The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1893-01-26
The Southern Goa. and Ore Deposits.
[rhe progrssSiv- South.


[The Progrsssiv- South.
In looking ut our vast resources of
minerals, we stated in our last issue that
we expected to deal with them more in
detail, SO select one branch Of coal for
confederation. 1t is not long since that
Pennsylvania felt esntrepcAell in the proud
position of being master Of the situation;
of being abta TO dictate terms to iron
masters, because she had what was con.
sidercd the finest cokins coal, not only in
this country but the world. Audit seems
that she, would have been able to hold the
palm with her Connellsville coke had not
the development Of the South wrestled it
| from her, and 80 truthfuly demonstrated
that not only had a much better quality,
but vastly largcrarea. The Connellsville,
deposit in Pennsylvania, is about three
miles wide, twenty-five miles long and
nine feet thick, whereas one seam at Pc.
cahontas extends over vast region Of
many thousand acres, and is eleven feet
thick and makes u much superior coke.
| The same seam appears to extend to New
River, West Virginia, which about six
gears ago was tested side by side with the
famous ConnelsyiIle coke at the foundry
of the PULLMAN Car Works, in illinois,
I and, after several tests; the New River
coke was found to he more desirable FROM
every point. The report of the manager,
Mr.. Z. G. Shomway, says: "1hc New
] River coke, a West Virginia article, melts
faster and hotter than Connellsyile coke,
and costs less and takes less per charge Of
from" In addition, there have been found
extensive beds of still richer coal than
the above DIT big Stone Gap and in Dick
erson and Wise counties, Virginia, and in
Kentucky laad Alabama. -
If these coking. Goals are considered
further in thcirjuxtaposition to the ores,
it will bc still more manifest chat the
South is in much more favored position
than The North as manufacturing centre.
The Lake Superior mines which have been
supplying nearly half the ore, is mined
with suehedi!Iicu7ft;,~ and they arc from
seven to twelve hundred miles distant.
from the foundrics which melt it. And IL
the inclcmcncy of the weather {frcczing
the lakes and stopping the transit), COM
bincd with the additional cost Of mining
is considered by the side Of the short
Winters of the South, the ease with which
great deal of the ore is mined OH or near
the surface, ..by the best and cheapest la
Dor in The Union, it will he found that the
South has vast advantages over the North
in producing iron. The result ia only
natural that the Northern furnaces find
that they cannot compete with the South,
and have to close, rs many Of them have
had to do, never to open again.
Now, we may ask, what is the South
going TO do with her advantages! Will
she continue to ship her pig-iron to the
North, to- be worked into manufactured
articles 10 DC sent back, or.do NC intend
to not only manufacture for our own use,
But for the use of the North as well7
There can be only one answer Us to the
|uliiniutc result, and that is, that where
the raw material is, there manufacturers
must advance. But tie question is what
will the present generation Of our South
crn people do ipe tic matter We hope
they purpose to arouse and prepare thcm-
selves for the occasion, rs the time is not
far distant before they can have MI the
(capital they can successfully use in every
legitimate way. There are several reasons
Why there is q lull in manufacturing ac-
Ifiyity, and difficulty iii obtaining money
at present for new enterprise which NE
expect TO make plain in future issues.
These difficulties will, however, soon be
rcmoyeds apl then those that are read
for the extension OF eur manufactures.
will lie rewarded. Many cities of the
South have splendid opportunity offered
) them Tor material advancement IL they are
i only equal TO the occasion We do not
wish to besboomers, us by those means
4 hack ward steps have to be taken, bat we
4 desire: be abreast Of the times and
{ equal TO 0ur.oppostunities and therefore
a esire to arouse our Southern people to;
!! |preparesfor thesgood time coming.
4 Guaranteed Cure.
sell DR.. Kings New Discovery for CoDsnmp-
!, ttion, Coughs and Colds, upon this condition..
..EIf ynuaye afflicted With Cough, Cold or any
& Lung, Threat or Chest trouble, and will use