The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-03-08
STAUNToN. March 2nd, 1883.


Editor Of the Valley Vrginia:s:
Dear Sir,-l notice III your Issue of the
1st instant, All item to the effect that the
first Steel was made in Birmingham, Ala.
by the Henderson, Or basic process, and
proved success. The Henderson process,
if | mistake not, is essentially different
from the Thomas and Gilchrist or basic
process, the latter being the elimination of
phosphorus etc, from the motion iron by
the use of basic lining in the Bessemer
Converter; while the former or Henderson
process consists in the elimination of phos-
phorus and other impurities mainly by the
use of a furnace upon when he has several
patents, and which is constructed upon
such theoretical and scientihc principles,
reduced to practice as must place 1t in the
front rank both for superiority and econ
omy. There are several claimants to the
basic process. At any rate Mr. Hen
derson has been allowed priority of even
this invention in the U. S. An inference
can be drawn from the fact that, a patent
claiming it appeared In England shortly
after Mr.. Henderson returned from that
part of the world, where he had been max
ing most successful tests of his process.
"IoalnsdD1 nleruit qui ferat. " Now, sir. |
do not wish to encroach upon your valua
bic space; but notice another item in the
same ISSUE stating that three car loads Of
ore are to be shipped from the Irish Creek
tin mines, to Philadelphia in order to test
its richness" Well some of it is excess
siveIy rich, and Irish Creek is probably
not the only noint where tin ore in abund
ance will be found. Be that as it may,
take the following facts INTO consideration
that in the same district you nave i'm
mense deposits Of rich iron ore, and man
ganese and abundance Of possibly as rich
tin ore as there is in the world. And last
but not least. that the excess of phos-
phorus and other impurities (which by the
way in place of being detriment, render
the by products, or refuse very yaluaDle)
can be cheaply and readily got rid of; and
you have along the line of the Shenandoah
Il. r. say south Of Waynesboro, district
that must eventually TEEN with Iron and
tin plate works. There is no reason why
your pig metal should not be made worked
up, rolled into sheets and timed ready for
the market, right in the same place l
believe almost all the tin used in this conn
try is imported from England and Ger
many at a cost of many millions Of dollars
a year. This may eventually be Kept here.
OF course this will take nos small capital
backed by good management to accomplish;
yet it is not unreasonable to suppose that
this one article alone can be manufactured
here even if it should be put on the free
list. for less money than it can be shipped
from abroad.
In this hasJy communication have not
entered into any calculation as to cost etc
well knowing that any capitalists contem-
plating an enterprise in this direction, will
pretty thoroughly sift that matter; nor
have | mentioned this question of fuel
which could be obtained from more than
one source, probably as cheap or cheaper
than other successful works in Virginia
are getting theirs,
Respectfully. MEMO.
The House has passed the till to en-
power the judge of the County Court of |!
Augusta to appoint one or more policemen |
for each magisterial district of the county. |