The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1890-03-06
Harrisonburg and Rockingham Co.

The good people of Harrisonbufg are
preparing to give to the public boom,
which. from the present indications, will
be in the nature Of q cyclone. While
on Il visit to the town last week, the
local of the VIRGINIAN had the pleasure
of meeting County Treasurer Richard
and his polite assistant, Mr.. b. f. Long
On a table behind the counter, secure
from the general public, but to which
the VIRGINIAN reporter was admitted
by the courtesy of these gentlemen.
were number of specimens of various
kinds of ores-hard and soft coal
ochre, red paint, lumber, manganese.
black marble and red hematite iron
ore-all indicating good qualities, and
taken from finds which promise album
dant quantities. These specimens are
all from within the limits of Rocking
ham county, and most of them from two
to seven miles from Harrisonburg. A
good quality of black marble, sample
OF which had been polished roughly, has
been found within few yards of the
corporate limits. The people are conf
dent that investigation will prove that
they have abundant quantities of these
valuable minerals. They are proceed
ing quietly, but with determined cour-
age and well-laid plans, to place them
selves before the public at no distant
day as standing upon solid foundation
for all they may claim. In the mean
time 'options' have been taken in all
directions, and prospecting parties are
locating and. preparing the ''fnds" for
future development. Let the boomers
keep an eye on Rockingham.
Harrisonburg can boast the handsom-
est Touring mill building in the State
1t has been erected by John c. Berry &
Co of Edom, Va. 1t is A. stories high,
46x62 feet, and has capacity of 1875 to
$50 barrels per day. 1t is furnished with a
ventilator on the roof which is ornamen-
tai and made useful in connection with
the elevators. 1t has elaborate cor
nice capped windows, and is neatly
painted in two shades. 1t is located at
the depot, and by the passing traveller is
taken for hotel.
The town is supplied with water from
an artesian well 455 feet deep. The
pumping arrangements are the simplest
we have ever seen, but do the work well,
filling a reservoir holding 100, 900 gallons,
and pumping directly through the pipes
when necessary. Harrisonburg is now
classed by insurance men as protected
town, as the water can be thrown over
the highest location direct from the
plugs by pressure from the reservoir.
Steel From Iron Ore.
George r. Wilson, young man en-
ployed at the American Iron Works,
Pittsburg, says a dispatch from that place,
dated the 18th, has had patented a direct
process for making steel from iron ore.
The invention has already been tested,
and has proved most successful. Cast
iron of any quality is melted in a com
mon iron cupola furnace, and a given
quantity Is tapped with an ordinary
crane lade, which is swung around to
the side of the converter. There is a
fire brick lining to the converter and a
conical covering, out of which an iron
funnel opens On the bottom are placed
a number of small cylindrical pots, lined
with brick and fire clay. Into the bot
tom of one of these pots is placed a given
quantity of crude nitrate of soda, the
surface of which is leveled and covered
with a circular perforated plate of thick
cast-i iron. At the side of the cylinder is
a hopper covered by loose-hinged flap
of boiler plate This is raised and a
| ladle full of cast-irOn is poured into the
CONVEX PER, falling on top OF the perfo-
rated plate This becomes gradually
! heated and reaction soon commences
in the nitrate, resulting in the develop
ment of brown nitrous fumes. These
are followed by hlackish gray and
whitish fumes mixed with steam. In
five OR six minutes refrigeration ensues.
The converter is then attached, and the
contents of the pot, consisting OF crude
steel and of Stag, are emptied on the
floor. The steel can be used as it is, on
AGAIN heated and rolled into suitable
sizes and shapes. The product YIELDS
well, and is an excellent material from
which to make cast-steel.