The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1891-01-08
IRON GATE.

A New Treasurer. and New Beard
Including Some of the Wealthiest
and Most Prominent Citizens OF
Richmond, Elected improvements
Under Way and Contemplated.
A general meeting of the stockholders
of the Iron Gate Land and Improve
ment Co. was held at the Company's
office ON Saturday last, January Sd.
DR.. J. F. Hughes, of Clifton Forge
was called to the chair and O. Hilemar
acted as secretary.
A large majority of the stock was rep
resented in person or by proxy.
The chairman explained the object Of
the meeting to be to consider the resig
nation of Fred. Colburn, Secretary and
Treasurer, and also the designations OF
nine of the directors who had disposed
of their interests in the Company. The
retiring directors were: Messrs r. l..
Parrish, of Coyington; j. Fred: Efiinger
and ]. F. West. of Staunton; E. C. Best,
of Ronceverte; Jos. ID. Weeks of Pitts
burgh; H. G. Parsons. of Natural Bridge;
f. s. Pendleton and 0. HiIeman, of Iron
Gate; and Jos. E. Thropp, of Philadel-
phia.
The designations We're accepted and
the following gentlemen elected to fill
the vacancies, viz:
Secretary and Treasurer, 0. Hileman,
Iron Gate
Directors-John Pope, E. A. Saunders,
G.. G. Valentine, w. l.. Royal, Byrd
Warwick, John L. Anderson, Merlwether
Jones, w. s. Forbes and Otway s. Allen,
all of Richmond.
The new directory comprises some of
the wealthiest and most prominent citi-
zens of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS of recog-
nized public spirit, ample means and
successful business experience. All or
nearly all of them have large interests
in Iron Gate independent of the stock
they hold in the Land Company, and
their prominent Identification with the
new town is a guarantee of it's rapid
growth and permanency as manufac-
turing centre.
Il J. Yost was reelected President and
E. NJ. Nettleton and w. T. McCue, of
the old management, remain in the
Board
Within the past month radical changes
have taken place at Iron Gate. The
Rolling Mill has been purchased by the
Richmond Standard Spike and Iron Co.,
and under the admirable management
of Mr.. J. G. Taliaferro, late of the Tired
egar Iron Works, Richmond, the plant
is being rapidly enlarged and improved.
On Monday morning last eleven pud
ding furnaces were fired, and the nuns
week. In addition to the increased pud-
ding capacity, contracts are being let
for material for the construction of ex-
tensive additions to the buildings for
the accommodation of spike machines
and machinery for the manufacture of
links and pins, car shapes and railroad
supplies generally. Within the next
three months from three to five hundred
hands will be employed in the Rolling
Mill and its adiuncts. AS soon as the
season permits the spike company will
erect thirty or more neat, comfor-
table cottages for the use of its EN-
ployees, lots for the same having already
been purchased.
The quality of the iron turned out by
this mill has already established for it
an enviable reputation. 1t has stood
the severest tests and made for it ready
demand with the best iron workers of
the State.
The Farmers Alliance Agricultural
Implement Works, adjoining the Rolling
Mill, commenced operations on Monday
last with twenty odd skilled employees,
and the number will be about doubled
within the next fortnight. Already or
ders have been booked sufficient to keep
the works running to their full capacity
for the next six months, and the pros
pect is that very large addition will
have to be made to the buildings and
machinery before the year is out in or
der to accommodate the trade.
The Alliance Company has also Sc
cured thirty lots and will commence the
erection of as many buildings as soon as
the weather admits of outdoor employ
ment.
1t is about definitely settled that the
work of constructing a blast furnace
will be commenced early in February.
The furnace will be a small one-from so
to IS tons capacity-built with Il view
to doubling Thanking twin furnaces
in the future. With the works now in
operation, and others practically as
sured, the entire product of the furnace
will be consumed in the place, thus tax
ing the raw material from the ground
and putting it to its ultimate use before
it leaves Iron Gate.
AS pertinent to the subject of furnaces,
we may mention that within the past
month a splendid vein of iron ore has
been opened by the Clifton Forge Mining
and Development Company on its prop
erty adjoining the Iron Gate tract and
within half mile of the furnace site.
This vein has already been mined to the
distance of 10 feet, with no indication of
its having been penetrated to its entire
width. The ore is fine quality of
brown hematite, rich in metallic iron
and comparatively free from objection
able substances. 1t can be mined very
cheaply and delivered by gravity to the
furnace stack at Iron Care Promising
openings have also been made on the
property of the West Iron Gate Compa-
ny, and prospecting commenced on the
Iron Gate tract. Limestone in abun-
dance and of excellent quality lies with
in the limits of the town, whilst Jack
son River affords ample water supply
to the new site, and the Chesapeake and
Ohio's sidings are now being constructed
No better location can be found for the
successful operation of furnace, and
the fact that its output will be practi-
cally consumed on the ground will give
an advantage which few competitors
possess.
In sympathy with the new activity IN
manufacturing lines, real estate is com
mencing to change hands, prices are
and preparations are being