The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1890-03-20
THE FUTURE STEEL CENTRE.
A HOPEFUL OUTLOOK FOR THE
SOUTH.
North Carolina Destined to Share in
the Development and Prosperity
that is to be-
Wilmington Star. |

1t is the opinion of we'll informed
and observant men, who have visited
all portions of this country and have
taken care to inform themselves Cn
their productive resources, that there is
not within the limits of the United
States region of country more prolific
of useful minerals than the mineral
belt of North Carolina, embracing the
northern tier of counties from about
the centre of the State and running in a
western and southwestern direction on
to the extreme western border. Prin-
cipal among these minerals is iron,
which is eventually to become a great
factor in her industrial development.
AS yet while there has been some
interest manifested by capitalists from
other sections in securing possession OF
some the most attractive of these iron
properties there has been no "boom"
as the phrase goes, the sales being con-
Quoted quietly and without much
heralding, but the time will come when
they will boom and when North Caro-
lima will take her place not only
among the iron making and steel ma
king States, but a leading place.
1t is only within the past few years
that railroads have been to penetra-
ting this iron region in such a way
that the mines could be prohtably
worked or the industry of making iron
or steel be successfully established,
because the facilities were not avail
able for transporting the ores or for
marketing the manufactured product.
And yet these facilities exist only to a
limited extent.
But in these days OF push and en- .
terprise, when keen-eyed and bright
witted men are seeking for fields for
the investment Of capital, it will not
be many years before the heart Of this
iron region will be penetrated by all
tie railroads there will be need for
and these ore beds will be brought into
close connection with the great cities
and ports from which they have here
tofore been cut off. Then we will see
what is seen in Alabama and Tennes-
see now, great manufacturing towns
spring up in the valleys where as yet
the whistle of the locomotive has never
been heard, and where the woodman's
axe has scarcely made an impression
on the magnificent forests which cover
the hills and the mountains.
In a recent interview with reporter
of the Pittsburg Post, Mr.. Bookwalter,
one Of the largest manufacturers and
wealthiest citizens of Ohio, said that
in bis opinion the steel and iron
manufacturing districts of this country
would ultimately be found in three
groups: First. the North Carolina
and East Tennessee group; second,
the North Alabama group, and third,
the Northwestern group, comprising
the Wisconsin and the Lake Superior
ores.
While there is an abundance Of iron
in the earth the proportion suitable for
steel-making is comparatively small,
and this gives iron of that kind an en-
hanced value and at the same time
gives sections bearing it peculiar ad-
as steel-making localities.
He believes that the section of North
Carolina in which the Cranberry
mines are situated is destined to be-
come the great centre of the steel
making industry on this continent, for
the reason that it has an inexhaustible
supply of the finest Bessemer ores, with |
abundance of coal near by, and is SO
situated as to be within a short dis |
:ance Of seaports, with short railroad
ravel, and thus within easy reach of |
he markets at home and abroad. He
spoke especially of the Cranberry
mines because they had attracted his
attention on account of the immense
deposits there, and yet while these
mines have been long known, and
lave been worked more or less for
,ver half a century they have been
Ca1Ctly lalrly opened, anu 1t IS only
within a few years that their great
'alue has begun to be appreciated.
While this may be the greatest it is
'ut one of the great iron deposits Of
he State. There are others, also in
adjustable, the magnitude of which
las not yet been measured, and of
which we can only form an estimate
rom the outcroppings which have
'een traced for miles and from the
uperficial prospecting which has been
.one. Enough, however, has been
demonstrated to show that these de-
'osits are practically inexhaustible,
road, long and deep enough to fur
ish great manufacturing sites with all
he material they can work for ages
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