Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-05


our war vessels on their official trials.
Closer az hand Il has what Is known
as the Richmond coal-neld, Instant lv~N
miles, covering an area or Nv squhfe
miles, with seams from Is TO 80 rect thick.
This field has not az a rule been very
iudici0usly worked but there was shipped
from it during active operations prior TO
1871 many million tone, and the yieio WAS
1900 tons per acre Of the ground worked:
1t Is now being more scientifically ana
extensively explored. and will be actively
operated at an early date.
The proverbially low coal freight rates
of the Chesapeake and Ohio and Norfoik
and Western nheir grades being down
large part OF the way, which traverse
the Virginia and West Virginia regions
first mentioned, and the rate OF only 20
cents per ton applicable from the hlcn-
mond field. these entirely distinct sources
should make Richmond the cheapest ana
most eligible coal supply. for such
manufacturing plant as that under con-
sideratoa. TO be found on this Continent.
In reference to the relative cost OF ores
| at Virginia and Pennsyvania furnaces
| Professor r. s. Randolph OF the Virginia
| Polytechnic Institute. said IN an ADDRESS
delivered in 1891:
"By making similar comparison in re-
| gard 20 fuel. we find the net cost or 1uel
| at East Pennsylvania furnaces 10 be W
/ per cent. greater than at Virginia iur-
| naccs. me only region discovered, so far,
which can compete with these ngnres II
that OF North Georgia and Alabama:
| which IS practically the same territory.
| This relative situation is believed 10 be
/ the same to-day. unless II is altered TO
| the advantage of the Virginia furnaces.
IRON ORE AND IRON.
Richmond's position with respect to iron
| ore and iron is as advantageous as IN re-
| gard TO coal. or more So The eomparlssoii.
| some years ago. of Virginia with other
| important centres OF production, by inc
/ statement OF MIR. Andrew 5. McCreath;
! chemist of the Pennsylvania GeoloEleai
/ Survey shows the cost OF iron ore ue-
| livered at furnaces is as follows: "Roa-
| noke $3.50 per ton; Cripple creek. SLVo
| per ton: Harrisburg, 81 per ton; PlttsDurg,
J S675 per ton-a net increase on Inc cos'
| OF iron ore Of Us per cent. The compeu-
| ton of the Lake Superior ores mas re-
| duced this somewhat. but not materially.
! "Gong q step further. let us look at
| the advantages offered TO the IRON anu ~.
| steel manufacturer Referring again 70
! the figures of Mr.. McCreath. from M
very conservative statistics we see tha'
| the cost OF producing ton OF plg-i ~,
| as compared with that of Roanoke, " az
| follows: At Pittsburg, 30 per cent. hl 1B,, ;
| Phillipsburg New Jersey, and MlddIe-
burg pa. "a per cent. higher; Harrisburg
| ~. % per cent. higher: in Lower Sus-
| quehanna region. n per cent. sredtei III
| the Iehigh Valley, 35 per cent greater.
Recent market quotations SHOW that 'heSe
| figures are not far wrong. -,
! This comparative statement is DelieVeu
| to substantially represent the slIuauon
at present. although the great reou eI.' II
] In the cost of pig-iron may have, 10 some
! extent temporarily disturbed the RATIOS
J given. bur hey are quoted TO indicate
| under normal conditions. the immense az
! vantage i'm the cost Of production IN tiils
| region. over the far-famed productive
! caDacity of Pennsylvania and other re-
! cognized centres of the iron INDUSTRY
Within the decade from 1880 TO 1880. VIZ
ginia had advanced her position as an
place among States of the Union, and was
then only second as to the southern
states. Since 1890 it is still further ad-
vanced, as will appear from later state
ment.
The railroad authorities of the Chesa-
peake and Ohio and the Norfolk and
Western add confirmation TO some OF
these statements by reporting that they
have Immediately on their own lines
eighteen furnaces using high-grade coke'
with n daily capacity of 200 tons, ana
their shipments of coal amounted IN the
! Railroad Commissioner report, 1880, 10
on. COS tons: coke to LOSSES tons, and
pig-iron 10 S75,770 tons, originating on
their own lines. ~,
THE entire tonnage of these two lines
| for about the same period, as stated IN
| their annual reports, was as follows III
Chesapeake and Ohio year ending
June 30, 1886
Coal and coke 9 9S5' ai9
| Iron. Dig, ana doom ...s..sss's'..sss ~"~to'-
| Norfolk and Western year ending
December 81, 1885, mn
Coal and coke az VSa
PlR-lron .....'..''' 30 80
Total two lines, coal and coke.... ;loi5'l52
Total two lines, iron, pig, ana -.o co
The total number of furnaces in Vtr-
ginia is twenty-four for making coke
iron, and four stacks for making charcoal
iron. Virginia Is now stated 10 De the
.af r.tsy IN
United States, and is second largest pro
Queer of pig-iron from her own ores.
Richmond's geographical position. renders
her a practical gateway 10 ana from al
Virginia furnaces, and while herself a
large buyer and worker of pig-iIon, she
furnishes the harbor and shipping for a
large part of the output OF these Iur
naces. Nearly all Of the iron made al
these furnaces is adapted TO the use OF
Basic open-hearth furnaces, or with but
little expense can be made of the neces-
sary requirements.
SCRAP Iron.--As scrap iron and steel
scrap may be used to good advantage IN
the manufacture of basic steel, II may De
mentioned that Richmond is good scrap
market, drawing scrap from all along tne
Atlantic coast, as well as from the IN
terror.
Iime.-What has been said of coal and
iron tributary to Richmond applies with
equal or greater force to limestone, ana
the reason for statements or more
general character DelnB hhdue WIN y
spect to IL is that the limestones extend
from one end OF the Valley Of virginia
to the other with a thickness OF from
900 to 1900 feet. and some BEDS sultapie
for fux are nearly always near the ue-
posits of iron ore.
Dolomite-This material, used for Daslc
furnace Innings is found in Virginia and
the Carolinas, and can be procured al
low figures. -
Removal of Refuss.-There being a
number of fills to be made In Richmond
and around it, and the system of subur-
ban and county roads. as well as some
of the railroads being in need of some
such material. there would appear 10 De
no difficulty in disposing of such refuse.
MECHANICAL LABOR.
one of the essentials to successful man.
aeement of "A manufacturing enterprise or
nagnitude is 10 be at all times able TO
command the necessary number or me-
chanics and laborers Richmond and It's
Vicinity is estimated to have $4,000 In
habitants and having always been q
notwithstanding centre. has an unusually
large element of its population engaged
in the industres-in round numbers, now
about 20 600. OF these. large percentage
consists of mechanics and trained WORK
men. These men are for the most part
already domiciled, offering others society.
'They have the advantages OF excellent
schools. and good homes in comfortable
houses at reasonable rents, with markets
unsurpassed. The healthiness OF the city
is remarkable, and epidemics unknown.
Tho climate is temperate. Indeed, IL can
he claimed that there is no more de-
sirabIe place of abode. Consequently. the
working classes are contenteo. law
abiding. and Industrious. and. as q rule,
are much superior TO the artisan of larger
Snch establishments as the Richmond