The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1893-04-27
Cost of coke at Connellsvclle December 1890:

Total shipments from Conuesville for week ending
November %, $780, G.977 cars distributed rs follows:
To Pittsburgh 800 cars; the West, leo ears; to
the East, 1877 cars.
Bcssemcr ore is costing at Pittshurg $3.50
per ton, nom Besscmcr ore costs at Pitts
burg from 800 to 5000 per ton.
Nom Bessemer orc will cost at Big Stone
Gap, from 81 Is 10 $3.50 per tom, and the
Bcssemer ore from $500 TO $3.50 per ton.
Limestone will cost at least twice a.
much at pi,tsburg as at Big. Stone Gap.
It is said that 100 tons of Pocahontas
coke passes west through Bristol daily for
furnaces in the Alabama and Chattanooga
districts. This coke will cost from 1919 to
81 80 per ton at those furnaces.
These facts show the smaller cost OF
coke and iron ore at Big Stone Gap and
REQUIRE no comment. Coke can be dcliv-
cred at the ovens here much cheaper than
these figures indicate, and still afford a
large profit to the maker.
OPINION OF TWO ENGLISH EXPERTS.
Mr.. John ". Darby, of Wcxham, Eng,
and Mr.. f. Monks, Of Warrington, Eng,
members of the British Iron u Steel In
stitute, recently visited Big Stone Gap.
Mir. Darby is Young man, hut has already
reached prominent position among the
iron and steel producers of England. He
inhcrits his aptncss for these industries
from ancestors who have been prominent
in them for Il century. His grandfather
was the first to make iron from knocked
coal, and his own plant, located near Ches-
ter. was 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.
"Thc very thing want to sec arc here.
| did not care TO see the manufacturers III
operation, for we have those at home as
numerous and as nearly perfect as one
could wish TO see, although must say that
/ have been greatly surprised and pleased
at the great concerns We sawin the North.
Their equipments are not 50 complete nor
their methods so economical as ours in
England, but they are rapidly approach
ing il. What those of us who mean bust
ness wish to see in America is just what
l have seen to-day at Big Stone Gap; ms
fine coke as have seen in England, with
iron ores only two miles away, and Lime
stone between, together water power and
railroads. This is combination that IS
bound to make you great here. | have
nerer seen itequaled elsewhere. Your coke
is the best / have seen in America. & The
brown ores we inspected to-day are ad-
mrable adapted to the basic process. OF
course your proximity to the magnetic
orers at Cranberryis sugreat card in your
favor, but you will not need that to make
the possibilities of this point simply meal
culal,lc. We have been over large por-
ton of tue Southern mineral 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,I
coke. have enjoyed my day here greatly,
and hope can return soon. p a.
Mr. Monk spokcin ilie same strain, say
ing he had been 4 practical producer Of
coke and iron for forty years. and that he'd
lc lad never seen better ,cUke; and the