The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1893-03-30
SOME MISTAKES.

toutu aH TIC Pdos 'CN yC"I", ""'
while the advantages possessed by I
the South for the manufacture OF
iron are very great, still mistakes, and
grave ones too, have been made in
the location of many of these furna'
ces.
Many of them have hecn put up at
points where sufficient supply Of
iron-orc near at hand was more a
matter of guess work than anthing
else; others were erected without
due considertion of railroad facilities
and favorable frcight-ratcs, while the
principal object in the building OF
others was for the purpose Of Great
ing boom in town lots.
This reckless expenditure ofmoney
in number of instances i'll the build
ing Of these furnaces instead OF beng
an advantage to the country has, to
the contrary, had an evil effect from
which it will take years to recover.
Capitalist have been induced to
invest their money in these furnaces,
from which they expected early re-
sufrs, and in numerous instances
;,ave met with disappointment.
That the Nessrs, Birds knew ex-
actly what they were aboilt when
they took hold OF and pushed 10 soiaa-
pletion the construction of the APP
palachian furnace at Big Stone Gap
is clearly demonstrated by tho success
yith which they have met 10y its
continued operation.
The iron turned ont by this fur
mace immediately took first place on
the market, and to-day bears a bet
ter price than that produced by any
other III the South. Big Stons Gap
pig today is selling on the market
$cr slO0 per ton more than Birming-
sam pay.
Owing TO the low state of the iron
aaarket for some months past, iron
bad been accommodating on the Appa-
Iachian yard, till nearly four thous-
AVID tons were st aeked up. Still with
all this stock accumulated on hands,
the furnace kept going, turning out
her so ton per day.
LAST wcc! a sale of this accumulate
Ell stock was made, and it is now be
iug loaded into cars and shipped to
Cincinnati.
In speaking Of his future arrang-
ments for supply Of coke, and the
prospects of using coke made here,
vice president Bird said he was conf
dent that the furnace people would be
ehe first to put in coke ovens
This will he a great thing for the
town, and will add more to the gen
eral business Of the place than any
ahing that has been talked of among
the many industries and enterprises
heretofore mentioned.
ia speaking of the mistakes made
an the legation Ola number of furna
ecs over the country, Mr.. Bird said it
WAS a very unfortunate thing for this
portion of the South. He said here
at Big Stone Gap, within easy reach,
was sufficient iron ore, which turns
out 80 per cent. iron at his furnace,
TO run a namber of furnaces for an
indesnite llambcr of years, with lime
stone and coal convenient, and favor
able shipping facilities, and just why
people woald Jump over a certainty
an order to get to try a dangerous
experiment, he could not understand.
Big Stone Gap ought to have
large rolling mill, and her superior
advantages will doubtless give her
,oue i'll the Near future.
Here the different markets that are
partially supphd by Birmingham can
be reached at much lower freight
cate.
Yhe advantages possessed by Big
Stone Gap should be thoroughly
written ap aud kept we'll before the
pablo This is the only way to at
tract the attention of those who are
an q position to assist in the develop.
znent of this country. you have
llnndred-dollar horse for which you
are willing to take fifty you are not
likely to find purchaser unless you
eiI'somc one You have the horse and
convincc him You are Offering al
haru,iiin