The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-03-15

The statement which has been frequently
made, that number If uew furnaces has been
blown IN during $3.50 IN Virginia is NOT true,
the 10. Grocer being The only now one M
cluici iu the census figure, the New Roam
oke was blown u November 30tn, and the
Iusua Vista early in December. but. ~
course. the output from these Is mot included
On the ahoy" figures That number ot FUR
mace, can -o Do blast during the next SIX
months i-au assured fact. however
Eight ueW nr,t-cla-7 furnaces age now built
or bUi...u- THE Roanoke and Bucua Vista
have Just blown 3D.. the Graham. IaIaWeil
county. and the Salem. Roanoke county, are
about done The Bristol Is well along. but
cannot Dee finished under several months.
The Max Meadows, Nythe county. VII DE
ready Dr. April or May. The Dora. Pulaski
county, ought to Dee done by early summer.
The foundation. for the Radtord-Crane, at
Rati.rI. are being rapidly pushed. The two
old Mlor furnaces from East st. LOUIS are
being removed to Biz Stone Gap. but tins
wili take considerable time. With these now
furnaces all running. Nirgnias annual output
WIl Doc increased hy 32I 900 net tons. pr0la lIv.
Tie foundations Tor afurnace are m az Basic
City. Augusta county. and work has lately
commenced ON oue. and possibly two, az Glas-
Cow E0rkhudgr county. but under no en-
cum.tauoes can these Dee a factor IA 1901
There has been good deal of newspaper
talk m the interest If "bpomed' towns of
furnaces to ice erected at various points, but
uo definite action has been taken and with
the present condition Of the IRON and money
markets 10 is mot at al likely that any will Dee
built in the near future. Such statements as
tins. that n 1900 only one State Pennsyl-
yaulal VIII exceed Virginia IN the non
industry. is simply silly newspaper talk
hy those who know nothing what Yer OF
furnace building and running. or iron ore
mining. one county IN Alabama lJchersonl
has mora first class coke furnaces chan fIp
whole State Of Virginia. either built or build
ing. The total number IN the State is 80,
and, with the same average output ~ given %
the Virginia furnaces will yield 20) 600 tons
per anuum. which Is four times Nirginla's pre-
-.nt output While Virginia is quadrupling
bier output. sill Alabama stand idly by
Where Virginia is very weak is IN her ayxl-
able ore supply. Let there be no nlsconcept~n
%. o. the exact meaning of thi, broad state
mout. 10 is not that She is without ampl"
stores I'm the ground, but She very seriously
lacks proper mine Development j. Is very
easy matter % lay ont % furnace on paper
and n one has succeeded IN getting together
the large amount of money necessary. to make
% contract for rs buiidlng in. say years
time. but neither experts reports, nor paper
estimates. nor engineers plans w,ll open e
mine m wears time % run these furnaces
when built
Time is lust a. essential .. plans or money.
or ore IN ,he ground Twenty-Five to thirty
tons DAY for charcoal furnace running only
few month in the year WAS one thing. but
ZOO toms ID day for every day ia the year, week
day and Sunday. wet or dry. storm or sun
shine. d. quite different affair.
ifany enthusiastic individual wishes 60 dis
cover the magnitude OF ths task, let him try
% get 100000 tons of ore % day out Of the
brown ore deposits OF Virginia, including
those opened in old mines a- well rs new.
The question Of ana ore supply Is SD broad,
however. that 1t were better TO treat it IN a
separate article.
Virginia will Doe unQuestionablv great iron
and steel producing State. and Will make
steady progress year hy year. on what She has,
She viii grow rich and prosperous and great,
but anything akin 20 leadership ia iron pro-
ducton LIS far very far, ahead in the womb
of latuuty.