Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-11-16
Basic Steel i'm Virginia.

| We invite attention to an able article
which will be found in the SPECTATOR
to-day, on an absorbing interest to the
iron-producing sections of Virginia,
but more especially as they are dis
cussed in relation to the manufacture
of steel in The Valley. The writer, Mr.
Edmund G. Pechin, of Roanoke, is
| well known in the section of the State
in which he sides, and if he needed
introduction to some of the people
who may read his article, that will
prove unnecessary after it has received
the attention it SO well merits. Suffice
it to say that since our new develop
ment commenced in Virginia, particu
ally in the Southwest of the State, we
know Of no man who has been more
| instrumental in giving safe direction
to the iron and kindred interests,
which, though not now prosperous,
must ultimately become SO, when
polices are matured for their utilization
ON the lines that he indicates should
be pursued.
The successful manufacture of steel,
it appears, is within the scope of our
opportunities, and more vigorous eff
forts should be applied in that direc-
ton.
We copy in this connection some of
the remarks of the H'o1a-Irade ReUieao,
of Cleveland, Ohio, in which Mr..
Pechin's article first appeared, also the
references made by the Nanufacturers'
Record to this important matter. The
Re0iea0 says -
Mr.. Edmund G. Pechin, the valued
editorial contributor to Iron Trade
ReoieaO, in other days, has all excellent
article, on another page, on basic steel
possibilities in Virginia. Most of the
Southern discussion of this question
has gathered about Alabama and Ten
nessee, but Mr.. Pechin gives good
reasons for giving Virginia a promin-
ence she has not yet assumed, in the
problem. There is more serious
thought now than ever, among South
ern iron masters ON the question of
steel-making, as added emphasis is
given to the weakness of the South, in
being able to do little more than to
flood the raw iron market and deprive
Northern furnacemen, and its own as
we'll, of any profit there might be in
iron-making. The Talbot discovery at
Chattanooga, the formation of De-
Bardeleben steel-making company at
Bessemer, and the prospects of the
early completion of the Middles-
borough syndicate's plant. are evil
dences that a more ambitious effort
will be made than ever before to get
some tangible result"
The Manufacturers Record repro
duces portions of Mr.. Pechin's article
which is reviewed at some length and
concludes as follows =
I'VE believe that Mr.. Pechin is not |
too sanguine about this matter, nor
has his enthusiasm led him beyond the |
possibilities that exist. The disposition !
of the product of basic open-hearth ,
steel works in Virginia is the only |
phase of the subject that is open to
question, but we believe that the out
put of more than one large plant, if in
the form of plates and structural ma
terial, would find q ready market in
the South at profitable prices. The
North is now Drawn upon for every
thing IN this line that is now consumed
in the South, and a well-equipped mill
in Virginia would enjoy an undoubted
both in the matter of trans
portation and the costs of manufacture.
There appears to be an excellent OPP
portunity in Virginia for the manu-
facture of open-hearth basic steel; in
fact, plans were prepared for q con-
siderable plant of this character at
Buena Vista and the foundations were
begun, but the recent financial crisis
halted the work and it has never been
resumed. Of the probabilities of this
particular enterprise we know moth
ing, but the possibilities of the industry
in Virginia are as great as ever, and
the need of such an auxiliary to the
great pig-iron industry of the State is
ever increasing"