on the occasion of
the resumption of so great work. In the
first week, the furnace has made 500 tons
of iron. an unheard of thing for furnace
just in blast, which has hardly had time
to get well heated. Old furnace men here
say they never knew such good work done
anywhere before in the start land predict a
prosperous run.
ACTIVITY AT THE MINES.
During the suspension of work at the
furnace, operations were still pushed at
the mines, 81 miles from there up the val
ley, which are connected with the furnace
by a broad-guage railroad, and during
that time many thousand tons of iron ore
were taken down and heaped up at the
furnace. 1t IS taken down at the rate of
about $50 tons per day and new tunnels
are continually being driven, new
shafts sunk and the out put of ore still
being increased. During the partial sus-
pension of operations there was a big i'm
provement made at the mines in the erec-
ton of large three.story building con-
tanning extensive machinery for washing
the ore, and long and very heavy railroad
trestle work for loading and unloading
ore at the washer, which is expected to
wash 600 tons of ore per day. This work
is not quite completed and the whole out
lay will reach $4,000.
You will have some idea of the extent
of operations here, and the advantage this
iron enterprise is to the country, when I
tell you that
THE MONEY PAID OUT TO THE EN-
PLOYEEs
OF the Lowmoor company, the other day.
for only one month, reached the sum of
$40, 500, and during that month the fur
mace. itself. was not making iron not
being in blast, and many hands out of en-
ployment. A gentleman who is in posi-
ton to know tells me this money does not,
by any means, stop here. but is sent to
every part of the State, agreat deal going
to the east Virginia counties, being sent
by the men, both white and colored, to
their families, which they have left TEN.
porarily in order to get living for them
here. For instance, a white boy II years
old, from Buckingham, gets $1.05 day
for driving an ore car, which is drawn by
one mule. He says his board costs him
81 90 per week, messing with a colored
woman hired to cook for them, and that he
saves $40 a month, which he sends home
Of course, the skilled labor and the miners
command much higher wages, and these
miners become so much attached to theil
peculiar mode of life and labor. and theil
regular hours and regular pay. that they
cannot be satisfied at any other work.
1t is very interesting to watch
THE EFFECT OF THE NOON WHISTLE
from headquarters IN the valley, which
commands full view Of the mountains
on both sides of the valley. WHICH art
honey -combed with tunnels. That whistII
is the signal for dinner, and if it is SCRIP
day, for getting scrip too. There art
three scrip days in the week, when the
men can get from the paymaster checks
good for 90 much worth of goods or pro-
visions at the STORE. The whistle has no
ceased to echo among the mountains be
fors the grimy miners begin to pour GU
of every opening in the mountain side ant
run whooping down the steep, racing
Jumping and laughing as uerrily as schoo
children just out school, some trying tt
get to the scrip windows first, wher
ST first come FIRST served" is the rule, ant
then Others racing for the store, to ge
first waited on, others for the water ant
! others for the dinner table.
| The mules catch the contagion stop
ping wherever they happen to be, tn
| boy driver unhitches in an instant
mounts, and they two go tearing for tn
| stable. ALI is hurry and good humor, tn
bosses bringing up the rear at more de
corous and dignified gait, but pushing
| along too, every one seeming impressed
| with the idea that there is only on
hour to stop. and great deal has to b.
| crowded into that hour.
The bell rings for work; for All instan
| the valley and the mountain sides ar
again alive with men and mules and NOV
| ing cars. and in another minute the noun
| tain has swallowed them Up, and the bus.
| bees are working in their hives again.
POLITICAL.
There was great interest felt here il
| politics during the late campaign. TIL
| several hundred voters gathered her
were worth working for, and both partie
| were we'll organized, There being such
| large preponderance of the colored popu
| lation, the Democrats did not expect
majority. but worked to keep down tn
Republican majority below 100. Tha
was all aimed at. Mr.. M. A. Rowan,
whole souled Irish gentleman, payin
| clerk at the mines, was the President O
the Democratic club, and had every vot
cauvassed beforehand. He put the Re
publican majority at 100. They got jus
81 and he was happy though there we're
number of illegal registrations which h
could easily throw out if he chose t.
make the attempt.
| One of the best workers was Med. Nc