The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-07-31
eyss :, yoke q CSanellseile December ,s1e.
FURNACES sekt - is per ton. Fonn.ry. W.. -

so'aa sniliehts from Connellsvil)e To-. Ncesa ,,,;
noySi ven ~ 1850, 8,91T cars distributed NJ f,,,n
| the East, l,3iz cars. ~ '''Vo c"'s' u
1essemer ore is costing at Pittsburc ST 50
per ton, and non-Bcssemer orc costs nj p;,...
burg from $500 to Sc. 90 per ton. ''''
non, Dessemer ore will cost at Big Stone Ca,
from Sl.25 to $3.50 per ton, and the Besscmai,
orc from $500 to $3.50 per ton.
Limestone will cost at least twice no nnc,
at !, fitssnurg as at Big Stone Gap.
ie Is SAID that 200 tons Of Pocahontas coke
passes west through Bristol daily for furnaces
IN the Alabama and Chattanooga districts
This coke will cost from 1913 to 81. so per ten
at those furnaces.
THESE facts show the smaller cost of cake
and iron ore at Big Stone Gap and require no
comment. Coke can be delivered ut tho ovnns
mere much cheaper than these figures indicate
and still afford large profit to the maker.
OPINION OF TWO ENGLISH EXPERTS.
Mr: John W. Darby, of Wexham, Eng, and
Mr. f. Monks, of Warrington, Eng, members
OF the British Iron & Steel Institute, recently
visited Big Stone Gap. Mr. Darby is Young
man, but has already reached prominent mo-,
sltion among the iron and steel producers Of
England. be inhcrits his aptness for these in
dustries from ancestors who have been prom
inent IN them for century. His grandfather
was the hrst to make iron from knocked coal.
and his own plant, located near Chester. wo =
the first to 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.
"ihc very things | wanted to see are here.
did not care to see the manufactures in opcr-
alton, tor we have those at home as numerous
and as nearly perfect as one could wish to sec.
although must say that have been greatly
surprised and 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 APP
preaching II. What those Of MS who mean
business wished to sec in America is lust what
have seen to-day at Big Stone Gap; as fine
coke as have ever seen i'll England, with iron
ores only two miles away, and limestone be-
tween, together with water power and railroads.
This is combination that is bound to make
you great here. have ncccrsccn ii cGMaIcd
elsewhere. Your coke is the best have seen
in America. The brown ores we inspected to-
day are admirably adapted to the basic process
Of course, your proximity to 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 incalculable. We have
been over large portion of the Southern min
cral belt, and | regard this as the best point
we have seen for the manufacturing of basic
steel, owing to the quality and quantity of
your brown ores and their proximity to this
coke. | have enjoyed my day here greatly,
and hope can return soon.'
MIR. Monks spoke in the same strain, saving
ne 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 it 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
ber "About 90 per cent of the area included
in the Appalachian coal-fieldin 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 timbcred from base to sum
nit with as magnificent forests as have ever
seen.