The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1892-12-22
APPEAL TO OUTSIDERS.
Come and Improve
Your Property.
Handsome Returns to All
Who Put Money into
Substantial I'm
provements.

l have been wanting 70 nave taik
with you people OH the outside for some
time and am glad my enterprising young
friend, Mike Harris, has revived our town
paper and given me all opportunity.
a little over three years ago the WON
derful natural resources Of Big Stone Cup
was talked of all over the country, and
some Of you became so much interested
in the reports that YOU did not wait for
the completion of railroads, but rode
Twenty aud thirty miles over rough road
to place your money. A great many did
not go aud examine for themselves the
natural resources surrounding our place.
but took TIE first real estate mans word
and bought unimproved property and de-
parted, expecting in short time large
returns for your money. Some few did
get large returns, but the majority Of
you are now paving taxes or allowing
your property to he sold for deferred pay
ments. You are the people want to
talk with especially. You all know well
the financial depression whichwas felt all
over the country handicapped all new
southern towns, and Big Stone Cap was
especially unfortunate in having heavy
litiSations covering almost everyslarge
interest here and stopping developments
of ali our timber and coal lands. Very
few of you have any conception of the
struggles of our brave citizens for two
years to keep our town from being de-
serted and our heads above water. We
we're thoroughly acquainted with the
great advantages here, of our magnificent
coal and timber lands and iron properties.
But we could not forsee the litigation
and the slow development of the properties
that was to make us some day thriving
manufacturing and commercial center.
| So that we all bough too much real estate
and as a natural consequence, we have
all been depressed both financially and
mentally; but, with it all, We have gone
ahead, worked together like brave men,
and during the whole of the two years of
| depression we had only one assignment
aud only one blouse to burn. We have
steadily increased our population and
through the aid Of building and loan
associations and other sources have built
new houses, until now we think we can
safely claim q population Of 1000. O.
heads, but within the limits Of Big Stone
Gap we have 400 houses. estimate five
to the house). We have put our electric
plant on paving basis; our dummy line
is paving and the water company is de-
lighted with the outlook.
Last May, after a hard struggle, our
first furnace was completed The first of
our large plants to test the character Of
our iron ore. When YOU people, or your
agents, were out here three years ago.
buying town lots We knew comparatively
nothing Of oWr iron resources, outside of
the Cranberry regions, seventy miles
away. We were sure we had iron here,
but as TO its character and extent, we
were ignorant, and we depended in great
measure on our great coal fields and the
Cranberry iron to make us a town; but
since the completion of our furnace the
development Of our iron ores commenced
in earnest and we have found ore enough
in and around Big Stone Gap to run a
dozen furnaces for the next fifty years,
and we are not through finding it yet.
This ore has turned out to he richer and
Of higher quality than the most sanguine
E.of us ever dreamed. We are now deliver
ing this ore at the furnace at S. cents per
ton, and by actual weights we are turning
out n fraction over one ton of pig iron to
two tons Of the raw material, and of such
superior quality that it is being placed in
boundaries that used exclusively charcoal
irons aud in everyss instance it has given
entire satisfaction. AS a consequence,
we are getting from $3.50 to $500 per ton
more than Alabama pig is bringing.
Limestone is costing so cents per ton,
and coke, which we are now getting from
Pocahontas, is costing $3.50. When coke
plants are completed, claim that iron
can DO made cheaper and at a greater
profit here than any other point on the
American continent. For example, we
will compare the cost of the raw material
delivered at furnace here with that de-
liyered TO furnace in the Birmingham
district: The cost of the ore delivered at.
furnace here IS cents per ton, running
fraction over 50 per cent; limestone 80
cents; coke, when our ovens are COM
pleted, $2l5. The cost of the orc deliver.
cd ut furnace in Birmingham, 81 .00, rpp-
ming from So to ~ per cent. limestone, SO
cents; coke, native and Pocahontns COM
hined, $40. Now give Big Stone Gap
! the advantage of from Sl.l0 to $500 in
price over Birmingham, and of 60 cents
freight rates to the markets aud put the
price Of laAar the same at both places and
bdraM your own conclusions. This plant
lis helng managed and operated BY E. =.
Bird, ST., and f. ]. Bird. Jr., who fake
/ great pleasure in showing the plant and
its operation to strangers.
/ TO them is due the credit of completing