The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1891-11-12
A FUTURE INDUSTRIAL CENTER
Low MOOR, VA, Nov. 9. 1891.

| and costly furnace plant OF the Lo
Moor Company is an object lesson tina
it is profitable to observe and study
1t comprehends two furnace stacks,
number of coke ovens, iron mines
! limestone quarry, shops, and all the at
tachments and paraphernalia for max
| ing pig iron at the lowest cost. Th
system and method by which ever,
| thing is worked, and the large outpu
of about 500 tons of iron every week
testify to the grasp and training of thu
directing mind of all this industrial
enterprise. Capt. II. Merry is thu
Superintendent of the Company's ope
rations; his son, FL. G.. Merry, is Su-
perintendent of the mines, and Mr.
Shielding the manager of the furnace
all under the direction of the senior Mr.
Merry. All the arrangements are reg
uated like clock work There is place
for everything and everything in its
place, and the uniform rule that gov
erns in all the operations, under a mas
ter mind, is the secret of the great suc-
cess of the enterprise.
One thing that strikes the casual OBJ
server is, that while there are 800 tons of
iron turned out every week, that there is
not an industry at hand to work this
crude material into the finished product.
1t is all shipped either to the East or
West, to be manufactured into articles
of common use, and then much of it
re>shipped to this portion of the coun-
try and sold to consumers at an advance
in proportion to cost of conversion.
Why not have the factories and shops
to work it up near the point of produc-
ton, and fhus employ skilled labor,
and keep our money at home to create
more wealth in its rounds of usefulness?
There is every natural and acquired adj
vantage for the establishment of such
industries, and all that is wanting is the
capital and the skilled knowledge to do
this.
Adjoining the Low Moor property are
the holdings of the Allegheny Mining
and Development Company. I learn
that reservations have been provided of
lands on Jackson River for industrial
sites, which are offered free to any
company or firm that will give satisfac-
tory assurance that business is meant.
Not only this, but they will be encour
aged in every way that it is in the power
of the company to do it. keeping in
mind the interests of the company and
it's stockholders. II [ have been props
erly informed, this company is in a very
safe and satisfactory condition. 1t was
not carried off by the craze for indus
trial plants, and has not become mixed
up with exorbitant bonuses or subscrip-
tions to doubtful enterprises, which have
SO many Improvement companies. 1t has
no complications of this kind. It has
all of it's holdings in good shape; is issu-
ing clean deeds for all lots drawn, where
the stock has been paid up, and has
large number of valuable building lots
for business and residence purposes,
besides rs or so acres of river front land,
to be appropriated to industries free of
cost, which will become valuable, as well
as those of the stockholders, as soon as
an industrial plant is located on the
premises. The management, has been
in no hurry as to this. They preferred
to let the craze expend itself, and then
go about negotiations for plants in a bu
siness way, offering as the strongest ar
gument and inducement The natural adj
vantages OF the location, instead of Of
fering staggering prices for the privilege
Of getting secondhand plants. because
they were called plants, whether intrinsi-
cally valuable or not. In this the COM
pany has acted wisely. Nor has there
been any undue pressure upon delin-
quent stockholders. The financial con-
nized, and the fact that every one is
more or less cramred for ready money
considered. tits apparent now that this
was equally wise, and that those who
have not discharged their liabilities will
feel in better humor about it and do
so as soon as possible, as it is to their
interest to do SO, SO as to place the COM
pany in condition to move along on
safe and conservative lines.
Surrounded on all sides by industrial
enterprises and great natural wealth,
there is no locality whose future is more
promising. By spring this will be de-
monstrated. For the way it looks to a
passer>by, every dollar invested in lots
here will repay the investor. 1t will re-
quire the exercise of patience, however,
as the boom period has passed--it is now
the survival of the fttest. Where mats
ural advantages exist such as here, and
development and improvement going on
like it is in this immediate vicinity, it is
only question of time when this beau
tiful location will be the sight of busy
and prosperous town, especially if one
industry In the line of the iron interest
is established. Already inquiries are
being made for lots. A thriving store is
located here. Several houses have been
built a neat and attractive hotel of mods
Sou tlOtCiioiOIo tLc vi oil cCOuOIulCJl
plan is about completed, with as many
conveniences about it as | have ever
known in country place. Water, from
fine springs, is piped through the building:
excellent drainage, and commanding
and picturesque location. 1t will be
delightful summer resort, as there is
ehalybeate, freestone and alum waters on
the place and in abundance
Near to this location are located the
Rich Patch mines, where about 100 hands
are being worked, and ores shipped to
the several furnaces within easy reach
A few miles distant are the Dolly Ann,
the Stack and the Iron Mountain mines,
where 200 to 400 hands are employed,
aad the product consumed by the fur
naces In the district. The shops of the
Chesapeake and Ohio railway are but a
short distance east, where it is said
when they are completed, 1000 to 1900
skilled mechanics will be employed
And on the property of this company is
a well defined vein OF. iron ore, a con
tinuation of the Low Moor vein, which
is also being worked on the property of