The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-12-18
der competition, but take chem IA they aYsand
compare chem with prices at ConnellsYilse.
Cost O, coke As Connellsvil,e December. 1896:
Furnace coke. $2.l5 per ton. Foundsy coke, SEAS

To,sl shipments from Coanellsvile for ueek0nding
November a. 1880, cars, distributed soliew
To Ylt,burgh, $50 caro- to the West, 4l0o cars TO
the East l.sl7 cara.
Besseraer ore is costing At Pittsburg $3.50
ncr ton, and non-Bcssemer ore costs at Pitte-
bnrg from $500 to 5000 per ton.
Non Bcssemer ore will cost At Big Stone Gap
from, 81 IS to $3.50 per ton, and the Bessemer
ore from $500 to $3.50 per ton.
Limestone viii cost at least ewice az much
=. Pittsburg IS at Big Stone Gap.
II is said that 700 tens If pocahontas coke
masses west through Bristol daily for furnaces
in the Alabama and Chattanooga districts.
This coke will coat from 1915 10 $3.50 per ton
at these furnaces.
These facts show the smaller eost Of coke
and iron ore as Big Stone Gap and require no
comment. Coke can be delivered a. the ovcne
here much cheaper than these figures indicate,
and still sford large profit to the maker.
OPINION or TWO RHaLIsH EXPERTS.
Mr.. John W. Darby, Of wexham, Eng, and
Mr.. F. Monks, Of Warrington, Eng, members
Of the British Iron 4 Steel Institute, recently
visited Big Stone Gap. Mr.. Darby 10 young
man, but has already reached prominent po-
sition among the iron and steel producers Of
England lie inherits his aptness for these in
dustries from ancestors who have been prom
nent in them for century. His grandfather
was the first TO make iron from uucoked coal,
and his own plant, located near Chester, was
the first 60 use successfully the basic process
for making steel. Mr.. Monks is one Of the
oldest and best known Of the practical iron and
coke men of England.
1.-THE very things wanted to see are here.
did not care to see the manufactures in oper-
alton, for we have those at home as numerous
and as nearly perfect as one could Wish to see,
although must cav that have been greatly
surprised sad pleased at the great concerns we
saw in the North. Their equipments are not
so complete nor their methods SO economical as
ours in England. but they are rapidly ap-
proaching IL. What those Of us who mean
business wished 70 see In America is just what
have seen to-day at Big Stone Gap, as fine
coke rs have ever seen in England, with iron
ores only two miles away, and limestone be-
tween, together with water power and railroads.
This 10 combination that is bound to make
Won great here. have neUer seen It eQudtcd
elsewhere. Your coke ia the best have seen
in America. The brown ores we inspected to-
day are admirably adapted to the basic process.
OF course, your proximity 20 the magnetic ores
at Cranberry is great card IN your favor, but
YOU will not need that to make the possibilities
Of this point simply incalcu!able. We have
been over large portion OF the Southern MIN.
eral belt, and regard this as the best point
we have seen for tho manufacturing of basic
steel, owing 70 the quality and quantity of
your brown ores and their proximity TO this
coke. I have enjoyed my day here greatly,
and hope can return s0on."
Mr.. Monks spoke in the same strain, saying
he had been practical producer Of coke and
iron for forty years, and that he had never seen
better coke; and the iron ore, both brown and
red were fine. He thought the best card for
the future Of Big Stone Gap in the iron indus
try was the advantage il had over any other
place he had seen for the production of steel by
the basic PROCESS.
TIMBER.
Prof. Proctor In his report says OF the tim
Der: "About 90 per cent Of the area included
in the Appalachian coal-feldi in Southwest Vir-
ginia, West Virginia, and Southeast Kentucky,
is covered with forest of valuable hardwoods-
oak, yellow poplar. hickory, etc. The Black
Mountains, Immediately north of Big Stone
Gap. are heavily timbered from base TO sum
nit with as magnificent forests as have ever
seen.