The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-10-09

RIGdb vi ihiN 10 iSo Il wv
hontas coke and its accessibility to
Cuban ores. In this it is far ahead of
Tennessee and Alabama. These latter
States have ut present the advantages of
the cheapest labor and the closest proXi-
nifty of ore and coal, but neither will
the orc compare with Cuban ore nor the
coal with Virginia or Connellsvillc.
They can make an ordinary quality of
foundry iron, and sell it in competition
with Northern irons III Northern mar
llets, but there is not much profit in
sending the iron so far for IL market, and
the great feature of the Alabama fur
naces should be in supplying demand
yet to be created in the South itself.
The claims that Alabama can make iron
as cheaply as England must be received
with great caution, and even if it could,
it has not England's location on the sea
coast by which it can secure a foreign
trade. When England's supply of coke
and the Spanish and African ore mines
are nearly exhausted, then the conjunc
ton of Cuban ores and Virginia coke
may mako Virginia. but not Alabama,
the best iron location in the world. but
that day is probably far distant.
MIR. rECuIN's REPLY.
An enormous amount of twaddle has
been going the round of the press in re-
gard to the importation of Cuban ores
into Virginia, and you yourself have an
elaborate editorial on the subject. under
date of September 18th. | am in po-
sition to make an authoritative state
mcnt with regard to these ores. The
Norfolk and Western Railroad Company
!, -,
Cuba, and does not propose to import
Cuban ores via Norfolk for smelling in
furnaces along the line of its road. The
railroad company is not interested,
either directly or Indirectly. in the
Sigua mines in Cuba, and in the dcvcl-
opments now taking place at that point.
Some parties interested in the Securi-
ties of the Norfolk and Western railroad
are subscribers to the stock of the Sigua
Iron Company. but they are in a very
small majority. The company is
purely Northern company, controlled
by Northern and English capital. and
its intent is to open up large mining
operat ions at Sigua. and to import the
high grade ores found there for any
market that may be open. either on the
whole Atlantic seaboard. or at approx
mate points to tho seaboard in the inte-
rior.
There is an independent scheme on
foot to establish steel works at or near
Norfolk, because that is very desirable
point for the landing of the Cuban ores
i'll the United States, especially in view
of the fact that Norfolk has direct and
easy communication with the splendid
col1es of the Flat Top region.
truct that this short CT to,,ODf -,
sufficiently specific to give the puplic
correct idea as to who control the Sigua
mines.
a single word as to the subject-mat-
ter of your editorial. touching upon the
point of the use of the Cuban ores in
Virginia. You are perfectly right in
saying that Virginia has not opened up,
on commercial scale, any Bessemer
ores What she may do in this line is
yet to be determined; but Virginia pos
sesses enormous stores, beyond any per-
adventure, of brown ores, admirably
adapted for the making of forge and
foundry iron. You understand as we'll
as anybody the value of high grade
ore as mixture with lower grade ores
for specific purposes, and it is quite
within the range of possibility that Gu
ban ores, delivered at Norfolk, will be
used to certain extent at interior
points in Virginia for the purpose of ad-
mixture with the Virginia ores for GER
tain purposes.
1t will be extremely valuable for one
use, and that is for a Fix" Virginia
has no good ''fix" ore. The rolling mills
already in operation get their supplies
of elk" either from Northern New York
or from the Lakes, and necessarily it is
VorV extensive. If thpy can avail them
selves at Norfolk of q high grade Cuban
ore, to serve as elk" and at n price
much below what it is now costing
them, it is going to exercise a very i'm
portant influence in developing the roll
ing mill business all along the lines of
the Virginia railroads.
Funeral of MIR. a. Med. Smith.
The funeral Of Mr.. A. Med Smith will
take place Friday morning, the 10Th
inst, at st. Johns Episcopal Church at