Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1888-02-01
Spectator.
WEDNESDAY. FEB. i. 1883.
Some Facts About Iron-Ores.


WEDNESDAY. FEB. i. 1888.
Some Facts About Iron-0res.
In a general way, and mainly by hear
say, it has been maintained that Bessemer
iron-orss exist in Virginia, chiefly in the
James River Valley below Lynchburg,
yielding per cent in value which would
make the mining of them profitable. About
iS79-'S0, the mining interests in that sec
tion were worked up to as high a point as
they could stand, if the limit of propriety
was not passed over in the anticipation of
golden future. Good results, however,
followed to some extent and a splendidly
equipped furnace was located at Lynchburg
which continues to be successfully con-
Quoted, producing iron, but not from Besse-
mer ores. 1t is reasonable to conclude that
If the Bessemer ores are there in paying
quantities, the large amount of skill and
labor and capital which have been expend-
ed of late years in looking for the best pay
ing grades of ores in that region would
before this time have resulted in something
more definite than the hasty conclusion
reached eight years ago upon ideal or hear
say opinions.
The result of over-estimate of values al
ways reacts, and it is well enough to think
of and reflect upon this truth in opening
the way to a fuller development of our iron
resources.
The late Professor Campbell, Of Wash
ington and Lee University, made, few
years ago, for the Richmond g. Allegheny
railroad, geological survey of the ore fields
of the James River Valley. 1t is mol
before us, but we do not recollect that his
report justified the conclusions which have
been arrived at in respect to the resources
of Bessemer ores In that section.
The Lynchburg Virginian and a CORES
pondent of that journal 'E. s. H." have
been discussing the subject of admitting
foreign Bessemer ores free of duty. In the
earlier part of the discussion, the Virginian
expressed itself against their importation
free of duty, because of the injustice it
would work to the native Bessemer ores OF
the James River Valley. ''E. S. H." took
issue, arguing that the unrestricted priv
lege of importing them would not only
start the manufacture of Bessemer product
in Virginia, but largely enhance the value
of native ores, which, united with the i'm
ported, will make the metal required. In
this connection, he argues oonclusively as
to the advantage Lynchburg, as center
for manufacturing the Bessemer product,
would occupy, both as to inward and out
ward transportation facilities and the near
ness of that place to limestone beds, q
material essential In reducing iron from
the ores.
We know "E. s. H." No man in Vir
ginia of the present day has had better op.
portunities for gaining experimental knowl-
edge or is better qualified to speak from
practical operations in our iron-ores. His
subject concerns more people than are in
terested in his section of the State. If we
are going blindly about this business, be-
lieving that we have more than the value
attached to our boundless resources of ores
as they are knoscn to exist, it is the duty
of those in position to give the people in
formation to make the fact known. In
c3nuection with this view of the matter, q
genuine experimental case is at hand. In
1879, steel railworks, near Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania, leased the iron-mines near
Rocky Mount, Franklin county, Va, and
operated there two years, shipping the ore
to tine works in Pennsylvania as part Of
the material for making steekrails. Whilst
working them, their explorer and chemist
were active in searching through the James
River Valley and everywhere else In iron
ore regions for profitable steel ore, but
found none. The establishment at Rocky
Mount was abandoned and the Superin'
tendent and his party were sent to Cuba
where they are now getting, and importing
to Pennsylvania the ores necessary to TIL
success of making standard steelrails.
At the expense of making this article OF
more than ordinary length, we will let "E
8. H." appear with his own statement of
facts and arguments in the following extrac,
from one Of his communications -
81 did not say in my article ''that we did
not have in the James River Valley and
elsewhere in Virginia iron interests worthy
of protection" as might be inferred from
your editorial, but did say that free ores
would not injuriously effect any Virginia
iron interests; and it would appear that the
same old cry is to be raised against any one
who advocates the removal of the import
tax on any Of the raw materials, viz ''That
he is q free trader, &c "
believe the whole subject of the tariff is
q purely business question, and if one be
lieves, after mature thought and expert
ence, that the best interests of his section
would be advanced by the removal of the
tax on any particular article, he should say
so, and give bis reasons, and that I have
done.
You call on iron men generally to come
to your rescue. and disprove the assertions
made by me. Why dont't you also call on
the hundreds and thousands of our people
who own iron ore deposits throughout the
James River Valley, along the foot hills of
the Blue Ridge and Allegheny mountains,
from one end to the other, and along the
line of the Virginia Midland railroad, from
Orange county to the border of North Caro-
lima?
A day hardly ever comes that do not re-
ceive letter from some owner or lessee of
mine, wanting to raise and sell ore. With
the vast deposits of iron-ore in Virginia,
her euterprising people and ample means to
justify the raising and shipping of ores in
large quantities, how many tons are now
being shipped by our ore-raisers to other
States? Not over 100 tons per day all
told.
This small export OF ores, notwithstand-
ing the fact that Lake Superior ores, Or
foreign ores, are now worth in Pittsburg,
Pa, $40 per ton
Our Virginia ores are valuable and abuu-
dant, but not valuable enough to beal ship
ment beyond the State. If they would
bear such length of transportation would
not more of them be finding ready market
elsewhere?
To convert our ores into money is the
great object now, and the question is, how
can We do it?
answer: Do as the Pennsylvania people
are doing-and have been doing for years.
Bring into our State small percentage
OF high grade ores to make available ores of