Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1890-12-23
THE NEW FIELD
For Industrial Enserprises IN Eastern
Rest Hirqtnia.
What Mr.. Clarence Iroin Says of
CharlestotCn and the Eastern Pan
Handle as Coming Iron
Manufacturing Centre.
TFrom the wheeling Reriste..1


Messrs. Clarence Irwin and George
Adams, two of the committee ap-
pointed by meeting Of business men,
held some time since, TO proceed to
Charlestown, Jefferson county. and
look into the prospects and plans OF
the Charlestown Improvement Com
panY, recently organized at that place,
arrived home at noon yesterday, after
several days spent in investigating
into the matters committed to their
care. A Register reporter met Mr..
Irwin soon after his return, and asked
him his impressions of ChartestoWn
in particular, and the eastern part of
the State in general. In reply the
gentleman named said:
1--WE have given the Improvement
Company's plans and resources q
careful and close investigation, and i
am thoroughly satisfied that they have
splendid thing. We will so report
to our principals. They have iron
ore of fine quality, in a practically
Iinexhaustible amount, and fuel is as
cheap or cheaper than with us. 1
consider the neighborhood very adj
Vantageous one for the manufacture
of iron, not only by reason of the nat
ural advantages / have enumerated,
but as we'll for the close communica-
tion they will have with the Eastern
and Southern markets aud their Prox-
unity to tide water. There can be no
doubt of the superior advantages of
Charlestown and the eastern part of
the State in general, and that whole
region Is now undergoing a develop
ment which in few years will change
the conditions at present existing
over wide extent of territory. The
railroad development especially is al
most beyond belief, and one must go
over the ground to appreciate what is
going on. The West Virginia Cen
trail will accomplish wonders, and so
will the road to be built and now
building by Pittsburgh capitalists
1 feel warranted in saying that the
completion of these roads, and others
projected, reaching into the great
coal fields Of the Southern portion of
this State, will revolutionize, event
ually, the ConnellsvilIe coke business
and very considerably disturb the
conditions under which iron and steel
is now made in this part of the coun-
try. In my opinion, CharIestown
presents magnificent opening for the
erection and successful operation of
Structural Iron Company, and a
Structural Iron Plant from the North,
is now examining into the matter
If they do not conclude to embrace
the opening presented, L will endeavor
to interest some of our people here in
the matter. Iron can he made there
from one dollar to five dollars per
ton cheaper than here in Wheeling,
and if steel is to be used, the steel
plants being erected at Basic City and
elsewhere, will be of convenient ac-
cess. All the materials necessary are
more convenient than either Pitts
burgh or Wheeling, and the COMMUNE
cation with the South and East is all
that could be desired, both by land
and water. Here in Wheeling en-
deavors have been making for years
to get up structural iron Company,
but the conditions were not favora-
BILE. Now, there is an opportunity
presented which cannot be exceIled
anywhere, and it is but a question of
time when it will be snapped up"
Mr.. Irwin was quite enthusiastic
about the general advantages of the
eastern portion of the State, for iron
manufacturing, and said the coming
few years would see great industrial
system inaugurated in that hitherto
peaceful and quiet agricultural region.