The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1886-12-23

opinion OF the best informed experts
the total output of Bessemer ore from
all mines in this district FIVE years
hence will be 5000 tons daily, or in
round numbers 100000 tons a year.
This estimate is made upon the pres
ent rate of development, and gives no
correct idea Of what the output would
be should the percentage OF working
forces and appliances be largely in
creased, Six cubic feet contain one
ton of ore. Taking this as a basis for
estimate, there are in sight at the old
est OF the open mines 100000 tons of
ore. When it is considered that all
the present work covers only mile
and quarter of the twenty-eight
miles which this ore bed occupies,
some faint idea may be conceived Of
the vastness Of the output that will
follow the ending Of preliminary work
and the opening up of this vast mass
Of ore along its entire frontage. The
building OF the three C's railroad is,
therefore, the first step. towards this
full development.
But there is another thing to be con-
sidered by the Chattanooga people
and by all Others who must have this
magnetic iron.
Before they can be supplied blast
furnaces must be built AS rule ii
is cheaper to carry ore to fuel than to
transport coke to the mines. Here
however, is an exception to the rule
Wherever the three C's railroad shall
cross the East Tennessee, Virginia &
Georgia track whether at Johnson
City, Bristol or some intermediate
place. there blast furnaces will be
built, for the same cars that come
to Ashland to load with ore for its fur
naces will bring coal and coke at low
, rates rather than to run empty. The
intersected road occupies point o
vantage between the coal fields anC
ore banks, and at the same time will
! furnish transportation outlet iron
} both east and west. Such being tn
: case, wherever the two roads eros
s (and that remains to be determined
: there will spring up furnace town Q
no insignificant size and importance
: from which Bessemer pig will be shi[
ped to all parts Of the country. FRS
however, the railroad must be built
{ afterwards the laws of demand an
7 supply will settle all things satisEactc
D rily.
l. So much has been published abou
y the magnetic ores Of this district tina
It little or no attention has been paid t
t the extensive beds Of brown hematit
l. that lie on the line OF the three G
e railroad. Yet these fine ores will hay
h much to. do with the creation of OF
l. or more iron manufacturing centel
i in this vicinity. The deposits refe
red to are found in the valley OF Il
s dian creek in quantities practically il
3 exhaustible. 1t is in all respects Il
ore iron masters need for admixtu
n with the magnetic. The close pro
A. unity of these ores to center whe
n fuel and limestone can be had at
A. minimum cost is another reason TIL
ID leads me to expect that somewhere
y this vicinity great manufacture
Is town will arise. Johnson City peop
re feel sure that it is bound to be Il
a. place, not seeming to realize that the
8, little burgh is but spot on the ma
,e no better than a score OF Others whe
land can be bought by the acre
r. reasonable prices, and capitalists CT
r. have chance to realize the prof
It. created by their investments in va
he GUS manufacturing enterprises. Fro
ge present appearances / fear that th
lis are following the example of that TO
d. ish fellow who killed the goose th
al laid the golden egg, and that Sol
Dr. bright morning, when to late to rem
ld dy it, they will awake to find the
selves "passed on the other side"
a B. s. p