The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1891-10-15
Our Iron Wealth.


not even proximately known and appre
ciated by those who live here, to say
nothing of those who have never been
here, and only know of it through indeti-
mite, speculative statements. Very few
seem sufficiently interested, or, at least,
interested enough to manifest an anx-
ious concern about what is being done,
and the agencies at work to prove the
existence of almost fabulous natural
wealth. While the iron industry is yet
in its infancy here.its magnitude is great
enough to afford a text for few re-
marks. We are now making something
over $500 tons Of pig iron weekly, or
about 100000 tons, annually. at Low
moor, Longdale, Princess and Victoria
Furnaces, which at an average estimate
will bring in the markets of the country
two millions and quarter of dollars. 1t
requires not less than 425. 600 tons of iron
ore, to say nothing of coke and lime
stone, to make this yield, which means
$3.50, 0O0, distributed among the people
employed at the mines, every year Thus
resulting from the operation of the fur
naces now in blast, besides something
like $150.000 worth of ore shipped to fur
naces outside of the district. The ore
product amounts to at least a million
dollars annually, at a time when this in
dustry has not even fairly commenced.
Before the close of another year from
this date, this ore output will be largely
increased; and as it becomes known that
the district contains practically mex
haustible supplies of the best brown
hematite and fossil ores, it is reasonable
to suppose that other furnaces will be
established to utilize them, especially
when the pig iron manufactured here
stands SO high in the general market.
This iron output is simply the initial
stage of the development that is to mark
the progress of this section. Following
the mines will come furnaces, and then.
naturally, will come industries to con-
vert into the finished product the
output of the furnaces. These will be
supplemented by other lines of enter
prise, until every branch of endeavor
will be represented, and incompatible
wealth created, forming a volume of
business that cannot now be measured
by dollars and cents.
1t is not necessary to elaborate upon
these statements. They speak for them
selves especially as they are only the pio-
nfer industries of what is to come. With
lnllions on millions of tons of iron ore,
ltiguous to admirable sites for furna-
80; and accessible to transportation; with
coke and coal within easy reach, and
Ill facilities for reaching every portion
al the country, it is not inappropriate to
sly that we are only at the beginning of
liz. iron development, and that each day
will but mark progress and prosperity.
The railroad is now worked to its pres
ent capacity to meet the demands of the
development now going on. 1t enlarges
is resources however as tie demands are
lnl lie and is equal to the requirements
as they multiply. Of course, it requires
vigilance and activity in every depart
ilent of that great corporation to keep
up the transportation to accommodate
he new enterprises that are being in
aug Irated and the old ones that are
being enlarged, but the necessities of the
ease are provided for and the increasing
business goes on.
The developments along the line of the
Chesapeake and Ohio, and especially in
the territory in a large degree tributary
to Clifton Forge are simply phenomenal
To any one who was familiar with the
traffic business decade ago, the present
operations would appear enormous.
With twenty or thirty trains passing
daily, where one did then, an approx
mate idea of the development may be
found. A decade hence and thriving in
dustries will be established where now
are barren fields, and cities built up on
he sites of hamlers. No where in the
whole country are the conditions so pro-
ptious and the promise SO assuring as
surround us, and no where is the atten-
ion of enterprise being so largely attrac-
ted as to this central locality. Surround
ed on all sides by immense bodies of iron
ore, as yet untouched with every nat
ural advantage for it's development and
utilization, and the earnest and intelli-
gent and liberal cooperation of the great
corporation which controls the c. g. O.
railway, it will be an anomaly in human
affairs, if this district does not become
great iron producing and iron manufac-
turing center, reaching from Iron Gate
TO Covington, with Clifton Forge as the
pivotal point.
The Sentinel says that it has informa-
ton from high official source, that the
statement to the effect that the Warm
Springs railroad would start from Cliff
ton Forge is mistake. All right. 1t is
not question to be decid1d in the news
papers, as the Railroad officials settle
such matters. But whether the beauti-
full and growing and promising town of
Covington or Clifton Forge shall be the
terminus, both localities will be bene
fitted. Indeed, we expect to see the day
when Clifton Forge and Covington will
be parts of one continuous city, with in
dustries studding the whole Valley, and
a rich, prosperous population enjoying
the fruits of wise investments and well
directed energy. What is the interest of
Covington is the interest of Clifton
Forge, and pice 0ersG. Both towns and
the papers thereof should work together
for the common good, and discourage
anything unfriendly to either.
The Democratic Conventions of New
York and Massachusetts have emphati-
cally and without any circumlocution,d de
clared against free coinage of silver and
in favor of sound currency. The Demo
cratic Conventions of Ohio, Colorado, and
the Alliances of the South, have declar-
ed for free coinage of silver, and a fraud
ulent dollar, in equally distinct terms.
Which idea will predominant in the Ma
tional Convention If the New York
and Massachusetts idea, then Cleveland
will be nominated If the Ohio and Col
orado and Alliance idea, then some free
.;l,1or ond froa trade candidate will he